Venue to Visit : The Cellar Door

Micropubs are, shall we say, divisive. They split opinion. You either love them, or you hate them. I've not been in many in my time, but fortunately there is one about a 20 minute walk from my front door. And it's a great example of upcycling. 

Number 5 Clytha Park Road, Newport has in its time been a flower shop, a charity shop and a computer shop.

From petals, to pre-owned clothes and PCs....

That is until November 2017 when a rather drab utiliatarian retail unit with a mildly interesting frontage became something unique and special in Newport's pub collection: the Cellar Door micropub.

...to pints

Intimate, cosy, snug are just three of the words that quite frankly inadequate to describe it inside. You will be sat near someone. Perhaps even on the same table. Maybe even the same seat. There is a small outside area at back for extra space, but this conforms to every micropub cliche. And it's all the more delightful for it. You genuinely feel like you're relaxing in a living room.

picture from Cellar Door website

Behind the bar either Paul or Karen, or perhaps their dog, will pour you a pint of something local - either Welsh or near enough. Two cask pumps offer up delights from breweries such as Untappd, Tenby Harbwr, Quantock or Grey Trees. Whatever you get, it will always be excellently kept and served.

 

If ale from Aberdare or stout from Swansea isn't local enough for you, the Cellar Door is one of the few locations to stock the full range of bottles from Newport's "other" brewery, the excellent Anglo Oregon, as well as Uplands Cyder from Rogerstone.

None of that Tidy Revel sh*te in here

It is for their cider offering that the Cellar Door has won many awards in its short existence, including being a Finalist in the CAMRA National Cider Pub of the Year 2018, which are proudly displayed on the wall alongside news clippings and artworks by local artists, many of which are for sale. In the adjacent alcoves one will find games, books and other things to do just in case you haven't managed to strike up a conversation with one of the locals sat mere feet from you. 

Somehow inamongst all this they also manage to squeeze live music sessions in. Which, given the pub is only open Thursdays to Sundays, is quite an achievement.

This is more than just a pub. It's a community centre, hub, art gallery, concert venue and tourist attraction all in one.

Oh and a quick tip: if you're coming to Newport by train, the quickest way to get to the Cellar Door is to take the rear exit from the station and follow the smell of fish and chips. 

https://cellardoor.netlify.app/

https://www.facebook.com/cellardoornewport/

Opening hours:
Thursday: 17:00 - 22:00
Friday:16:00 - 22:00
Saturday:15:00 - 22:00
Sunday: 16:00 - 21:00