URBAN TAP HOUSE NEWPORT | BAR REVIEW
High Street, Newport
www.urbantaphouse.co.uk/newport
Tiny Rebel has had a growing presence in our bars in South Wales over the past three years. Visit any decent pub in Cardiff and there will be a decent stock of Tiny Rebel beers in the fridge. Their first Urban Tap House, at the bottom of Cardiff’s Womanby Street, has become a favourite for craft beer fans, offering great food and a buzzing atmosphere to the centre. As the brewery enters it’s fourth year, they’ve opened their second permanent Urban Tap House on Newport High Street.
The overwhelming success of the Urban Pop Up, which opened briefly in May, has clearly convinced the brewery to stay for good. On offer are a range of 8 cask beers, 12 keg and according to the website “one hell of a fridge”. This alongside a growing menu of stone baked pizzas, pastas and salads.
We arrived a little early for a Wednesday evening but the tables were already filling up. This is where I expected to be making tentative jokes about the place being over run by bearded hipsters. Jokes I’d have to later concede I’m on shaky ground making whilst sporting my charity shop t-shirt, unshaven face, and those glasses. But we can save ourselves the trouble. By the time we were on our way out the place was packed with, amongst others, a friend’s parents and some old school mates. It’s a welcoming environment, with the staff more than willing to recommend something to try.
We started off with two pints of Bo’Ho: a light, smooth lager with very little bite. Lovely. Next a couple of pints of Fubar, a pale ale with a light bitter finish, before moving swiftly and excitedly to our already well established favourite Cwtch. Price could start to be an issue here. Bo’Ho comes in at £3.95, making the bar a difficult contender for longer visits if you’re of the student persuasion. Which admittedly you probably aren’t because there aren’t any students left in Newport. So honestly don’t worry about it. Celebrate your affluence and get the round in.
The bar has a warm, friendly and stylish appeal, especially when approached from a cold and wet Newport High Street. If that doesn’t convince you, the range of quality, award-winning beers definitely will.
words MARCUS HUGHES
photos SAM IVERMEE
