Brecon Tap — Restaurant in Wales

Updated Review - July 2021.

This is my second visit to the Brecon Tap. I was back in Brecon and decided to pop back in to see how things were going after my pleasant visit 4 years ago.

I'm sorry to report that I cannot in all good faith, recommend this bar to you anymore.

When I visited, we were seated at a sticky table, with food detritus on the floor underneath the table. There were only a very small selection of beers on, despite us visiting on a Saturday night. Directly opposite us, there were about 25 dirty glasses piled up - this is right beside the till, where customers are welcomed. A Henry hoover was lying out on the floor beside some pub outdoor signage along with some blue towel roll - all a bit random. And, the cava we ordered along with our beer was warm, like, as in not chilled.

All in all a very poor experience. We drank up and left. Sorry guys, but more effort is required here.

My original review from 4 years ago is below for reference:

Original Review -

We stopped by here to sample some pies and beer - what's not to like right?! The pies were excellent, really good actually and the beer was tasty too. All fairly reasonably priced.

My only concern is that this place doesn't really seem to know what it is. Is it a pub? No. Is it a restaurant? No. Is it a bistro? No. Yeah - we couldn't figure it out either.

Generally good though, you should check it out if...

Tap this place straight into my veins!

Today I found myself in Brecon. I was at the Infantry Battle School teaching these young whipper snappers how to fire a gun, when I was unceremoniously fired!

I was outraged. It's was political correctness gone mad! Bonkers! Crazy! (Something I'd know a little bit about as these terms have all been used to describe me at various stages of my life). Apparently it's 'amoral' and 'irresponsible' to use live rounds and live army cadets as target practice. Weird.

After swiftly vacating the school, I found myself adrift like Tom Hanks when I stumbled across my Wilson. Brecon Tap.

I walked in and was greeted by very friendly staff. They offered to check my plumbing... I declined as I am a master plumber. A self appointed title, after I once successfully found my own cock, stop.

I sat down at a table ordered a delicious ice cold pint of ale. It was superb. I then ordered some food and I plumped for the Shakshouka. Took a little while to arrive but when it did I understood why.

SHAKSHOUKA! BABOUSHKA! MAMOUSHKA!

Delicious! Every bite was as if it was made by God! Stunning. Perfectly runny poached egg. Crisp salad. Couldn't have done better myself and I taught Marco Pierre White all he knows!

I doff my hat to the chef and staff. You were all excellent! Thank you; and may the blessings of the 10 Bernards be upon...

It's ok but far from one of my favourites. Quite a small pub with barely any room to swing a cat when you go in. A good enough selection of ales but a bit pricey for Brecon (from £4.30 to £6 a pint). While it's nice to see a variety, it's normally IPA/standard bitters a lacklustre on the stouts. Every time I've been the only stout they had on was Wye valleys attempt at a Guinness rival (nightjar, it's Wye valley stout but nitro chilled).

Very hard to ever get a seat in there because of the amount of people going in for food. Normally any spare tables will be reserved with a booking time on them, so as long as you leave the table before the timeslot, you can get a seat for a bit.

On the last visit we found a table that had no reserved sign on it. Yet within 10 minutes of sitting there we were told it had been reserved and we had to move. They said the sofa at the top was free to sit at. So we got up and other people were sat at the sofas.

In the end we just had to prop ourselves at the bar to finish our drinks and leave. A bit frustrating as had there been no available tables on entering, we'd have gone elsewhere instead of buying drinks. It was a little bit rude being told to leave that table when it didn't have any reserved sign on it. A mistake by staff.

Not sure if I'll be back here. At that price to struggle to ever get a seat it's just worth...