Goat Major, Cardiff

pub details:

print this

tell your friends:

location:

Cardiff

address:

High Street, CF10 1PU

phone:

0871 258 5540*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Cardiff Queen Street railway station
(730m)

Cathays, Cardiff railway station
(900m)

how to find it:

From Cardiff's main railway station, follow the road round to the junction with St. Mary Street. Take St. Mary Street and this eventually becomes the High Street. The pub is on the left-hand side.

click for directions to Goat Major from wherever you are

click here for a larger map

opening times:

Mon-Sat 11:00-00:00
Sun 11:00-23:00*
* opening times can change, please check with the pub before organising important events.

A famous city-centre pub known until the mid-1990s as the "Bluebell" (and many moons before that, simply as the "Goat"), we understand that the Goat Major gets its curious name from the mascot of a Welsh royal regiment which carried a live goat on the Russian front line during the Crimean War. The Major miraculously survived and returned to the UK, where it was introduced as a war hero to Queen Victoria. A Victorian building itself, the pub is part of the local Brains chain, and hence several of their brews are available - Bitter, SA (a stronger bitter), The Reverend James and the excellent Dark. It attracts visitors from all over whilst remaining noticeably "native" - we heard Welsh being spoken in one corner. That said, a lot of English were present on our visit and there was no observable animosity at all. The interior is quite plush, in an "L" shape, with black leather settees, a couple of intimate corners and a tiled floor. Standard pub grub is available, as well as traditional Welsh dishes. The staff are a cheerful bunch, too. Pop by if in town.

reviewed:
15/01/2009