Phoenix

You're walking past what used to be the United Reform Chapel, now a proper neighbourhood pub that's done the conversion without turning it into a theme park. The bones of the building—those high ceilings, the original features—give Phoenix a sense of place you don't get from chain pubs. It's the kind of spot where locals actually gather, not Instagram tourists, and you'll find yourself nursing a pint surrounded by genuine Bridgend regulars. The food's unpretentious pub standards done right, the kind of stuff that pairs well with a cold drink after work or at the weekend.