The Pelican Inn

Head down Ogmore Road and you'll find yourself in proper countryside, which is exactly where The Pelican sits. It's the kind of place that takes its kitchen seriously—the sort of gastropub that actually cooks, rather than just reheating—but keeps the atmosphere firmly relaxed. You'll get locals nursing proper pints alongside couples treating themselves to something decent on a Friday night, and that mix is what makes it work. The setting's got a real advantage too: you're close enough to Bridgend town centre that it's accessible, but far enough out that it feels like an escape.