The Gatekeeper

You'll find this sprawling Spoons right in the heart of Cardiff's shopping district, and unlike some of their questionable conversions, this one genuinely feels like a proper pub. The long bar stretches almost the length of Westgate Street, with enough seating to handle the pre-match crowds and post-shopping pints without feeling like a cattle market. The breakfast menu runs until noon and it's genuinely decent - proper Welsh breakfast with laverbread if you're feeling patriotic, or just stick to the classics. Evening wise, you've got the usual suspects but the curry club on Thursday draws a proper crowd. Yes, it's Wetherspoons, but it's one of the better ones where the staff actually seem to care and the beer's kept well.