The Griffin

You know that feeling when you want a proper pint but don't fancy dodging glass bottles on Wind Street? The Griffin sits right in the thick of Castle Square's chaos but manages to feel like an actual pub rather than a cattle market. The food's surprisingly decent - proper Welsh cawl, decent burgers, and Sunday roasts that'll sort you right out after a heavy Saturday on the Kingsway. What sets it apart from the other Wind Street madness is that you can actually have a conversation here before 9pm, and the staff know their ales. Come Friday and Saturday though, it transforms into proper party central with those 2am licence hours doing serious work. It's not trying to be anything fancy, just a solid boozer that does exactly what it says on the tin.