The Wenvoe Arms Is Open Again
The Wenvoe Arms is open again and this beating heart of the village has pints of ale pouring out again after the long lockdown. We are very fortunate in Wenvoe to have a high-quality village pub which is well run by the landlords Digby and Jennie Rees who have been the tenants for the last four years.
Jennie’s father built and ran the successful Cwm Ciddy pub at Rhoose, and she was brought up in the trade and has been involved in it ever since. She and husband Digby put their experience to good use in making the Wenvoe Arms a superb pub that com-bines tradition with modern innovations. The place was completely refurbished a few years ago and is kept spotlessly clean both inside and out. It has recently been given the highest rating, yet again, by the EHO and Food Standards Agency, which gave it a top rating of 5 for the food safety and hygiene in the kitchen and bar areas. They also received top marks for Covid 19 standards of care.
Lockdown provided challenges for us all, but publicans had added problems with the disposal of beer and food that was unable to be used. Jennie points out that with beer you cannot just pour it down the drain, rather you must consult with Welsh Water who tell you how and when to flush it down the drain. Luckily, Digby saw the problem coming and was able to cancel deliveries just before lockdown which meant less was wasted than might have been.
The lack of clients during the last months has given the landlords time to make further improvements to the outside drinking and eating areas. Surprisingly, there are four separate areas outside each with good, well-maintained tables with seating and umbrellas. The roadside raised patio area is specially reserved for Wenvoe residents and there are six tables there. The lower area next to the war memorial again has tables with seating and is very popular with the regulars and smokers. A hidden gem is the beer garden to the rear which is grassed and surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges giving it a restful atmosphere. The trees there ensure there is plenty of shade on a hot summer’s day. While beyond that is a further area with six tables which will in future have covered shelter so people can eat and drink there in inclement weather.
A new development worth reporting is the building of a pizza shack – yes, the real thing – which has a newly installed wood-burning oven. This is adjacent to the beer garden and will be serving pizzas every evening from 4 – 9 pm. The pizzas are homemade on the premises with a choice of five artisan pizzas available and they will be available to be sold in boxes and eaten anywhere in the pub, outside or in, or else taken away. We hope the pizza shack will have opened by the time that this edition of Wenvoe What’s On hits your doormat.
The Wenvoe Arms has an excellent function room on the first floor which adds greatly to the interior dining and drinking space. The main dining area on the ground floor, which is enhanced in winter with a
log burning stove, seats 60 guests while the function room above can take another 50 or more for a buffet. It is also used as a comfortable meeting and conference room where, for example, Alun Cairns MP addressed the faithful before lockdown.
The food at the Wenvoe Arms receives glowing comments which is not surprising as Jennie and Digby take it very seriously. The food is all cooked from fresh with no “bought-in” meals, unlike many pubs. The menu has had a revamp and lists a wide range of popular pub and gastro type meals. Last orders are as late as 8.50pm which is helpful for those working or visiting later. The wine list is wide-ranging and competitively priced.
The bars are an area of pride for the landlords as there is a great selection of beers and spirits. There are currently five cask, or real ales, available as well as leading brands of lager and cider. Gin drinkers are well looked after too with a selection of premium gins which are served with a choice of mixers. Fever Tree is available among others, and juniper berries can be added as a botanical garnish.
We all need our spirits lifting during this pandemic and what better way to do that than making a visit to your village pub for a drink and meal with friends. They have missed you over the months so you can be sure of a warm welcome by a team who have gone out of their way to keep us all safe and socially distanced.
Off the Shelf –
This month’s book was Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This book was winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2009. Elizabeth Strout offers profound insights into the complexities of human relationships – its various chapters share the conflicts, tragedies and joys of life from the smallest incidental moments to people’s exploration of their life’s journey. In both the darkest and joyous passages of the book we can find our own parallels of emotions.