The Bears Head in The Vale of Glamorgan

On the plus side, freindly staff and quick service via app, but the beers, a pint of Rhymney and pint of Doombar were both dissapointing. Update, OTOH I had a very nice pint of plum porter there last night! Update. no longer a Wetherspoons but still the same sort of pub. Beer very acceptable, and I've heard the food is better.

Can't beat it for value in Penarth

Have eaten here once before since it changed hands but after tonight will not be going back. 3 meals were ordered all together, once mixed grill which was absolutely fine apart from the fact you have to order it with sauce regardless of if you want it or not, a watery inedible curry that had to be sent back and hunters chicken that came out with salad that was not listed anywhere in the description of the meal of which the person eating it was allergic to. We could order something else or have a refund as there would be no chance of speaking to anyone about it. Never experienced food like this before it changed hands and would definitely avoid it now. Refunded the wrong amount. Servers were lovely though.

Nice hot chocolate which is free top up and cake here today. Staff very helpful and a friendly welcome

Very reasonably priced and good range of food. The staff were friendly and helpful. The restaurant could have been cleaner, especially the carpet. Dogs made welcome.

Friendly staff. Cheap coffee, best of all the allow children and dogs.

A solid contender for worst pub grub I've ever had. Took a punt on the tikka masala. A bowl of salty tomato soup with a few chunks of cheap chicken arrived. Naan bread, rice and poppadoms also terrible. Complete waste of money. Avoid.

Unfortunately some times the breakfast is like warm

Lovely friendly staff ..Spotless and was really busy. Served quickly food was lush Really worth a vist

Fish and chips only adequate I'm afraid. They've done better. Fast service for food and drink. Update 16/05/2024 Pub scheduled to close Salted peanuts switched from Sun Valley to The Dorman - dreadful peanuts Update 16/10/2024 Pub now run by "Croeso Pubs". Inside largely unchanged, few minor tweaks. Pleasant staff. Food prices increased slightly offers available. Beer prices quite good. Managed to get Heineken 0.0 at £2.97 a bottle, which is quite good. Hope they don't put that price up in their intended price rises. They seem to have a similar problem to Wetherspoons with an area sectioned off and buckets placed to catch water from ground floor ceiling. Hope they sort that out soon.

Beef madras curry portion too small taste like it came out of a packet Go to the Paramount for the same price the portion and quality far superior

Went for curry night, never again. Although you get plenty rice and chips the curry size is awful!! I had 5 tiny lumps of meat and the curry filled a quarter of the bowl they served it in (and it was a small bowl). When I queried size with waitress she said that it was correct as the portions are pre prepared elsewhere!! 😱😱 Why give loads of the dry add ons like chips, rice etc if there’s no curry to go with it? Needs looking at by Croeso management.

Visited today sunday afternoon. not to busy but it was early afternoon there wasnt a smell that i experienced last time and the fly problem also seems to be better good pint of doom bar at £2.40 cant go wrong . Great this place is getting better polite staff also.

We had a lovely breakfast at this local pub this morning after searching for somewhere dog friendly, and it was fantastic! They had great options for both veggie and vegan breakfasts, all cooked beautifully. The food was hot, not greasy, and prepared with care. Prices were excellent, and the service was just as wonderful – friendly, happy, and welcoming. A perfect start to the day, and we’ll definitely be back

Re opened under new, not Wetherspoon, management. Early days but has a nice vibe. Not quite as cheap as Spoons but still has the lowest prices in Penarth.

Fantastic food pleasant staff and always cleaning tables and collecting glasses. Will definitely return! Wetherspoons take note!

Apart from the fact they served me the wrong meal, it was quite good

This place has gone downhill since spoons closed. Food mediocre The sort of people that mostly sit outside hmm can’t really say too much but it’s rough. Will now go elsewhere. I can’t see this place lasting too long unless the clientele changes.

Wetherspoons wasnt perfect but it gave the people of Penarth what they wanted.Something has changed.Sadly for the worse.A curry which was inedible and had a consistency the likes of which Ive never experienced.The staff,as with Spoons fine.Worse - The “clientele” OMG,where did they come from?.For many years The Bears Head had regulars and the feeling of a casual and respectful ambience.The outside area now,somewhat intimidating together with somewhat dubious activities.Act quick Creoso!.

I have had a small breakfast about 10 times since the change from weatherspoons. It’s excellent and good quality and value for money. Very happy they retained the bottomless coffee The staff are just as nice as before and very friendly The 🍺 is the roughly the same price as weatherspoons. (Doom bar £2.50). Great ‼️

Visited for food i had curry which was awful and overcharged for drinks terrible smell in there lots of flies bothering us fish and chips was cold going to give this place a miss for awhile to give it time to sort this out hopfully they will

Terrible food. When complained got barred. Been a regular here for 15 years under Wetherspoons. Shocking service. Won’t be going back.

Food was awful..the manager Tom was rude and not fussed about our problems.. £18 steak smelt of fish!!!! Replacement fish and chips were burnt.. 4 weeks later owners Croeso have not replied to my complaints ... 👎👎👎

Only popped in for coffee very much as it was when a wetherspoons except food on menu a little bit more pricier than before but still reasonable

Called in for a drink with friends after a walk.

I was served with the worst fish and chips that I have ever eaten. The batter was so thick that I could not cut it. When I eventually hacked my way through the batter there was very little fish inside and it was stuck to the batter. My wife had a Chicken Caesar salad which looked ok but she vomited it back a few hours later, I suspect as a result of the chicken.

6 friends hoping to enjoy a rare evening out...being customers of the original Bear's Head we imagined a similar drinking and eating experience. drinks ordered on the app took 20 mins and were wrong, many times!! including single shots when we paid for doubles. The steaks were tough and smelt of FISH!!!! Replacement food was grudgingly given,but the batter was burnt.... Tom the manager was incredibly sullen and uncaring.. I Contacted Croeso to complain, 2 weeks later I have had no reply to e mails or phone calls. Clearly they are not interested..I have repeatedly asked them to keep the security camera footage from above our table which would prove my complaints. Shocking 👎

Great breakfast and good value for money. I had a large breakfast but there were suitable options for all appetites and diets. I will be back

Iyhe bears head has changed, for the better. Food had improved and cleaner tables, but they need to inforse the no smoking rule on one side of the front of pub.

Wrongly served a wine I didn't order. Was rectified when I queried it.

Called in whilst on a brief trip to Penarth. Very similar I guess to the wetherspoons it replaced, but gets the basics right.

Popped in on the way home from walking the dog, staff amazing bringing the dog some water. Food so much better than the old spoons will be frequenting more often. Very attentive staff.

Really disappointed with the newly opened Bears Head. We were regulars at the Wetherspoon Bears Head. Very surprised to see that not a lot has been done despite the premises being taken over. Hope Tim Martin opens a new branch in Penarth.

This place is so disorganised it’s like if Ubisoft ran a pub. Bald manager bloke with a beard’s sound though, get the lad a pay rise

As a real ale drinker and a regular user of this pub over years, in recent months there has been very noticable downturn in the choice of beers available outside of the usual Spoons staples of Abbott, Ruddles, Doombar and in this pubs case, SOB. On too many occasions recently, pumps are either empty or just badged repeats of the above list. On one recent Sunday evening, not a single guest ale was on at all !! Other pubs in Penarth are now offering a far greater range of beers, mostly local brewers although admittedly, charging premium prices. Update, March 2020, new landlord has been in place now for some 6 months and the range of beers and number of dedicated pumps has improved massively. Usually at least 4 of what I would call guest ales, on at any one time. New update. Oh dear, oh dear, its now May 2022 and once again it appears the old habits have returned. Post pandemic, guest ales have on average numbered 3 or 4 at any one time. However, it appears the manager has now been instructed not to have more than 2 guest ales at a time and no pump should be left unbadged, even if that means repeats of the usual Abbotts and Doombar. As I type, there are 2 Doombars, 3 Abbotts and a Ruddles. Two guest ales on, one of which is Abbott Reserve. Sorry, but I don't count Rhymney Export as a guest ale as this has become a staple of this pub. Interestingly, visited the Brecon Spoons yesterday (12 May) and the staff there said they had had no such similar instruction. What's going on Tim (Martin)? Sadly, as of the 16 June 2024, The Bears Head is no more. A huge loss to the town.

Was here to commemorate the last night. What a wonderful pub this was, such a shame for it to close.

Typical weatherspoons good food and wide range of beers reasonable prices much cheaper than most pubs

Toilets spotless, staff friendly (with a few exceptions), reasonable prices and a nice breakfast selection.

They look after the real beer well

Real local pub feel even though part of a major chain. Will be sorely missed in the area if the proposed closure goes ahead. Come on Sir Tim save the day for Penarth.

I have an assistant dog and was told by the manageress that my dog wasn't welcome even when I sat outside in the smoking area ( I don't even smoke). Was absolutely disgusted shame on you Wetherspoons you suck !!!

I was with my parents who both ordered fish and chips with cider. I ordered the triple burger and chips with a refillable coffee. I ordered mine separately from my parents and before they ordered. My coffee cup was immediately brought to me so they definitely received my order, which I had email notification of. My parents meals came within an appropriate time. No sign of my meal. We asked about it and were told they'd check on it. That person said it should be out soon. It was not. The next person we asked, never even came back to update us. We asked someone who seemed to be a manager or shift leader. She went to check on it and said it should arrive soon. By this point my parents had both finished and over half an hour had passed since I ordered. More time passed, at least 10 minutes. Still no food. I went to the bar and spoke to the shift leader/manager. I made it clear I was unhappy, that the people with me had their food, had finished and how long I'd been waiting. I said I would be asking for a refund if I didn't have it soon. She asked if I still wanted it and I said yes as I was very hungry by this point. She went to check with the kitchen. She came to the table and said there was a mix up with the burger. No clarification on what exactly. I did have my food shortly after. But it was at least 45 minutes after I ordered it! It was not busy so this was ridiculous! In summary, the food was decent, the pub itself was nice but service, wait times and communication from staff and their ability to resolve problems are very poor. Whenever I am in Penarth next, I will choose somewhere else to eat. I advise others to do the same.

Went in The Bears Head while passing through Penarth and we needed a spot of lunch. It was time for a break and as ever, Wetherspoons was the choice for a cheap meal and a drinky. We had a couple of curries, a chicken tikka and a beef madras. They were both acceptable enough though the poppadoms were swimming in grease. The actual curries were very tasty considering how little we paid and we did enjoy the meal. The pub itself was nice enough and the staff were helpful and cheerful. Off we went on our travels, fed and watered and happy with the visit.

Shame on you Mr Martin. Pay the rent (well most of it) keep Penarth happy 😄

Very well kept Spoons, always busy in the day with friendly clients, but it doesn't take long to get a drink and food.

Good pub. Speedy and friendly service. Such a shame it's going to be closing down.

Nice food and cheap drinks. Staff were kind too. Can get loud at times but as expected for this kind of environment

Usual spoons fare. Cheap & cheerful. Pleasant staff. Good range of ales

Can be very busy at times and therefore wait for food. 2 floors quieter upstairs mainly families.

Price of the drinks and food are very competitive during the cost of living crisis.

Service was great Food not that good

As a Wetherspoon premises, you tend to know what to expect when you go there. This place is no different.. Pleasant enough atmosphere with similar settings throughout the chain, food prepared to similar standard by similar means.. acceptable but basic standards. Access from the main road was unhindered and wheelchair access was found, but there is no parking dedicated to the premises and disable parking is not near the place. Conclusion - a decent enough range of foods and drinks that will rarely disappoint for a person with basic needs. Somwhere I will visit once more, no doubt.

Staff are always helpful, pub in good location. Separate children's area.Great toilets Decent breakfasts

24th wetherspoons on are tick list 😀

It's a Weatherspoons. . Never quite as cheap as you expect, always utilitarian and lacking in atmosphere but saved by good, efficient, if not overly friendly, staff. It's like the pubs George Orwell didn't envisage in 1984

Excellent. Cannot fault the staff, food or ales. Very nice experience

Pleasant and helpful staff made the visit a pleasure. No complaints about the food, so 5 stars there.

Excellent service, excellent staff, very polite and helpful.

Visited this spoons for pre and post dinner drinks. Was the usual spoons with good pricing and service.

Food kept hanging about under heat lamp resulting in dried up eggs , had to wait for fresh ones but still served the same dried up ham & manky chips ,bad service , wont be going there again

Good value pub chain for food and drink.

Had the Big Breakfast,you always know what you're getting,,no matter who the chef is, it was nice ,service is generally quick, and the staff are nice ,

Ordered a freedom breakfast which on previous occasions has been nicely cooked and enjoyable. On this occasion however the food was Luke warm with overcooked eggs , undercooked bacon and beans that had more of a resemblance to porridge. Overall very poor on this occasion

Nice food, great ambience, great accessibility

Exactly what you would expect from Wetherspoons. Good value for money and good sized portions. We used the App to order; it worked perfectly. The food came out hot and the wait was short.

Great pub in the centre of Penarth.

Staff were nice and food was really good , big thanks to the team at bears head, keep up the good work 👏

I have only visited this Wetherspoons once, but first impressions, it was very good. I ordered via the app, the food arrived quickly and it was hot.

We had the Christmas meal it was excellent, lovely and hot, the staff were very friendly and helpful, 'out of Wetherspoons near to where we live this one is our favourite.

I didn’t eat but the drink was nice and cold. The bar staff were pleasant too.

Went in early for breakfast before it looked like a thriller video outtake which I would totally recommend to anybody not wanting to surround themselves with dying alcoholics. Crispy bottomed eggs with runny yolks, normal looking toast, a nice single malt on the side and insipid coffee rendered palatable by the addition of an espresso into the standard black coffee. Tidy way to start the day. I just spoke to nationwide. The complaint I raised and time I've wasted chasing it up since has done nothing to inspire confidence in them. Nothing to do with wetherspoons of course, but I'm using this opportunity to slag them off because they're incompetent mongoloids. Thank you

Love this Place, Staff BRILLIANT

You know what you're going to get with Wetherspoons. Good service and good value

Busy place but you don't have to wait long for food. As with all the wetherspoons pubs it's good value. Food better on this visit than previous visit.

Great place for calling in after a walk for a coffee, drink or even something to eat.

No pizza available food was ok drinks were ok

A Very popular pub in penarth with a good range of real ales at very reasonable prices and friendly staff.

Drinks good value food not so good

What a depressing place to sit and have a drink. It may be a little cheaper, but I've sat in airport bars with a better atmosphere 🤣

Didn't have food just drinks. Rugby was on and very good atmosphere. Staff very friendly

Delightful JDW pub in the centre of Penarth in what I assume is the main High Street. It looks like it might well have been a large shop previously as it has extra seating upstairs, and the layout feels like it was a store rather than a pub previously. Inside, the clientele were nicely behaved and I would say on the whole, an older crowd compared to some Wetterpants I've been in recently. Service at the bar was quick and efficient and our order of food was exactly what we asked for. We ordered some extra chips and they arrived just a few seconds later and piping hot! Lovely place with some interesting art on the walls that I think was maybe for sale, and quite busy.

Big place , has an upstairs, downstairs disabled toilet, level ground floor entrance, child friendly, vegetarian options, food was lovely and good selection of food, service was great , good prices. Parking on main road outside.

If I could give a zero I would. Waited 1 hour for a large breakfast, pancakes and some toast. With a 5 and 7 year old in tow. The service was appalling. No apology. Not bothered I'd been waiting that long . Shockingly poor. Just a refund on the meal and that was that. Won't be going back again

Very poor service. It wasn't busy and had to go to the bar 15 mind after ordering on the app for our drinks. Also the bar and lots of tables were full of dirty glasses. More effort needed to clear away.

This was my first visit to Wetherspoons, service good. Ordered a classic meal/drink combo. When it came, after 20 minutes, told them cold so they took it away. I awaited around another 20 minutes, assuming would get a fresh and hit meal - the same piece of fish and chips was brought back to me:(. This time the plate was hot but the now very stale fish and chips were again lukewarm. Very disappointed. Nobody checked if meal was ok as they should do. Would sadly not visit again.

Had food there yesterday afternoon food tasted lovely had chicken curry allways go there wen come to Cardiff foe weekend on boat but last night after eating there was sick all night and pains in my stomach and that's the only food I had all day won't be g back there.

It's a spoons with good Ale's and and food to match. Plenty of seating upstairs also

This pub could do with a deep clean,its filthy. The plus,side great selection of drinks at very reasonable prices. Just very dirty.

Nice friendly staff, good service, what food we had was good nice pub grub.

The toilets were clean and the seats were warm

This is a Wetherspoons, so there's not much more to be said. We didn't have food, so I can't comment, but the beer was cold, and on a hot day, that's all you want

The only thing I can think of in a negative way is, there was no air conditioning or open windows. (It was a rather hot day). The food, drink, and service was excellent.

No music but nice food and great service here.

Nice well run Wetherspoons pub. The Staff are all pleasant and welcoming. Food was good, as are the prices. Nice community feel.

Nice pub, typical Wetherspoon menu, the app did the ordering and table service of the drinks then food was prompt and friendly. All was enjoyed. Good experience so will go again.

Honestly it has gone downhill so much here, totally different portion sizes from plate to plate - one of us had about 10 chips and the other had a big plate load. The food is lower standard and quality in general. They forgot my partners naan bread and when they brought it out it was cold with a thick layer of solid butter on top. His onion bhajee was burnt to a crisp and the chicken was extremely gristly. Of all the wetherspoons I've been to, this is my least favourite by far.

Happy atmosphere and very friendly staff with nice food and clean tables.

Had a cooked breakfast for two and twice I have been there it's been cold and egg and sausage like rubber. Won't be going there again 😶😚😚

Great prices, staff pretty friendly

Went for a Sunday dinner last week for them not to do any Sunday dinners. I had an all day brunch which was not good at all, the chips tasted like they had been warmed up too many times and my fried eggs were terrible. Staff were friendly when they decided to serve you. But too busy talking to each other or regular drinkers. I don't think we will be back