The Waterguard in Cardiff

Indifferent food, empty pub, no atmosphere

I went on Sunday for Sunday roast and they do say they do not have even they have sign out side that off it - the lady quickly direct us to other place

Worst experience in Cardiff Bay. Avoid at all costs. Rude staff, very expensive and no atmosphere. We were going to eat but the "welcome" and atmosphere was so bad we went elsewhere. Don't understand how Sam Smiths can make such a poor choice. 15 miles away in Newport is another Sam Smiths pub and it's a pleasure to visit. Won't be going near the Waterguard again.

A little quite but it was a Friday afternoon just popped in for a coffee and a chill. Polite staff nice and clean. Nice ornaments.

Really nice pub with decent beers on offer.

The oldest brewery in Yorkshire and the pub has no cask ale, shocking, I never thought I'd see the day ...

Walked in to shelter from rain. Being a Samuel Smith pub they almost exclusively serve their own beer, we asked for a bottled one that we get from a local off-license for £2.50 (low-alcohol) and they charged us £7 per bottle, we told them to forget it and had half a coke instead, still overpriced. Absolutely no atmosphere inside, cold, echoey, furniture made it look like an old people’s home. Sticky tables too which easily could have been cleaned considering the place was empty. Staff were pleasant.

Superb location, right on the docks, It is strangely enough a Sam Smith's managed house offering tapas. Enjoyed the ale, the food and the rest before approaching the city centre. Did find it a little difficult to get a taxi to the city though.

Great place, lovely food. I would recommend .

Lovely pub, nice and chilled. Good place for a first date 😉

Only went here to use the toilet to be told my child wasn't allowed to use the toilet unless we bought something. Ridiculous what this world has come to you have to pay for the privilege to exercise a human right. Ridiculous.

The worst Caesar Salad I have ever had, chicken in cubes and tasteles. Disabled loo had no loo paper. Wish I had gone somewhere else for lunch. No one else eating there at 2.15pm

Wir waren hier zum sunday roast und wir haben selten schlechter gegessen. Das Fleisch war offensichtlich schon vor Stunden gegart worden und zäh und kalt, die Kartoffeln und das Gemüse auch ein Albtraum. Wastet Money! Never again!

I like the atmosphere, the design, the tidiness. Staff were very nice. The drinks were very average. There are board games, you can play. I think if I go back there, it’s just for its vibes!

I was walking past with my girlfriend, and called in for a drink. The bar was really quiet with maybe 3 tables taken. I needed to use the restroom first and I discovered they were locked. When I asked for the PIN, I was told that I had to be a customer to use the toilet. When I explained I really needed to use the bathroom and I would be buying a drink afterwards, they then very rudely demanded that I buy drinks first and they hear the story all the time. Needless to say I was so outraged that we left without ordering anything and won't be returning.

Nice pub at the bay with different beers from all the others! Great atmosphere!

Great rainy grey afternoon playing board games with my niece. Really fun couple of hours with friendly staff.

Nice pub away from the hustle and bussle of mermaid quay . Lovely , friendly staff. Food was excellent ,nice choice of drinks . We certainly visit again when in the area

2 small glasses of coke £8.60 no wonder the pub was quiet while the rest of the bay was full. Also you have to ask the bar for a code to use the toilet, not exactly a warm welcome. Even the higher end bars down the bay are cheaper.

Really nice pub with a fantastic range of beers / ciders - all brewed by Samuel Smith brewery. Not tried the food yet, but if anything like the beer, should be good 👍

Good atmosphere. We ate fish & chips, the fish was fresh and tasty. The pea puree that accompanied it was very good and seemed homemade.

8pound for about 5 pieces of fried squid rip off also some chips about 5 unbelievable very expensive not happy plus miserable bar staff

Had a lovely time at the Waterguard today, We went for Sunday Lunch the 1st time there and it didn't dissapoint..Lovely Friendly service, Delicious Food & good atmosphere & very dog friendly..Impressed so will definitely return..Thank you

Great pub, lovely atmosphere, will be going again!🙂

Excellent Fish and Chips and excellent beer, I recommend.

Lovely interior & decor with an interesting range of drinks. Only one bar person serving on a Friday evening however who had to take all the food orders and serve drinks. Slightly more expensive food n drink prices, but a nice place to spend an hour or two

Great find, made to feel very welcome including our dog. Had amazing fish and chips, a stout as good as Guinness and lovely raspberry gin. Everywhere was beautifully clean, food hot and tasty and really well priced. Thank you George we really enjoyed our visit 👍🏻

Great location, nice and clean, average food. The burgers were ok but the chicken was dry and obviously reheated. How can you get cola and lemonade so wrong?! It tastes like fizzy water….disgusting.

Just popped in for a snack and coffee. Only had Hallomi Frys but they were delicious, and the coffee was good and strong. Stopped on return journey for another coffee before going back to hotel. Very quiet for time of day so not much atmosphere but for us it was nice and quiet with good views.

First impressions were good, clean, tidy and lovely and warm. Bar manager was very friendly and the beer we tried was nice. Unfortunately the food we had was absolutely awful. Mac and Cheese on the menu was made to sound gourmet but when I came it was anything but. Described as having a mix of Stilton and Brie etc but when it arrived looked like packet mac and cheese with grated cheddar on top that wasn’t even melted. grilled sandwiches were horrific, the bread was at best lightly toasted and had obviously been done under an oven grill that isn’t working properly (probably why the cheese on the mac and cheese wasn’t melted) rather than using a sandwich grill. The fillings were awful too. The burger my son had was ok. Not sure if this was a one off, maybe the chef phoned in sick or something so they tried to muddle through but it was the worst pub meal I’ve ever had. Such a shame as the place has potential to be a really nice gastro pub given its location.

No gluten free option staff were very non comital

For no reason I couldn't have a sandwich because they can't be made after 3 even though I was there at 3.14. They weren't able to explain why.

Great pub with great choice of Samuel Smiths beers and lagers. Pub grub food menus. Friendly and efficient staff. Great location, no sports screens or taped music. Dog and child friendly

I feel like some of these reviews are unfair. There are criticisms that the pub doesn't have a music license - so? Who goes to a pub to listen to music. All Sam Smiths pubs don't have music, it's part of the aesthetic. You go there to chat, not to shout over the speakers. They say this on their website. Also, it's a proper public house, not a free house so they only do Sam Smiths products and associated products. This means Sam Smiths lager, bitter, crisps etc. I didn't know this until I went there and Googled it so I can understand why some people would rate this low, if they were expecting San Miguel on tap and Sam Smith on Radio 1. I will say however that it is expensive. More than £1 per pint more than the other bars in Cardiff Bay. I'd say try it out, but don't make it your regular unless you're a millionaire. Edit: still hasn't changed from my original review

Did not eat here but the staff were very friendly and professional. Sadly, we were only visiting Cardiff for the day, but we would definitely visit again

Called on here onbthe weekend was really quiet but welcomed dogs and friendly staff will definitely call again, looked clean and tidy with a nice array of food and beers (not your normal named types however)

Called for Sunday roast. Expecting really good things due to its fabulous location. Very disappointed. Atmosphere like a funeral parlour - no ambience whatsoever. No veggie roast option available. Meat both undercooked and overcooked. Even tried CPR on a piece of beef, as I'm sure I detected a pulse! Vegetables very undercooked - definitely on the raw side...considered sitting near window so that sun could warm up the vegetables! Surprised, as we called 30 minutes after opening time..... Suggest the venue uses an oven to roast food, not a microwave. Recommend people avoid this venue if looking for good (or even reasonable) food... Poor selection of beers too... really disappointing. Paid up front - thankfully as would have been unable to tip (based on poor service and food quality.

Welcoming staff. Quiet and clean. Not many in at 1pm Saturday. Lovely earl grey. Had the 3 sharing dishes for £18. Very nice. Highly recommend

Nice place. Only does weird beers though. Would be a 5* if they had something mainstream in. Staff where lovely.

We were so happy to find this restaurant/bar quite late on a Sunday afternoon. We had our small dog with us so we weren't confident on finding a suitable place to eat. We were welcomed at the door and seated. We enjoyed a Sunday roast and even the dog received a small bowl of meat. Food quality was excellent, the veggies being cooked to perfection, not over-cooked. The dessert were delicious too. Thank you team Waterguard!

Lovely food, nice beer, excellent service, great location.

It was very nice in there. The staff were helpful and food was nice and they made to what we wanted

La ubicación está muy bien Yo pedí fish and chips y me resultó muy pesado La cerveza estaba muy buena

Banging place for a quiet pint or meal with the family/dogs. Been a few times, from the pie to burgers and the Sunday roast to the ice cream, we've never had a bad meal there. Drinks are all good too, cider to larger it's very reasonably priced and good quality. The views out the front and back are nice, facilities are all very accessible, play ground outside for the kids. Family and pet friendly atmosphere. Owners are nice too, very friendly. Never seen my daughter try to hug a stranger on first meeting them, really took to the manageress. Could go there as a 1st date or a 50th.

Buena cerveza y buenas vistas. El personal muy amable Pedí fish and chips y fue mucha cantidad.

Amazing place we passed and stopes in there lovely beer some things I’ve never tried but lush place all clean and tidy and amazing

Brilliant place great food and service. Dogs welcomed too

Nice pub with good food in a brilliant location. Outside seating and dog friendly, right by the bay. Not a fan of Sam Smiths beers, or their bizarre policy’s, but if the weather is decent this place is well worth a punt.

We went to this pub for a evening meal food was good. Also dog friendly as we were on holiday only staying in town for one night . Good outdoor seating area too out the back .

Called in for a drink but couldn’t believe the cost of the beers, £21 for 3 pints, absolute joke, can understand why the pub was so quiet, will not be rushing back any time soon. Beer was more expensive than event days in the capital sadly 👎

Set apart from the other eateries of Mermaid Quay, just past The Senedd, this Pub is well worth a visit. We were so glad that we continued walking past the other restaurants as the food and service were both excellent at The Waterguard. Would highly recommend. 😁

Lovely spot Great staff and good selection of beer. Beautiful fish and chips. Worth a visit. A nice retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the bay.

Lovely spot Great staff and good selection of beer. Beautiful fish and chips. Great place to go for food when a big show is on in the WMC. Avoid the crowded and (no reservation wait) of chain restaurants in mermaid quay. Worth a visit. A nice retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the bay. I heard this place has been taken over by new management a couple of months ago.

This Pub is in a great location, but the choice of beer is very limited & poor. This is a shame as it is a decent enough pub in a prime location.

When we arrived and went to bar to place our drink and food order- the bartender told us the food would be about a 45 min wait (there was only 3 other very small tables of people in the building at the time of 2-3 people) and we said that was fine and decided since it would be such a wait to order several small nibbles to eat while we waited on our main courses. After an hour of not receiving anything at all we finally asked who we believed to be the chef (who was chilling outside having a cigarette and then hanging out with the other table and their dog) if we could possibly get at least our nibbles checked on since it had been over an hour of waiting. He then went to the back and came out with it and acted surprised that we wanted it before our main meal. Everything was burnt and overcooked but we were starving so we didn’t even care at that point. I’m so confused as there were only 6 people in the entire building how the food was taking so long in the first place. If you only have one day of vacationing in Wales- I highly suggest an alternative idea for food.

Such a peaceful setting amidst the bustle of the Cardiff Bay restaurants - having said that, a little low background music would probably enhance the atmosphere. Varied menu and competitively priced in relation to the neighbouring restaurants. The food was superb - cooked to perfection - generous portions - very hot and beautifully presented. Staff were pleasant but not intrusive. We shared a very pleasant conversation with the manager when our meal was over - he had only been at The Waterguard for just over one month - it is his desire to continue to offer good, well-cooked food which customers will continue to enjoy. We wish him well in his endeavours.

What time do you finish for food? We ask at 8.15pm. 9pm. 8.47pm order food. Kitchen closes at 8.45. 🤣 nice enough bar otherwise with cosy Rauld Dahl room if you can score it and interesting Sam Smith's beer selection. Friendly manager. Shame we couldn't try the food.

Not bad, bit very expensive drinks, and very limited too, they only sell Samuel Smith on draught

Stopped in for grub and a pint on a drab Tuesday. Had the big fish dinner dnd shared a little with George Seagull who was stalking me. Yes outside! Decent food.

Great pup in a slightly quieter area of the Bay. Totally different choice of beers and lagers from the same old choices you get everywhere else.

Only had a drink and sat outside but we have been coming here for years. Was an ideal place for adults to have a drink whilst their children play at the park. Two pints cost £14 so it’s a bit expensive but it’s a nice spot.

Good Sam Smith's pub, friendly and chatty staff. 2 1/2 pints of lager and a pint of coke cans to around £12. Nice place to sit outside in the shade on a sunny day.

Empty.no music in background.staff constantly on phones. No milk for a latte coffee.shame because this looks a picturesque building. Twice I've been now, thought we'd give them another try. Both times the same. Need to seriously buck up their service etc. Or sell to someone else.

Food was good, solid pub food, nothing special, but nice. However it was completely silent when we went in so very awkward

Nice friendly pub, slightly away from the main food/drink area. Good selections of ales and beers, food was good and the staff were friendly. Chilled and quite atmosphere. Bit pricey otherwise 5*

Wow, £7 a pint for Cider. £7.50 for a sausage that has been nuked in a microwave. Manager lied and said the sausage was done in the oven........paltry portions. Refund given for the sausage and chips. Avoid at all costs.

Nice place but no atmosphere for a Sat night

Great Spot for when the ship's are Docked.

Добро като място и гледка. Няма музика и беше празно на обед. Не се спряхме.

It's alright, better now you can glance at your phone. Prices are high. Needs some entertainment there, never understood why they don't

Very friendly people good beer 🍺 👍

Had a terrible coffee from here, only to get it replaced with another awful coffee.

I was visiting my beautiful sister at Cardiff university today so we decided to go to the waterguard in Cardiff bay. This was the worst decision ever!!! The outside of the pub gave off fortress vibes and inside the pub was modern but it was decorated with old furniture. Now as we went in the pub we weren’t greeted by the uninterested woman on her phone (despite the no phone policy - that may still be a thing or not). Also the atmosphere was like Nottingham Forest atmosphere (you could hear a pin drop) and there was no music. When we went to order they had nothing but chicken and four of them left at 1:30 during lunch which is very sub par. When the chicken came the plates were substantially smaller that the those next to us and it tasted like orrible. The Yorkshire puddings were brick like and the chicken was probably boiled or microwaved. In conclusion this is not recommended and shouldn’t be consumed by humans (the dog was allowed in and could enjoy our meals (only positive of our visit))

The meal was lovely, but me and my wife could not get over the fact that it was £8 for 2 pints of Coke we felt ripped off immediately

It's generally a quiet pub but gets busy if local employers are looking for a pub venue. The outside space is enjoyable in good weather when the inside overheats from all that glass! Sam Smiths brewery so interesting set of beers on offer. No idea about the food I've not eaten there for a while.

Had an evening work function and am surprised this establishment is still open. No atmosphere whatsoever. No music because they don't have a license. What pub doesn't have a license to play music?? During December when they should be at their busiest, there were 5 non-eating patrons, other than our group. Surprisingly, they still managed to forget two main courses even though we had pre-ordered. The food was bland but edible, portion size was fair and our group had a great time, because we made it great. I would certainly never revisit this pub as it offers absolutely nothing. Disappointing.

Good things: the food was actually really tasty. Not so good things: we were the only customers there, they had our order ahead of time so knew what to cook and how much, and yet they failed to serve two of our colleagues?? They only received their dishes after everyone else finished eating theirs. There's no music there? We asked but it seems they don't even have speakers. Drinks are ridiculously expensive but then I assume it's the case everywhere right now... It was rather tight - there were 19 of us and we were pretty squeezed, I'm not sure how they wanted to accommodate the original number of attendees (a few people cancelled last minute). I am actually impressed this place is still going.

Excellent! Lively views overlooking the bay. Our meal was delicious, and more importantly, our little dog was welcome. Will be returning.

No one tells you it's order at the bar, the food when it arrived was awful, microwave food at chef prices! Dull and dirty. Haven't been for 8 years and won't come again.

I liked this place but I'd have liked to have been able to order normal drinks

Great views all round and the little room in the photo dedicated to the author Roald Dahl who was born nearby

Been here a few times. It's a very unusual pub, very quiet with a tense atmosphere - feels like a library. Also as per other comments, it's pretty expensive. Probably won't return.

Lovely place .. only had drinks

Okay average food but not pricey

Still a lovely pub. Really good beer and very reasonable prices - nice outdoor seating area. Cant fault it

Nice relaxing bar. Allows dogs and has some old Sam Smiths beers. I haven't tried the food yet though but it looks good. Doesn't have Guinness but has a Sam Smiths stout. It loses a star for young staff paying more attention to her phone than the customers.

It was empty and pricey with 0% atmosphere!

Lovely location,staff nice,dog friendly. It was expensive so only stayed for 1 drink. (£10.40 for a lemonade and a pint)

Lovely pub. Serve all their own branded alcohol. Tried 1 of there largers and it was spot on. Will definitely return

Great Cider enjoyed in a Private room with Games.

Un pub bellissimo, tanto spazio anche esterno, arredamento originale che richiama la baia su cui si affaccia, sono stata veramente bene, ottima birra, staff gentile e disponibile. Pulito e ordinato. Complimenti!

Lovely pub and setting, friendly staff. Drinks on the pricey side, paid £6-50 for a pint of organic larger.

Love the out door sitting areas. Nice views especially behind. Found stsff were really nice. Really felt relaxed here.

Lovely and quiet and quick service. Very clean also.

Never seen such a wide range of unusual beers in my life! Has two pints of Samuel Smiths which was the best beer I’ve ever tasted! Ok it’s not cheap, but well worth a visit!

This has become my local since getting an apartment down the Bay. The selection of beers is very good and the steak & ale pie is AMAZING!! I'd take a photo of it but it didn't last long enough on my plate to take the shot! 🤣

Very friendly staff. Decent beers that you won't get anywhere else nearby.

Lovely outside area and nice staff. Good view of bay

Enjoyed the well presented, averagely priced fish and chips. Drinks were expensive, so only had one. Good quick service. Good atmosphere.

Good service and great beers. Proper British beer too, no fashionable explosions of American hops