The Pelican
in her Piety is a pub in a fantastic location. In Ogmore
Village , Vale of Glamorgan, up the river
from Ogmore-by-Sea and its beach, and across the road from Ogmore Castle
and the stepping stones to the spectacular sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr.
I first
went to the Pelican around five years ago, when its reputation for food was
riding high; thanks in part to some rave newspaper reviews. It was a gastropub
when the term still meant something. The pub is still under the same management.
Stephen Fisher took it on as Managing Director in 1999 and spectacularly
reversed its fortunes (claiming a 500% increase in turnover); he is currently Operations Director.
On Friday, after
dropping my eldest at her work experience and taking a strenuous walk around
Merthyr Mawr in the sun, an al fresco
lunch at The Pelican in her Piety seemed to be called for.
I had one
of the lunchtime specials (on the slates): Fresh Gower mussels cooked in
garlic, white wine and cream sauce. They were served in an impressively large
Mussel Pot with a crusty baguette (£10.95). The mussels were large and
succulent. The portion size was large, the creamy liquor plentiful and the
bread was fresh.
Other
specials on offer included Homemade Moussaka with Greek salad, Green pesto and
homemade onion marmalade and Goats cheese flatbread, cod and chips, Beef
madras, minted lamb-burger. There’s also a full menu of lunch options,
including sandwich baguettes.
The real
ales on tap on Friday included Wye Valley Ales, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Marsden’s
Pedigree. The Pelican is an occasional live music venue.
The Pelican
in her Piety has recently divided opinion on review sites, as to whether the
food justifies the above-average prices. If you drop in after a day on the
beach expecting inexpensive pub food you may be disappointed. Some may also
have over-inflated expectations, based on previous rave reviews in the press.
However,
The Pelican has loyal regulars and people who regularly return as visitors. I
personally have no complaints as an occasional visitor. I think this is a place
to go when you know what you want, and are prepared to pay restaurant prices to
get it. It may be beer-battered fish and chips by the log fire in the
characterful Ogmore Bar or, in my case, mussels in the sunshine outside.
With the
change in the weather, and the kid’s off on holidays next week, my summer definitely
started with a lunch at The Pelican.
The Pelican in her Piety
Vale of
Glamorgan CF32 0QP
01656 880
049
http://www.pelicanpub.co.uk
The Vale of Glamorgan Pub Tour 2012:
The Farmers Arms,
St Brides Major
The Bush Inn, St
Hilary
http://www.bushinn-sthilary.com
http://www.bushinn-sthilary.com
Lamb and
Flag, Wick
Blue
Anchor, East Aberthaw
Six Bells,
Penmark
Blacksmith’s
Arms, Llanmaes
Plough and Harrow , Monknash
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