The Head of Steam Cardiff image

The Head of Steam Cardiff

Bar Pub Sports bar

One of the Top rated Sports bars in Cardiff


Address

18-19 Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG, United Kingdom

Website

www.theheadofsteam.co.uk

Contact

+44 29 2037 2582

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 12 to 10:30 pm
  • Monday: (New Year's Day), 12 to 10 pm, Holiday hours
  • Tuesday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Wednesday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Thursday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Friday: 12 pm to 12 am
  • Saturday: 12 pm to 12 am

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: beers (19) good (18) staff (17) great (15) Great (14) selection (13) vegan (13) beer (13) friendly (11) Cardiff (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Josh G. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice flatbread gyros things, quite a lot of hot sauce so be careful if you don't like spicy food! Excellent and expansive range of beers, lots of cask as well. Nice comfy booth seating, lots of plugs and good WiFi. Friendly and very helpful staff.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Malcolm L. 1 year ago on Google
    Cracking selection of beers on cask and keg. Told barman I was into strong, hazy IPAs, and he recommended Every Cloud by Tooth & Claw Brewing, not disappointed, so much so, I had a second. 🙂 Also decided to eat there, decent burgers, well cooked, nicely presented and reasonably priced. Good all round service. I did comment on the choice of good music being played, and the main man took credit for that as well. 🤣🤣👍 All in all, if we visit Cardiff again we will return.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tim N (. 1 year ago on Google
    Great selection of beers, nice venue and tasty food. Had the burger with strips of steak, chips were on point and the burger did not disappoint. Friends had the kebab which they enjoyed as well. A lot of veg and vegan options.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ally M. 1 year ago on Google
    I'd only ever been here for drinks before covid but I had dinner here a couple of weeks ago and loved it! The staff were helpful and friendly and the atmosphere was great! Really loved the variety of music and the large number of vegan options! We shared each others meals and they were delicious! Definitely recommend the vegan burgers - even the non-vegans in our party loved them!

  • 5/5 Dan W. 1 year ago on Google
    Cardiff unexpectedly busy when we arrived and found this absolute gem of a pub. Great range of beers and a fantastic menu, something for everyone. Family of 4 and all food arrived in good time and the as all delicious. Staff behind bar and serving food were brilliant. Will definitely visit again.

  • 4/5 Michael A. 1 year ago on Google
    Astonishing array of IPAs. Tiny Rebel features heavily on the bill. Can't speak for the food but the atmosphere is fizzing and bar staff are great. Seems like a good place to start your Friday evening.

  • 5/5 Jimmer C. 1 year ago on Google
    Staff were incredible. They know their beers and were great at helping us choose our pint of choice. Great atmosphere and food looked great.

  • 4/5 Steff L. 1 year ago on Google
    Got enticed in by the vegan options, came in and had the ‘lamb’ gyros and ‘chicken’ gyros and the lamb one was absolutely insane. The quality of the vegan meat was amazing. Hats off to the chef! The chicken one was a bit blander but still good quality and a reasonable price. The waiter as well, what a legend. 👌🏼 Would recommend this pub for good food and atmosphere. 😊

  • 4/5 Karine L. 11 months ago on Google
    Nice setting, the biggest choice of beer I've ever seen. We did not try the food but when we decide to return Saturday night for another drink the whole place was book and we were not allowed in, shame. also had 2 shuffleboards table, £10 per hour, wished they'd offer a 30min play for beginners who just want to discover the game.

  • 5/5 Lindsay U. 11 months ago on Google
    Went in midweek for lunch. Loved the gyros and loaded fries. Great selection of beer.

  • 3/5 Damian B. 9 months ago on Google
    Quite on the night visited, food was good, tad expensive nearly £15 burger and fries. The fries were awful. Not fresh cut as expected, the mayonnaise was "watered-down" liquid gunge, but the burger 🍔 was top class.

  • 5/5 Lewis T. 10 months ago on Google
    This place is a must-visit for craft beer enthusiasts. The atmosphere is always buzzing, the craft and session beers are top-notch. I met a gentleman called Alex at the venue today and his knowledge and passion elevate the experience. The staff shares the same enthusiasm, creating a friendly and inviting vibe. It's the perfect spot to unwind with friends and colleagues. Cheers to great beers and good times!

  • 5/5 Charly A. 10 months ago on Google
    Great food, great drinks & Amazing music. The entry is disabled friendly as well.

  • 4/5 Tim H. 9 months ago on Google
    Can I suggest an improvement to how drinks are ordered at the bar..? Could it be made clearer where to order? One, two or multiple points and if food needs to be ordered at a different place? The queue often seems to end up snaking at the bottom of the stairs and it's unclear if you can order at the left side of the bar? Are there plans to add drinks to table app orders instead of food only? I don't want to be over critical because I do really like this place and prefer it to many other places plus such a huge selection of beers!

  • 5/5 Nicole C. 3 months ago on Google New
    On December 23rd, 2023, I visited the Head of Steam with friends and my dog. While ordering a drink at the bar, I was approached by a man who immediately began questioning why I was wearing a mask. Despite my explanation, he continued to make derogatory comments and attempted to physically remove my mask. I would like to commend the staff at Head of Steam for their prompt and professional response. The bartender wearing a colorful shirt immediately berated the man and promptly notified security, who removed the man from the premises. Another gentleman in a grey shirt also checked in on me to ensure I was okay. I greatly appreciate the swift and effective action taken by the staff at Head of Steam to diffuse the situation. Their measures to notify other bouncers in the area to keep the man out of their premises demonstrates their commitment to the safety of their customers. Thank you for your exceptional service, I will most definitely be back. Also, food and music was great, lots of vegan options!

  • 5/5 Aron S. 3 months ago on Google New
    I know head of steam well, regularly visit and supply the Birmingham branch. Was really impressed with Cardiff bar. Great staff, really clean (everywhere) which is rare at times, good food, fair prices. Just really impressed with the place, thank you for an enjoyable afternoon and will visit with my kids again. The manager behind bar was super helpful and welcoming.

  • 4/5 Ash S. 3 months ago on Google New
    Nice pub. Great selection of beers and not too expensive for a city centre. Sadly, they had run out of pizza doughs and beef patties when i visited, so most of the menu was off. But the Gyros was very tasty! Worth a visit and will do so again.

  • 4/5 S W. 4 months ago on Google
    The vegan head of steak burger is probably one of the best vegan burger I had ever have. It is a must try. The vegan club pizza is rich in favour but a little much for us.

  • 5/5 Long Island Ice T. 6 months ago on Google
    Great pub with a huge selection of ales! They also have a good selection of Lagers, ciders and cocktails. Great tunes too which is always a bonus.

  • 5/5 Robert P. 4 months ago on Google
    This is my top choice for going out for a drink in Cardiff. If you love a craft beer this is the place for you. Bar staff know all the beers and I'm told they can even request some stuff in. Food has a good veggie and vegan option and the loaded fries are my go to. They have beers that they keep and ones that change so going in always has a surprise. The bar has a downstairs and upstairs so plenty of room and there are two shuffle boards and a pol table.

  • 5/5 Matt R. 6 months ago on Google
    Excellent pub, The Head of steam chain always do a great job of the presentation of their pubs, and this is no exception, lovely herringbone tiled bar, and ZZ Top rocking it at lunchtime, the perfect accompaniment to a beer!

  • 2/5 Julie D. 6 months ago on Google
    Update 23/9/23 Really disappointed to downgrade a review. Ordered food and drinks to share, tacos and loaded fries. Tacos were good. Loaded fries came out with curdled cheese sauce on top. Asked if I could make complaint about it as it was definitely not worth the money we paid, the member of staff even commented that they didn't realize they sold scrambled eggs, but the their was nothing they could do about it. No apology or offer to replace, ate around the curdled cheese sauce as best we could so not to waste. When served at the bar, service was friendly and helpful as usual. Dog friendly bar with a good selection of beers, staff are friendly and helpful.

  • 5/5 David T. 2 years ago on Google
    Turned up as it opened ahead of wales vs south africa game, amazing atmosphere, good service, great option of drinks, limited food (due to match day) but quality was amazing

  • 5/5 R. M. 3 years ago on Google
    Spacious and welcoming! Staff knowledgeable and friendly with regards to beer recommendations and food options. Due to covid regulations, we were unable to order from bar, however staff was very good at visiting our table often. We ended up having several drinks and snacks, and then ordered takeaway. The food was delicious! We will definitely visit again soon. Highly recommended.

  • 5/5 loulah b. 2 years ago on Google
    Relaxed atmosphere, fantastic vegan food, great range of beers. Will definitely come again when visiting Cardiff!

  • 1/5 stephen g. 2 years ago on Google
    Good beer and excellent bar staff. But we ordered food this afternoon and the chicken burger was raw. I noticed that the table behind me was having a refund for thier food I just wonder now did the have the same misfortune as my wife. It was lucky we noticed the chicken was raw or it could have had very serious consequences. Be careful if you eat here to check that your food is cooked.

  • 5/5 Darren S. 2 years ago on Google
    I visited this brilliant Cardiff real ale pub on Friday 8th October 2021 This pub had on my visit really plesant helpful staff teally presently interior and locals Beers a plenty and very good choice of local and far afield hand pumped ales A must to visit when drinking real ales in Cardiff

  • 5/5 Margaret W. 2 years ago on Google
    Greatt selection of beers. Expectations were not high for the food but it was delicious, hot and very different from normal pub grub. Lady serving behind the bar was very friendly and helpful. A good experience

  • 5/5 Lee 2 years ago on Google
    What a place! I've been to a few of the head of steam pubs and the one in Cardiff is awesome! They have such a huge range of beer, spirits, ales, lager and wine, there really is something for everyone with brands aswell as local and more independent brewerys. The building Itself is clean, with loads of room and an absolutely awesome bar! It's wheelchair accessible and The staff are great, from recommendations for beer and food, which there's a huge menu and it's absolutely fantastic! Both for vegans and meat eaters, Really do recommend the food!

  • 5/5 Liam B. 2 years ago on Google
    Great selection of cask, keg and bottle in the centre of the understated and great city of Cardiff. Fantastic service. What's not to love about this bar?

  • 4/5 D J (. 2 years ago on Google
    Be aware Fantasia is £7.60 a pint. It's nice but is it THAT nice

  • 4/5 Rajmund Kaluza (. 1 year ago on Google
    Just came for a drink before the Wales vs Argentina Rugby Game. They have great selection of beers, lagers, ciders, ales, etc. Most of them nest be from their own brewery cos I've never heard about them. Few lager selections like Peroni and Sagres that I picked. Not cheap but it is capital in the end of the day during the International games. All beers were served in plastic glass due to the game. Shame as it tastes different.

  • 5/5 Matthew R. 2 years ago on Google
    Always enjoy calling here. Great choice of beers.

  • 4/5 Sean D. 1 year ago on Google
    Very large choice of guest ale's and nice comfortable atmosphere, upstairs was spacious and neatly decorated! I appreciate it being an ale and beer house that there are a wonderful selection of both however we were a party of 8 and we were all beer drinkers bar one who drinks cider. Larger choice of cider's would be nice

  • 5/5 Soph 2 years ago on Google
    Cant wait to come back, fantastic service, fab food...music, great (apart from the Beatles)...i love it and will be back, also A* for the extra service we received after asking questions!!

  • 5/5 John A. 1 year ago on Google
    Great pub bar that serves food and some different beers, I had a Coffee flavour stout definitely one to try. A slightly different decor than most pubs attracting a slightly different t clientel that were really friendly just like the bar staff. We will be back to drink and stay longer now we have found this great bar.

  • 2/5 Ryan H. 2 years ago on Google
    Need more staff for game day. I waited at the bar for 40 minutes, close to 30 minutes right up against the bar. Young bartender kept skipping over us, needs more training to serve the person waiting the longest. I’m tall and was wearing a huge hat so it wasn’t like I couldn’t be seen. Unlikely to return here after this experience. Great interior and clean for a high use bar.

  • 5/5 Katie P. 2 years ago on Google
    Head of Steam were overwhelmingly accommodating for my disability going above and beyond to allow me a normal experience on a busy match day! They also accepted my dog and had treats with a bowl of water which he loved! The staff were so friendly and helpful and were excellent and polite when dealing with difficult customers! A special shout out to Jowad he was incredible we will of course be back! Thank you

  • 5/5 Joey E. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the best places for a burger and beer if Cardiff! Great vegan options too👌 The beer menu is varied and good quality, they also have awesome alcohol free beers too. Give the Drop Bear a try!

  • 5/5 Phoebe H. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing experience. Staff were very friendly and welcoming, greeting us as we came in, and the space inside is lovely. Theres a huge vegan and vegetarian selection, nearly half the menu, and it tastes amazing. We had the 'buttermilk chicken' and fries, and I still cant stop thinking about them, it was so tasty. Will definitly be going again, and cannot reccomend strongly enough to others.


Call +44 29 2037 2582 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Food at bar
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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