7-8 Bute Crescent, Cardiff Bay [map]
The giveaway is that PVC banner on the left advertising breakfasts. Eli Jenkins may be named after a character in Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood but it aspires to being nothing more than an imitation Wetherspoon.
You can't really grumble at the bar prices though. At £1.69 a pint, we're even prepared to drink Carlsberg. Two pints for under £3.50 - tonight we're going to party like it's 1989.
Judging by this photo, you might think that patrons take little joy in drinking here, that it's something to be endured with grim determination.
But they were probably just biding their time until this bloke came bursting through the front door - a busker with the largest accordion we've ever seen. Just look at the size of it: he can barely lift the thing.
Now imagine the cacophony it's capable of producing. No wonder those blokes at the bar had an air of apprehension about them.
In between the discount pints and the startling musical entertainment, Eli Jenkins is fairly orthodox.
But it neatly bridges the gap between the new and old Bay and, despite its Wetherspoon Lite stylings, maintains a peculiar character all of its own.
2 comments:
I quite like the Eli,truth be told. It's not a bad place for a beer on international days when its crowded out up town and the atmosphere is tidy. Service is pretty good and grub not bad at all. Wish I had seen the accordian player though - he has the definite look of Ronnie Barker in the Porridge days - Norman Stanley Fletcher on a day out from HMP Slade or after transfer to HMP Cardiff.
Had totally forgotten about that accordian player. It certainly added to the experience. We need to get down the Bay again soon - it's been a while since we were last there.
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