Glasfryn

Glasfryn is a pub operated by Brunning & Price, located in Sychdyn near Mold in Flintshire, Wales. It sits within a well-loved garden with a terrace offering views, and its interior comprises rooms of various sizes for dining and drinking, many with real fires, centred on a well-stocked bar serving local ales, spirits and wines. The kitchen changes its menus regularly to reflect the seasons, offering everything from hearty meals to lighter bites, with a spine of classic British dishes complemented by more exotic influences. Its location a short distance from Theatr Clwyd makes it a popular choice for pre- or post-theatre dining. The building has an unusual history. It was originally built as a judges' residence for circuit judges attending the courts opposite, though no judge ever stayed there; it was briefly noted in the press as the most expensive judges' quarters in the land because it retained a full-time housekeeper and butler despite never being used. It was subsequently sold and became a farm, with large barns that now serve as the pub's kitchens. Brunning & Price bought the building in 1999 and converted it into a pub. The company has acknowledged that the Glasfryn was considered one of the less attractive properties in its group, partly because the absence of mature trees meant it did not sit happily in its environment; it is nonetheless defended as an early example of Arts and Crafts architecture, with glazed red brick that can look cold outside but gives way to a lovely atmosphere inside. Climbing plants and trees have since been planted to soften the building and help it settle into the landscape. As part of Brunning & Price, Glasfryn benefits from a group that began in the North West and North Wales and now has a branch of the family in the South, each pub with its own style and flavour. The pub has been recommended in the Good Beer Guide for many years, including 2008 through 2015 and beyond. It maintains a mailing list with a monthly competition to win a meal valued at £50, and it promotes events such as a Neptune Brewery craft beer and tapas tasting evening. The Glasfryn team positions the pub as offering a warm welcome to all customers, old and new.

The building that now houses Glasfryn was originally constructed as a judges' residence for the circuit judges attending the courts opposite. No judge ever actually stayed there, and the building briefly attracted press attention as the most expensive judges' quarters in the land because, despite never being used, it retained a full-time housekeeper and butler in residence. It was subsequently sold and became a farm, which looked pleasant surrounded by trees and bushes that have since disappeared. The farm needed large barns, which have now become the pub's kitchens. Brunning & Price bought the building in 1999 and converted it into a pub. The company has been candid that quite a few in the company thought the Glasfryn was one of the less attractive properties in the group, perhaps because, in the absence of mature trees, it did not sit happily in its environment. The building does have its defenders, however, as an early example of Arts and Crafts architecture; its glazed red brick can look a bit cold from the outside, but once inside there is a lovely atmosphere. To soften the building to the eye, the company planted lots of climbing plants intended to spread over the structure and planted plenty of trees to help it sit more comfortably in the landscape, though this will take time. There are great views from the terrace. As a Brunning & Price pub, Glasfryn is part of a group that began in the North West and North Wales and now has a branch of the family in the South, each pub with its own style and flavour. The pub has been recommended in the Good Beer Guide for many years, including 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. It maintains a mailing list through which subscribers are entered into a monthly competition to win a meal to the value of £50, and it hosts events such as a Neptune Brewery craft beer and tapas tasting evening. The Glasfryn team describes the pub as offering a warm welcome to all customers and enjoying getting to know new ones.

• 2008

  Recommended in the Good Beer Guide (also 2009–2015).

• 1999

  Brunning & Price bought the building and converted it into a pub.

A warm, unpretentious Brunning & Price pub offering quality fresh ingredients, classic British cooking with global touches, local ales and a garden setting near Theatr Clwyd.

• Cask ales

  Local ales served from a well-stocked bar.

• Seasonal menus

  Menus changed regularly to reflect the seasons, from hearty meals to lighter bites.

• Classic British dishes with global influences

  A spine of classic British dishes complemented by more exotic influences.

1. 1Fresh Food & Cask Ales - Glasfryn | Garden Pub Near Theatr Clwydbrunningandprice.co.uk
2. 2History of the pub - Glasfryn | Garden Pub Near Theatr Clwydbrunningandprice.co.uk
3. 3mailinglistmanagement - Brunning & Price | Our Pubs & Storybrunningandprice.co.uk
4. 4Glasfrynwikidata.org