Cardiff remembered: One drink at a time in the Rummer Tavern

Rummer Tavern on Duke Street. Image: Media Wales.

Written by Brian Lee

It was in 1903 that the Black Lion in St Mary Street became known as the Sandringham Hotel.

Many of the public houses were renamed around this time. For instance, the Carpenters Arms in the Hayes became the Oxford Hotel.

The Tennis Court, now the Owain Glyndwr, became the Green Dragon while the Criterion in Church Street used to be the Shoulder of Mutton.

The Steam Mills Arms (1858) in St Mary Street was renamed The Terminus in 1882 and was later known as Sam’s Bar.

The lower end of Castle Street was known as Broad Street and in this street stood the Cardiff Arms (1792-1878), Five Bells (1748-1855), The White Lion ((1778-1858) and the Cowbridge Arms (1863- 1900).

The Cardiff Arms was a very large hotel which was said to have “accommodation fit for a King”.

The Five Bells was a corner house, standing within the boundary walls of the castle, and just left to the tower.

In those far-off days there was a court of a dozen houses alongside the Five Bells.

Immediately in front of the tower stood The White Lion.

The Cowbridge Arms was situated at the end of a row of houses that ran right in the centre of Castle Street, thus making two streets Angel Street and Castle Street.

Angel Street had five pubs: The Globe, Ty Dderwyn Deg, The Angel, The Myrtle Tree and The Castle, the last two being next door to each other and right opposite The Angel.

The Dderwyn Ddeg (or the Fair Oak) was a little lower down.

In Duke Street stood the Old Green Dragon (1720-1900), New Green Dragon (1792- 1855), Glove & Shears (1782- 1910) and the Rummer Tavern (1813).

The Rummer Tavern was kept by a rather portly gentleman named Hopkins who was a member of the Cardiff Cricket Club.

He abhorred bad language and wouldn’t put up with it.

A house rule of his was that no-one should have more than one drink at a time.

• Please send your pictures and stories to Brian Lee, Cardiff Remember, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff, CF10 1XR
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