Accommodation and Entertainment in Llanberis

Welcome to Y Fricsan / Snowdon Inn

We apologise that the Welsh language version of this site is still not ready. Sorry!.

Frickstock 22nd – 25th August : Alaw Ward Fundraiser

This promises to be our most adventurous music weekend to date, with four days of sumptuous local live music and deckhands along with musical visitors from further afield. Two stages. Two Bars. Two hog-roasts. Too much.

Friday night sees the return of four local class acts – country rockers Cowbois Celtaidd, followed by Wales reggae supremos Vates, and finishing off with Y Fricsans favourites and Wales’ greatest (new album track13 – beautiful) Gwibdaith Hen Fran plus deck set from Piwi Racubah.

Saturday will kick off at about 2pm with Byd Mawr looking after us for the day on the decks. From 4 - 5pm we welcome the Performance Poetry of, among others, Sophie McKeand (‘the armchair anarchist’), Martin Daws, and Mr Phormula (AKA Ed Holden of Genod Drwg). We then move into the live music (about 7pm onwards) with late arrivals Egdun and the Big , followed by local heroes Something Personal, the amazing Calansho, followed by the ‘anything could happen now’ of Mudflaps.

Sunday. Kicking off at around 2pm again with Fun and Games on the field. There will be a river duck race, a river tug of war (life jackets will be compulsory), and the first (outside anyway) Y Fricsan Spacehopper Race Meeting. The music will be again starting off around 2pm with our great mates the Cyd Floss Corporation taking care of the daily decks. From around 8pm we have the class bass and drum duo Numgums, followed by the sublime heavy rock outfit Deadlight Spiral, topped off with the return of the well-organised chaos of the get-your-dancin-shoes-on-see-em-here-while-we-can-still-afford-em-the-valleys-greatest-export-bigger-than-a-jar-of-marmite Derwyddon Dr Gonzo.

Monday. We are proud and grateful to be hosting the Natty Mark Soundsystem for the weekend. They’ll be dipping in and out throughout the bash with their live/decks roots reggae. But Monday from 2pm will be giving us a day of reggae chill-out. Can’t wait. The sun will shine.

Food. Friday BBQ – meat and veggie. Sat and Sunday Hogroasts (Mick the Pig local beauties) with veggie options. Monday – too tired to cook.
Bar. Friday Saturday Sunday – 12 noon till 3am. Monday 12 till 12.

The weekend will raise as much as possible for Alaw Ward Cancer Unit. We’ll be charging entry for the first time – from 6pm Friday Saturday and Sunday you’ll have to pay £6 on the door (or reserve tickets by phoning pub). After we’ve paid the bands (who are mostly doing the weekend for nothing, or very little – thankyou loads) all entry money will go to Alaw Ward. Entry money for the fun and games will all go into the pot.

For anyone who doesn’t know their great works – Alaw Ward provides the most amazing care and treatment for local cancer sufferers – especially palliative care. Many of us know first-hand of how good they are, and how donations can make a big difference to the service they are able to provide .If you want to know more about Alaw Ward talk to Ted or Sue over the weekend.

So this weekend let’s be generous and have loads of fun.

n.b. We’ve been working alongside S.N.O.G.Fest, which is also on this weekend at Hendre Hall. They have kindly shared the Poetry Performance with us – you can catch the poetry at Snogfest on Saturday night. They have also put Natty Mark Soundsystem our way – they’re doing their stuff later Saturday night at Hendre. Thankyou SNOG. Have a great weekend.

Love Sue and Ted

Thanks for visiting the Fricsan website.

We took over the place in May 2007

Our pub is for anyone who wants to have fun, has respect for everyone else, and knows how to behave. If the last two are in place we can have much more of the first one. We love quality live music. We love good food. We love great local ales and we love some of our customers. If you’d like to know more about us, how this place is run, our development plans, and a little historicalness, please browse the site.

Thanks
Sue and Ted

Group Bookings

Y Fricsan is ideal for good value group weekends and events.

We have hosted several large-group weekends so far and they have gone so well (and we have enjoyed ourselves so much) that we think we should let you know a little more. The basic shape to date has been a party of friends or work colleagues come and stay for the weekend. They take most, or all, of the accommodation, we feed them as required, we lay on great live music as required. The days can be spent walking in the mountains..or sleeping it off. Everyone has a fine time.

If you are interested then please contact us. We are very flexible and can provide as much or as little as you require. For large groups we have unlimited space for camping, or there are other good places to stay locally.

Nearby service providers we think you’ll like.

Activities

So much to do around here. It’s the home of outdoor adventure sports, and whether you’re a real adrenalin freak or just want a good walk in the hills – this is the place for you. We’re blessed with great mountains, superb and varied coastline, and some fantastic wildlife experiences (spring seabird nesting at Southstack, Anglesea; Ospreys nesting in the Aberglaslyn valley; Peregrines and Ring Ouzels in the local quarries, seals, dolphins and porpoises all around the coastline). For a good general overview of what the place has to offer, go to the Pete’s Eats website. www.petes-eats.co.uk

Below are some special quality local outfits.

Surflines

Set beside Llyn Padarn about two miles away Nick and Phil run a great outfit providing all you could want from watersports. Extreme to family orientated fun from two great guys. www.surf-lines.co.uk

Ropes and Ladders

Crispin and Tim recently launched this high-ropes course and it’s one of the best quality you’ll find anywhere. I went on it a while back, and even this adrenalin junkie got a good buzz. Situated just up the road next to the lake and the Welsh Slate Museum – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed – especially by the death swing!! www.ropesandladders.co.uk

Boulder Adventures

Well run Llanberis-based company offering the whole range of outdoor adventure activities. www.boulderadventures.co.uk

A walk in the slate quarries. Ask us here and we’ll show you where to go for a surprising and truly awesome days walk. Totally free of charge. www.youdontneedtopaytohaveagoodtimearoundhere.co.universe

Places to Eat

Although North Wales is perhaps not the most culinary place on earth – locally we are blessed with a few gems. So if you want to find something other than our top-notch menu, here are the best options.

Pete's Eats

Pete’s Eats is without doubt the best climbers cafe in the world. It’s been offering a warm welcome and large portions for 30 years. Situated on the high street, Llanberis. And you don’t have to debate on whether its open – every day from 8am to 8pm (9pm in the summer). Great breakfasts and a good all round all-day menu. Big portions of cafe food, but also serious healthy options. 5-star!! www.petes-eats.co.uk

Caban

Situated in the village of Brynrefail, about ten minutes walk from the pub, this is one of lifes beautiful little surprises. It’s a community company set up to house a dozen local businesses. Its profit arm is the restaurant, and its good. Great ambiance with lots of glass looking into the trees, and the new summer deck, this is the local place for lunch. Every day chef Gert provides a brilliant specials menu influenced by his passion for global cuisine. You won’t believe the value and quality. In season much of the fresh stuff comes straight out of the on-site kitchen garden (gardener Nick works most mornings and loves to talk food-growing). It’s like finding a bit of Covent Garden in a North Wales village. And you’ll get smiling customer service to die for – if you’re nice. Check out the regular Saturday night buffet – based on the cuisine of some far-flung culture. Daytime 9am – 4pm. Friday and Saturday nights. www.caban-cyf.org

Gallt y Glyn

Gallt y Glyn hotel, on the approach to Llanberis is famous for its Pizza n Pint nights – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week. Kicks off about half six and orders taken until 9pm. Get there early as sometimes they’re packed out. P and P from a fiver (extra for more toppings). A great concept well done in a buzzing ambience. Can’t go wrong. www.gallt-y-glyn.co.uk

Having Fun

Basically stay here at the Fricsan. Most weekends through the season we’ve got the best live music and atmosphere to be had around here. And the best beer. And the best staff who’ll serve you when they’ve stopped dancing. And you can stay in the bunkhouses or the campsite.

We put on the best that mid and north Wales can offer from Jazz and folk through to good Welsh rock. Most months in the summer we put on a whole weekend of music – outside during the day – with sometimes ten bands playing over the weekend.

But there’s plenty more going on around here.

Hendre

The main scene has been established by an amazing little big man called Malcolm, and his partner Penny. This is no less than Hendre Hall. If you’ve never been there prepare to be impressed. A converted farmstead courtyard at Tal y Bont near Bangor. The main barn is our areas best live and dance venue. Oh how many good nights have I had there!!! Malcolms the best host you could wish for. The action is based around Friday and Saturday nights. Increasingly Friday is worth turning up to regardless – nearly always brilliant. They put on top live nights, sometimes part of amazing world-music tours, and pumping but serious quality deck nights. Usually about 9pm – 3am. It’s about 20 minutes drive from the pub – but we can arrange a 16-seater taxi there and back for a fiver a head. www.hendrehall.com

The Anglesea Arms

Down the road at Caernarfon (6 miles) is developing a good live Friday night scene, and we try to co-ordinate and support each other. (In fact if you jumped in our river you’d find them on your right as you hit the sea). Good place. Good intimate music nights. 01286 672158

Galeri

Galeri is the new arts centre on the old quay, Caernarfon – 6 miles. They’re getting together great programmes of film, performance, and, again some top live music – predominantly Jazz, Folk and Classical. www.galericaernarfon.com

Byd Mawr

Byd Mawr – Big World. Dewi et al put on great nights where funk, reggae, African, Asian, Celtic, Latin and the global fusion grooves where dance beats meet world music. They’re into the politics of being really nice and do some special benefit gigs. The Byd Mawr dj’s fluffylovebubble, Tiny Bear and Hippy Ad do a regular monthly slot here at Y Fricsan. Check out their site. www.bydmawr.org

Cob Records

Cob Records in Bangor is the place to go for all your music requirements. Great selection of stuff from mainstream through to folk and world music. Difficult to leave empty-handed once you start browsing. Also everything you want to know about the local live scene and what’s on. www.cobrecordsbangor.com

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