The Waterfront

This is a nice pub with all day food. Very helpful when you don’t want to stick to ridged meal times.
We opted for the set 2/3 course meal that was available during the day, and helpfully some of our party had starters and main and otrhers main and pudding.
As said in previous reviews you order at the bar but that didn’t cause us a problem.
Lovely view of the sea, staff were polite and helpful.
Some portions were huge

I came here last weekend when visiting a friend who lives in nearby Bridgend. She explained that the Waterfront is her home away from home when she's in Porthcawl, because apparently it's the most consistent in terms of prices, atmosphere and friendly service.

And although I haven't got much in the way of other Porthcawl pubs to compare it to, it was fine and dandy for an evening of wine and banter whilst watching the sun set over the sea. A bottle of pink booze set us back less than £12, and the service was chatty, so that's two important boxes ticked for me.

If you can get a seat on the small terrace at the front of a bar, you're in for some lovely quaint British seaside views, but on the downside it can be nippy, so bring your scarf! Inside is warm and cosy if you get too cold, though, and not too rammed considering it was a Saturday night. My friend reckons you can do a lot worse than the Waterfront, and after my merry evening here, I'm inclined to agree.

In an area of the town surrounded by slightly grubby-looking places to eat, the Waterfront has a nice clean polished appearance that makes it a bit more appealing. There are plenty of seats with good views out to the water.

The food is reasonable but nothing amazing. Some meal deals make the prices more inviting, but the meal deals are pretty restrictive (eg. a choice of only 2 puddings, both of which are clearly straight out of the freezer).

The best place to eat nearby, but it could be better.

Nice smart pub / hotel. Nice feel with heavy wooden furniture. But BEWARE - if you order food you have to pay when you order, and if it’s not what you hoped for - and it often isn’t - you will experience possibly the rudest serving staff you’ve come across. They obviously have had no customer service training and if you manage to talk to the lady owner she is the rudest of all. Unbelievable these days. Also she bans people who complain too loudly or just annoy her and her bans are lifetime. I still visit occasionally but I know at least ten people who have lifetime bans and they’re perfectly decent people.