Black Sheep Backpakers is a nice hostel and if you are arriving by train, it's handily located right across from the station. Look for the big white building that says "The Great Western Hotel." The hostel sign is less obvious. It's about a fifteen-minute walk from the center of the town, but the hostel also has a pub -- which is nice if you don't feel like trekking around looking for something to do in the evening.
The pub is open to the public. It's got a large seating area -- both indoor and outdoor -- televisions, a pool table, dart board, and expensive internet computers. They serve both food and drink. The pub draws a fair number of locals who are friedly and interested in talking with hostelers. On weekends it can get a little noisy if you're looking for an early night.
There is also a community area open to hostelers only. It's made up of a kitchen and very nice attached lounge and has plenty of seating. It tends to be very quiet because everyone seems to hang out in the pub. There is a lot of information for travelers in the lounge, but reader beware -- some of the information is several years out of date.
The hostel is clean with roomy dorms and comfy beds. Some of the dorm rooms have sinks in the room and they have nice "extras" like hooks for towels and clothes. The toilets and showers are a bit iffy. Doors don't always shut properly and can blow open at inopportune moments and the showers switch from scalding to freezing water on a regular basis. The pub has very nice toilets with proper doors and locks, but the showers have to be dealt with. Overall this is a nice and fun hostel in a good location.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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