Couple transform rundown social club into a thriving hub for community
A COUPLE who set out to buy a new home but ended up buying a rundown social club instead have transformed it into a thriving community hub.
Jonathan and Laura Davies were looking to buy a bigger family home but their property hunt led them to the Bettws Social Club, which came with a flat above the club.
Their aim was to transform the building into a community space and one year on the timetable is now filled with weekly events and classes and from January a drama group for adults and children will be moving in too.
And to add to this Jonathan, who is now working full time managing the club’s activities, has also been filling next year’s diary with wedding bookings.
The couple received well wishes from as far afield as the US after we broke the story in December last year about them buying the club with Jonathan, 33, describing the response as “absolutely mental” at the time.
Speaking about the success of the club a year on, he said: “We have five weddings booked for next year already.
“The first one will be in February and I’m even taking bookings now for 2018. This last year has been manic and there’s very little space in the diary.”
The club – which is now called Bettws Community Club – has an actionpacked schedule with activities including a parents and toddler group, a darts and a bingo night, a slimming group and dance class.
And from next month amateur drama group, Bridgend Castle Players, will be moving in.
Jonathan added: “We’ve also leased out some of the space for a café, called Notty’s Café, and they’re open seven days a week and they do outdoor events like hogroasts as well.
“And there will be an independent carpet and flooring shop opening there shortly.
“We’ve already done a charity ball and around five pageants and we do