Village with 600 people raises £535,000 to save its last pub
VILLAGERS facing the threat of losing their last pub for ever responded by raising a staggering £535,000 in just a few weeks.
Now they’ve had the keys to the property for just five weeks, and the building has been gutted and they hope to reopen it for business early in December.
The response of the local community to save the White Lion Hotel has stunned everyone, including the organisers of the campaign.
The village of Cerrigydrudion, Conwy, which has a population of only 600, once had three pubs but the Queens closed about 20 years ago and the Saracen’s three years ago.
That left just the White Lion, whose claim to fame was that David Lloyd George once stayed there after being caught in heavy snow while returning home. In the 1970s it was owned by entertainer Ronnie Williams, part of the Ryan and Ronnie duo.
The pub was owned by businessman Tony Davies, who was brought up in the village but now lives in London, but closed at the beginning of lockdown in March last year and has not reopened since.
It has been on the market for about five years, but when villagers heard that a potential buyer was considering demolishing it and building flats on the site they launched their campaign.
Retired local GP Dr Dermot Norton said the asking price was £350,000 but Mr Davies was prepared to sell it to the local community for £325,000 on condition that it would be up and running within three months.
The response was immediate, with the full amount already offered by the time the first public meeting was called in the village playground in July.
The word spread through social media and posters, and by the second meeting the sum of £535,000 was pledged, enough to buy the rundown property and pay for renovations.
“It was unbelievable, with a couple of people offering £100,000, but we decided to spread it out and form a limited company,” said Dr Norton, the chairman of the steering group. “We decided to sell shares costing £5,000 each, and we have 65 shareholders, some holding more than one share.”
In addition, those who couldn’t afford £5,000 have been able to sponsor a window in memory of a loved one.
“There are 47 windows, and as it’s a conservation area they have to be of a certain style, which can be expensive,” said Dr Norton.
Apart from the cash pledges – and every single one has already been paid – local traders and businesses have rallied round, giving their services free or at reduced cost.
A new roof is needed and the inside of the property has been gutted, with volunteers joining the professionals in the work.
“As yet we haven’t had to pay out a single penny,” said the chairman.
As well as retaining their “local”, there will be another bonus for the community, for included in the sale was the former butcher’s shop next door, with a flat above.
The shop is being let to husband and wife Einion and Elliw Jones, of Mynydd Mostyn in Flintshire, who launched their farm-gate business selling fresh bottled milk and other goods. The county council has refused planning consent for that business and an inquiry is to be held to consider their appeal, but no such obstacles are expected in Cerrigydrudion.
Both Einion and Elliw were brought up in Cerrig and quickly spotted the opportunity to open their unmanned shop, which is expected to be launched next month, selling not only milk but other local produce through machines.
The flat is to be let as an Airbnb property, and eventually it is planned to take guests in the hotel, which has 12 letting rooms.
“Behind the pub there was also a caravan site, which we are looking to reopen,” said Dr Norton.
Among the shareholders is Owain Roberts, 42, owner of business Saracens Tyres, who spoke for his fellow villagers when he said: “We felt we had to do something because we couldn’t lose our only pub, but I don’t think anyone expected such a response.
“There has always been a strong sense of community in Cerrig and the surrounding district, and that is reflected in the way people are coming together over this.”