12th-century pub gets modern transformation
THE Old House 1147 has sat in place at the head of the Gadlys Valley for centuries and there’s never been any question about the sheer Welsh gorgeousness that surrounds it.
But with its recent transformation from a 12th-century pub to a modern-day wedding venue and hotel - while retaining the original part of the old pub - visitors, Instagrammers and even the staff themselves have been in awe at the beauty that surrounds them.
With views of Y Gadlys and Mynydd Baiden, The Old House 1147 in Llangynwyd, near Maesteg, is co-owned by Steffan Jones and his parents Sian and Jeff, and they have transformed the thatched-roof pub, which included original fireplaces, flagstone walls and other original features covered in rendering - although the beautiful thatched roof has remained in place over the years.
Steffan, who used to run The Tap in Pyle, and his parents took on the pub in November 2016 and started the renovations in 2017.
Now, four years on, they are ready to open their seven hotel rooms and have a summer full of weddings booked for 2022.
He said of the picture postcard view: “We’re really lucky, it’s such a beautiful building, we make the most of the views.
“I know it sounds mad but you kind of get used to it, but then Laura, one of our managers, took that photo, or you sit back with a coffee and you think ‘wow, that is beautiful.’
“It represents the Welsh valleys. Part of me think people from England have this interpretation of the Welsh valleys of being ex-mining valleys being run down, but it’s beautiful it really is.
“We had a woman from Sussex here and she was flabbergasted, she said ‘this takes some beating’. I say we take it for granted, but deep down we know. We are blessed up here. Brombill reservoir, it’s beautiful, you’d swear you were looking at the lakes out in Canada. If you come to the pub you can walk there from here - it’s a 10 mile-round-walk.”
The Old House team made sure that the developments were always moving forward and did as much as they could during the Covid pandemic, developing the outdoor areas and the courtyard at the house.
There are rooms in the old part of the pub, which is a Grade II listed building, where people can stay, and there are also rooms in the more modern, extension under the restaurant and they all have views of the valley.
Steffan added that the venue, which also operates as a restaurant for lunch and dinner bookings, is attracting a lot of youngsters from the Bridgend area.
He said: “I think that youngsters these days like quality and they will pay for it and Instagram has become huge
“I just think we appeal to a younger generation who don’t want to go to town anymore, they want to come to a country pub, have a few pints, a bottle of wine and a designated driver home.”
The window seats must be in high demand then?
Steffan, who himself got married at the pub, laughed: “When anyone calls they’ll say can we have a window table, but the windows are so high every table has a view of the countryside.
“We do laugh that it’s like a cruise ship, everyone wants to sit by the window! The mornings are one of the nicest times of day here. When it’s peaceful and tranquil.”