Last orders to be called at village pub for good
A GWENDRAETH Valley village looks set to lose its former watering hole for good, as plans have now been lodged to transform it into a house.
The move comes following unsuccessful efforts to secure new tenants for the Smiths Arms in Llangyndeyrn.
The plans ask Carmarthenshire Council to change the old pub from its current use as a ground floor public house, with first floor residential accommodation, to a house instead.
The Smiths Arms closed two years ago as a result of falling patron numbers and resulting turnover, planning documents state.
But it adds: “Nevertheless, given the continued trading of the Farmers Arms, such a change of use at the Smiths Arms, will not lead to an undersupply of public houses in the sustainable commuFor updates, changes, alterations — email journal. star@mediawales.co.uk. Details must be submitted by noon on Thursday — a week before publication, please mark each email ‘Llanelli churches’ and state the section .
BAPTIST: Adulam Bethel Greenfield nity.
“Villagers can access the Farmers Arms in less than five minutes from the central and eastern parts of the village where the application site is located.
“The freeholders of the Smiths Arms, Mr and Mrs S. Thomas (applicants), have owned the public house for many years, and during the last two years
isweek
have been trying to sell or alternatively lease the business.
“They have, within the preceding few years before its closure, had difficulty in securing tenants to run the remaining business.”
Commercial estate agents Sidney Phillips had been appointed to advertise the property and business in October 2017.
There had been a lot of Jerusalem, Burry Port Rehoboth, Five Roads Sul Sbesial initial interest with five viewings, but no offers.
“We think it is unlikely that a potential tenant will come forward in the short to medium term as the terms on which we have been offering the pub are very reasonable, and no interest has been shown,” the estate agents wrote at the time.
The application adds: “It must be therefore questioned as why should Mr and Mrs Thomas continue to market a business for which there is no local support, nor interest in purchase or lease?
“The downturn in the rural public house trade is well known, with the rise in the supermarkets’ sale of cheap and convenient alcohol replacing the attraction of visiting a local public house.”