Surprise at sudden closure of Cardiff pub

LOCALS have been left locked out of a popular Cardiff pub – which has unexpectedly shut.

The Royal Oak, in Whitchurch, is currently closed for business – to the surprise of many local residents.

However, there are some suggestions that the Merthyr Road boozer, which is centuries old, could be reopening again as soon as today.

Its owners would only insist that they aim to get the watering hole open again whenever they can. No details of when that might be have yet been confirmed.

Whitchurch and Tongwynlais councillor Ben Thomas said he realised that fewer people were now visiting their local pub.

But he added: “It would be an absolutely travesty if a well-established, traditional pub in the heart of Whitchurch closed down.

“I frequent the Royal Oak at least two of three times a month to listen to the live music, which has become an absolute highlight in the weekend night-time economy in Whitchurch.”

A spokeswoman for Ei Publican Partnerships, the company which owns the establishment, said: “We are meeting with the publican this week to discuss the current situation in greater detail.

“However, we’d like to reassure the local community that we aim to have the pub re-open and trading as soon as possible.”

It is the second Ei-owned pub this week to have unexpectedly announced its closure.

The landlords of the Heathcock in Llandaff this week blamed issues with owners Ei for next weekend’s closure of that establishment.

Ei said it hoped to reach a deal which could see that pub remain open.