Issued: 29 June, 2015
Social investment loan helps Anglesey community save its village pub
An Anglesey community has become the latest to save its village pub by forming a social enterprise and securing the funding to keep it going.
New social business Bryngwran Cymunedol Ltd has bought the Iorwerth Arms in Bryngwran with the aid of a social investment loan provided by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and SMEs finance specialist Finance Wales.
The group has been running the pub on a voluntary basis since August 2014 and took out the loan to acquire the business from pub company Punch Taverns. It will now trade as a free house, supplied by Holyhead independent drink wholesaler Joseph Keegan & Sons, and be run both by and on behalf of the local community as a not for profit enterprise.
Bryngwran Cymunedol Chair Nev Evans said: ‘It’s fantastic news and a great relief to save a real community asset at the heart of the village. Ever since we first took it on as a lease, the reaction locally has been tremendous.
‘We’ve already run numerous events and community gatherings which have been well supported and now that we actually own it, we’ve got great plans to expand what we do even further.
‘We’re hopefully going to spend a bit of money improving the decor and we’ll be consulting widely about what other things people want to see happen here. The place has great potential to add to the life of the village.’
Mr Evans thanked Punch Taverns for helping make the process a smooth one and described the support from WCVA as ‘instrumental in us getting this far’. He also acknowledged the support of local AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, who helped champion the cause along the way.
Mr ap Iorwerth said that despite having the same name as the pub, there was no family link. He added: ‘But with a name like that, how could I be anything else but supportive?
‘Wales is developing a strong record in community-owned businesses and I'm delighted that the hard work has paid off for the people of Bryngwran, who now hold the keys to a valuable community asset.
‘I can't praise enough all those individuals who've shown the necessary determination to make this happen. I'm also grateful to Punch Taverns for realising the value to the community of being able to take control of the Iorwerth Arms as a village hub.
‘Now the work goes on to breathe new life into the Iorwerth and to build the new community business. I wish all involved the very best of luck and I might even have to call in to check on how they are doing from time to time!’
WCVA Community Investment Manager Matt Brown said it was evident from the beginning that it was a project WCVA had to support, because of the strength of the team behind it and its importance to the village.
‘It’s not the first community pub that we’ve backed and if the Iorwerth Arms goes on to do as well as the newly award-winning Glan Llyn in Clawddnewydd - another WCVA social investment - then I’m sure that everybody will be very happy. Iechyd da, Bryngwran!’
For more information please contact Lynne Reynolds on 029 2043 1718 or Jackie Huybs on 07814 070239. WCVA website www.wcva.org.uk
Notes
· WCVA supports and represents the third sector in Wales, with more than 3,000 members including a wide range of organisations working on issues such as housing, economic regeneration, childcare, community development, transport, the environment and health.
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