A bid to reopen a Ceredigion pub once frequented by poet Dylan Thomas and his wife Caitlin as a community-owned co-operative is closing in on its 拢330,000 fundraising target.
People living in Ystrad Aeron, near Felinfach, Ceredigion, are seeking to acquire and reopen the Vale of Aeron.
The pub was a favourite haunt of the poet and his wife Caitlin when they lived in nearby Talsarn in the early 1940s.
Residents from across the Aeron Valley formed a group, Menter Tafarn y Vale, to buy the building. To date more than 拢200,000 has been raised with backers including actor Matthew Rhys. Offers have come in from across the 海角视频, including from as far afield as Cornwall, Manchester and London. The Now they are appealing to individuals, businesses and organisations for a final push to help them reach their total by December 12th.
Iwan Thomas, secretary of the group, said: 鈥淥ne by one all the local pubs have closed and until recently this was the only one left in this part of the Aeron Valley.
鈥淚t was well used by the community as a gathering place for social groups from all the neighbouring villages, such as the football club and the young farmers club. We don鈥檛 want to reopen it as just a pub. We want it to become a community asset and an informal home for some of our local groups and societies.鈥
The group is being supported and advised by the Wales Co-operative Centre鈥檚 Community Shares Wales Resilience Project.
Claudia Limpert, project manager of the Community Shares Wales Resilience Project said: 鈥淭aking ownership of The Vale of Aeron via a community share offer is a fantastic way to not only save this important landmark, but to put the control of the pub鈥檚 future into the hands of the people that is means the most to.鈥
Menter Tafarn y Vale said it will look to improve facilities at the pub, including access and toilets, as well as to reduce its carbon footprint by upgrading its insulation and installing a heat pump.
If the 拢330,000 target isn鈥檛 reached by December 12th, the fundraising deadline could be extended.
Get business news direct to your inbox
There's no better time to stay up to date with economic and business news from your region. By signing up for our daily newsletters, email breaking news alerts and weekly round-ups from all the major sectors, you get our journalism direct by email. To sign up, find out more and see all of our newsletters, follow the link here
Shares cost 拢1 with a minimum shareholding of 拢200 and a maximum of 拢30,000. Regardless of the number of shares bought each member of the co-operative will have one vote.
The Vale of Aeron closed in September after a long-term lease came to an end.
