Update on Village Pub Campaign

An update from the Hayscastle pub campaign…

“Y Cross is the only pub within three miles of the village of Hayscastle. It has been run continuously by the Phillips family for over 160 years and remains open, but has been for sale for some time with no buyers coming forward.

“Should the doors of the pub close it would be very damaging for the local community, depriving residents of one of the last remaining local meeting places where people can congregate regularly and enjoy community gatherings.

“A steering group was established during autumn 2022, to look at the potential community purchase of the pub and development of a hub facility. A detailed project evaluation has been undertaken by a team of community volunteers. The steering group has produced a business plan and share offer documents which have been examined by hospitality and catering experts as well as local accountants. The strength of the project is having so many local people keen to be involved and prepared to dedicate their time and skills to its success.

“Some 80 villagers have been in attendance at each of the three public meetings held. In recent weeks the community has voted unanimously in support of proceeding to raise funds to purchase the pub and increase its use as a community hub.

“More than 130 community feedback questionnaires were also returned to the steering group, with overwhelmingly positive responses from respondents as to how they wanted the pub and its buildings to develop in the future.”

Committee chair, Geraint Evans, a local farmer and lifelong resident of Hayscastle, said: “Our plans are numerous and creative as we look to provide employment for local people in catering and public house management.

“We look forward to working to provide a local shop facility with availability of foods produced locally and to be a transport hub for the community, with the potential of providing electric charging points and a rural bus information hub. We will also be looking at introducing a range of regular social activities to meet the needs of all groups within our bilingual community.”

Vice-chair Jeremy Bowen added: “The task now is to raise in the region of £500,000 – £250,000 from a share offer and £250,000 from available matched funding. We are committed to achieving our aim for the future of this community and in particular for the generations to come. We hope that in our grandchildren’s time Y Cross, Cas-lai, is ‘Yma o Hyd!’ “