The community-owned pub has made it to the finals of pub of the year category for Wales, in what are popularly known as the ‘Rural Oscars’. The awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food & farming, enterprise, heritage and business. Now in their eighteenth year, they are set apart from other awards because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers the chance to elevate their favourite businesses to national acclaim.
The historic pub rose to prominence a few years ago when a community-led initiative, backed by Hollywood superstar Matthew Rhys, managed to raise over £250,000 to save it from the brink of closure and keep it at the heart of the community. Since then, they have created a Community Benefits Society to form a business structure, with volunteers overseeing the management of the pub, along with employing full time and part time staff. A small shop is also due to be opened on the premises in the coming weeks.
A hub of community activity, the pub’s core aims are to enhance and increase the resilience of Pennal and its wider community through providing a social hub, supporting local businesses and food producers, helping boost the tourist economy through offering accommodation, as well placing a high importance on promoting the Welsh language and culture.
For Meirion Roberts, who is a founding member of the Community Interest Society that pioneered the ambitious initiative to save the pub, being nominated for the award is especially pleasing and is testament to the hard work of the community to make the venture a success. He said, “To think we were on the brink of losing this lifeline for the community a few years ago, it makes us all immensely proud to be nominated for an award such as this.
“Pennal and the surrounding area is classed as being in the top 10% of the most deprived areas for access to services in the whole of Wales. To be able to keep this asset at the heart of the community, that not only serves as a pub, but a social hub, a provider of locally sourced food and drink, and a means of attracting visitors to the area is incredibly important. With the shop opening in a few weeks’ time, this will also only enhance its importance to the community even further.
“It has been quite a journey over the last few years from the dark days of thinking we were going to lose it, to where we are today. Winning the award would mean so much for our small community, which has worked so hard in creating a hub that is so important for both locals and visitors alike.”
Countryside Alliance Awards Director Sarah Lee commented: “We have been overwhelmed by nominations this year. The secret to the Rural Oscars’ popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses and not just their produce or services. They exist to sing the praises of those who work hard to keep our communities and rural economy ticking, but don’t seek the spotlight. These awards provide a cause for celebration in a time of great uncertainty in the countryside. Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition.”
Winners will be chosen via a public vote which has just opened and announced at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday 29th April 2025. The winners of the Welsh final will go on to represent Wales at the House of Lords in the national champions’ reception in June.
Closing date for votes is 22 February and those wishing to cast a vote for Glan yr Afon | Riverside can do so by following this link: https://www.research.net/r/CA25walesbiz
