Yr Heliwr in North Wales is the star of the show in the third and final film of CAMRA’s community owned pub documentary series.
The Welsh pub had been closed for a decade, and the community rallied together to save their precious local pub in 2018. After an impressive fundraising campaign, the pub reopened in 2021, becoming this community’s vital social hub once again.
The film explores how crucial the re-opening of Yr Heliwr was to the town of Nefyn, both socially and financially. Through interviews with regulars, volunteers and key stakeholders learn how much the pub has revitalised the coastal town, with the high street brought back to life after the pub’s success.
The remarkable story offers a warm look inside of this small, Welsh town and highlights the pub’s efforts to keep the Welsh language and culture alive with the bar staff speaking in Welsh and hosting Welsh lessons for locals and tourists.
This series has been put together by the filmmaking team Katie Greenhalf and Rachel Auty, with the help of Plunkett UK.
Gary Timmins, CAMRA Pub and Club Campaigns Director said:
“This film shows how important pubs are to our communities. When one is lost forever, it is a disaster for both the wellbeing of the local people and the local economy. It’s amazing to see the impact a community owned pub can make once open, reviving high streets and offering a friendly, welcoming space for everyone. They really are assets to our communities.
“The Chancellor’s recent Budget was nothing but a complete mess for the industry, with rising business rates and lack of support likely to close many more pubs. I hope audiences watching are inspired by the success of Yr Heliwr and look into the option of community ownership to save their own local as evidently government is happy to see pubs drown in a sea of VAT, business rates, energy bills, alcohol duty and increased Employer National Insurance contributions.
“The Government must also re-introduce a dedicated funding pot, so community groups can get the financial help they need to save their beloved closed locals.”
