Fundraising campaign underway to turn Llanbedr's Griffin Inn into community hub

A group of residents are behind the project to turn the historic Griffin Inn, which closed its doors in 2016, into a community resource.

The “Our Griffin” Community Benefit Society (CBS) has now launched a share offer, to raise the £150,000 to £200,000 that is needed to fund the refurbishment of the building, as well as the creation of a new community café and meeting space.

In order to raise funds, the group is inviting individuals and businesses to invest between £100 and £15,000 to buy shares in the CBS and become voting members of it.

If the fundraising is successful before its closing date (midnight December 2), the Community Benefit Society plans to lease the building on a long term basis from its current owner.

Tim Baker, Llanbedr resident and chairman of the Community Benefit Society said: “Our goal is to help strengthen the community spirit and vibrancy of Llanbedr.

"We want to enhance the amenities in the village by raising the money needed to refurbish the Griffin and re-open it as a community resource.”

The group also plan to provide bed and breakfast accommodation at the centre and say it could also be re-opened as a pub and restaurant.

An extensive consultation with residents of Llanbedr, which is close to Ruthin in the Vale of Clwyd, established that there was huge local support for the pub to be brought back to life as a community resource.

The Community Benefit Society, together with Cadwyn Clwyd, the Welsh Rural Development Agency, commissioned a feasibility study from Fleurets, which concluded that the combination of a refurbished pub, together with a new community hub, would be commercially viable and sustainable.

The group has also had advice and support from the Plunkett Foundation and the “Pub Is the Hub” organisation.

For more information on the project, visit www.griffin.wales or pop in to one of the open events at the Griffin Inn on November 18 (2pm to 6pm) and December 2 (2pm – 6pm).