A Hollywood actor has voiced his support for a campaign to save an historic pub and restaurant near Machynlleth.

The village of Pennal has launched a campaign to bring the ownership of a historic building to the community and re-develop it.

With the current owners looking to sell the property, the community has launched a campaign to safeguard the historic site, offering people the opportunity to buy a share of the venture.

And the campaign has been backed by actor Matthew Rhys, who has strong family ties with the area has already given his support to the campaign.

Meirion Roberts, Chairman of the management committee, said: “We are part of a small but vibrant community here in Pennal and we are aiming to secure the future of that community by launching a campaign to safeguard the Glan yr Afon building.

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“As well as continuing with the business as a hospitality location we also want to develop it further to offer community facilities such as a shop and a café, and later develop the rooms upstairs to quality accommodation.

“In a rural area such as this and with fuel costs spiralling, offering these kinds of services for people on their doorstep will potentially alleviate some of those concerns as well as helping with the climate change crisis.”

The estimated cost of the purchase is around £450,000 and it is hoped that some of the funding can be secured from various grant funds as well as the recently launched community share scheme.

County Times: The garden of the historic building.The garden of the historic building.

Mr Rhys, who starred in Perry Mason and The Americans, said: “I have strong personal ties with the Pennal area and believe that this venture is hugely important in helping to safeguard the community’s future.

“It is wonderful to see people taking responsibility and ownership for their communities in these challenging times and I wish them well in their endeavours.

“If you can support please do so, and the spirit of Owain Glyndwr will continue to be felt in the area.”

Pennal’s historical relevance dates back to the fifteenth century when the then Prince of Wales Owain Glyndŵr reached out for help to the King of France Charles VI for military help against English oppression, in a letter known as the Pennal Letter, the original copy of which is kept at the Archives Nationales in Paris.