THE campaign to reopen a rural Radnorshire pub after seven years has been taken to the heart of Westminster.

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones met the intrepid community group battling to get their boozer – the Radnor Arms Hotel in New Radnor – back open last month, and she gave the project her full backing, promising to seek financial backing from the UK Government.

Last year, the Radnor Arms Action Group (RAAG) purchased the pub for themselves at auction, and set about an ambitious plan of restoration. 

Ms Jones went to meet them in May and had the opportunity to see for herself the restorative work which needs completing. She was touched by the community spirit which has been driving remedial works so far to shore up the building’s condition.

The group has applied to the community ownership fund, run by the department for levelling up, communities and local government. The local MP has since met with secretary of state for Wales, David TC Davies, and the department for levelling up, to discuss potential ways in which the project could benefit from UK Government funding. 

“I was delighted to give the Radnor Arms my full support,” said Ms Jones.

“This is a fantastic community initiative which could breathe life into a wonderful Radnorshire village.

"Having visited the pub last month, I saw for myself the sheer passion and determination behind the renovation of this wonderful community asset, as well as the works being undertaken to secure the building’s condition.

“I am very glad that the Secretary of State for Wales agreed to meet me to discuss the plans. He took on board the collective passion for the project and agreed to do all he can to secure government support. 

“I understand that the department for levelling up cannot discuss the live application which the pub has submitted but I am determined to do all I can to ensure it succeeds. Watch this space.”

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The pub closed in 2016 and has since fallen into a dilapidated state. But passionate locals formed the RAAG and bought the pub back in October 2022 for £115,000 at auction.

The Hub, a community enterprise, was formed in 2018, with the people behind that using other public facilities like the Old School Building in the village to open up a regular pop-up bar, as well as hosting various social events.

But now that the pub is back in the hands of the community, locals have a dream of revitalising their beloved watering hole.

The target is to raise £150,000 to restore the pub to its former glory. Around £120,000 has been pledged for community shares so far in the Radnor Arms Community Benefit Society Limited, with a further £30,000 needed.

Another £5,000 was put in the pot thanks to a festive fundraising scheme that was part of a wider re-introduction of the pub to the local community, while a few thousand pounds here and there has continued to trickle in since the takeover from various fundraising efforts.