The Story So Far

4 September – notice by Robinsons Brewery that the lease of the Brondanw Arms would shortly be put on the open market.

14 September – last day of trading.

16 September – public meeting held in Siop a Chaffi Llanfrothen attended by 70+; decision to form a steering group –  Menter y Ring – to try and buy the lease for the community.

17 September – appeal launched for loans to be able to bid for the lease – £200K raised inside a week: bid to buy accepted by Robinsons.

7 November – Menter y Ring Cyfyngedig formally registered as a Community Benefit Society.

November 2024–February 2025 – community engagement work, writing business plan, condition reports, website development, applying for and receiving start-up grants, preparation for share offer, preparation for purchase.

March – share offer is open throughout the month – over 900 new shareholders have raised more than the 200k target – enough to purchase the lease, cover legal and initial costs, and repaying the lenders.

April – physical work starts to get the Ring in a state to reopen – preparatory work starts for making a National Lottery Heritage Fund application.

May – the search for a tenant begins; the first volunteering weekend was held.