02-Sep-2009
Morning Advertiser - TV show helps re-open Welsh pub
A group of Welsh villagers have saved their local pub with the help of a TV production company
The Raven in Llanarmon-yn-Ial, near Mold, Denbighshire, was closed for three months, during which time the local community decided to take it over and run it as a co-operative.
TV company TwoFour has been documenting the group’s progress and were there on Saturday to film the pub’s re-opening.
The co-operative’s committee said its aims were to protect the pub, built in 1772, as a “historical landmark”.
The group cites one of its main aims as running the pub as a successful business, which pays its way.
Additionally, the group wants to invite other community members to take part in the project, and support the business by taking their custom to the pub.
The community venture will be run by volunteers overseen by the committee, under the company name Raven Mad Ltd
The documentary will be aired in the autumn. "The focus is very much upon the community as a whole pulling together to create a pub that is once again the hub of the village," said a spokesman for TwoFour.
"With so many rural pubs closing around the country, Twofour is delighted to have the opportunity to help save some of them.
"The precedent of community run pubs has proved successful, and hopefully this show will encourage more to go down this route. We wish The Raven every success."
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