Now there is room at the Inn!

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A pub diversification project funded by Cadwyn Clwyd has increased the space at the Leyland Arms in Llanelidan near Ruthin and is being used to host gatherings for the whole village.

With regular events and activities being held in the village, there was never enough space at the pub which always tended to overspill outside. However, pub landlord, Steve Nicolopulo had heard of the Pub is The Hub scheme to support rural pubs and was able to purchase a permanent marquee for the large pub garden in May this year. Cadwyn Clwyd funded £750 of the £1,000 cost to purchase the marquee which has taken up permanent residence this summer at The Leyland Arms.

Steve commented: “We have a thriving village community here in Llanelidan but the pub just doesn’t have a big enough weather-proof space for all the functions that we support through the church, cricket club and local drama club. We don’t have any heaters yet so the marquee will probably come down over the winter but it’s been a huge boost to our business and has made the pub much more flexible for the community’s requirements.”

Pub is The Hub is a non-profit making organisation supporting rural pubs at the heart of their communities for the benefit local people through the provision of additional community services and facilities. Spearheading the work in Wales, Malcolm Harrison, Director for Pub is The Hub added: “Often a rural pub is now the only socially significant business still running in many rural communities. Pub is The Hub is not directly about saving pubs but about supporting them and encouraging them to diversify and support local services in this rapidly changing world. Steve has provided a real boost for his community as well as his business.”

The Leyland Arms is owned by the Nantclwyd Estate and is leased by Steve and his partner Glenice Lavin. They host the lunches for the estate’s shooting parties through the winter. A landlord with 40 years’ experience, Steve had officially retired when he moved to the village but agreed to run the pub when it was threatened with closure three years ago. Since then he has kept the pub open and the couple say they couldn’t have done it without the support of the local community.