The man labelled a 'traitor' while saving last pub in Anglesey village

Y Goron (The Crown) will soon be getting a lick of paint after its starring role in a recent film production
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


When Doug Fowlie decided his local pub had to be saved, obstacles were soon placed in his way. Rumours spread on social media that he wanted it for an Airbnb and that he intended to change its historic name to attract holidaymakers.

Online, he was labelled a “traitor” and called “Judas”. Despite being a fifth-generation customer of Y Goron (The Crown) in Aberffraw, he was accused of turning his back on the last pub in an Anglesey village that once had five.

Ignoring the gossip, Doug pressed ahead and the pub’s doors reopened on Friday, August 23, with a Prosecco-on-the-house celebration. Doug now has a smart young management team in place and the focus will be on Welsh culture and language. The pub’s names still proudly adorn its walls and the outlook appears bright.

READ MORE: Met Office issues second weather warning for the weekend and says homes could be flooded

READ MORE: Another NHS dental service lost on Anglesey

Saving a village institution was only ever the one thing on Doug’s mind, but he didn’t bargain for the brickbats. The 32-year-old suspects it had something to do with his role as an independent Anglesey councillor representing the Crigyll ward. “The false claims were definitely malicious,” he said.

“I’m just a young lad trying to do my best for my constituents but there’s a lot of politics and some people always want to do you down. Not so long ago a Facebook post claimed I was changing the pub’s name to The Bridge.

"It attracted 100 posts. Most were critical and yet it was completely untrue. Just a few people welcomed the pub’s reopening, which was a shame.” Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community

Other challenges faced a first-time pub owner who works as a Network Rail signaller and is the son a former farmer-greengrocer. He shares the same bonhomie as his father, the late Phil Fowlie who at one time led Anglesey Council. He died in 2019 having achieved legendary status in the pig world for his nine Royal Welsh championship wins.

Doug Fowlie (left) with his late father Phil Fowlie and grandmother Marion Fowlie
Doug Fowlie (left) with his late father Phil Fowlie and grandmother Marion Fowlie
With Doug's grandmother Marion Fowlie (right) and mum Lisa Fowlie (second from left) are pub team members Non Edwards (licensee) and Owen Ward
With Doug's grandmother Marion Fowlie (right) and mum Lisa Fowlie (second from left) are pub team members Non Edwards (licensee) and Owen Ward

It was his father’s death that drew Doug back to Anglesey after a seven-year working stint in Australia (he now has Australian citizenship). Feeling the call of home, and determined to contribute to his community, his entry into the hospitality trade was unplanned but perhaps no surprise.

“When Y Goron came up for sale, I asked my Nain about it,” he said. “She remembered her great-grandfather drinking at the pub. The family lived in a row of houses known as the Bragdy cottages because they were once small brewhouses - they were known as the Bragdy family.” Bragdy is Welsh for brewery.

Locals were left reeling after Y Goron closed in March 2023, its previous owners having struggled to cope with a succession of Covid lockdowns. It went on the market three months later, with offers invited for more than £300,000. By the time Doug acquired it, for considerably less, it was in serious need of renovation.

“It had been closed more than 12 months and in that time the roof over the ladies toilet had fallen down - the ceiling was on the floor,” he said. “The place was damp, the beer garden was overgrown and there was a general sense of neglect.”

When Doug bought the pub, he found nature had reclaimed its large beer garden
When Doug bought the pub, he found nature had reclaimed its large beer garden -Credit:Y Goron

Regulars who returned on August 23 were surprised to see the interior had been spruced up but the outside left untouched. Doug had agreed a deal with a film company to leave it as it was - slightly shabby and in need of attention.

Last week all was revealed when a film crew descended on the village centre. Among the cast, for a film set in 1995, were Holywood giants Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean. Residents were asked to switch off all lights so a nighttime fairground scene could be filmed on the village football pitch.

“They wanted to film in the village and they asked us not to repaint the pub,” said Doug. “They wanted it looking a bit down at heel. Originally the plan was to spray it with graffiti but thankfully that didn’t happen.

“Now that the filming is over, I’m getting it painted as soon as possible. It would have been ideal in this week’s good weather but my painter is on holiday so it will have to wait another week.”

Local lads Caiket Hughes and Vaughan Pritchard renovate the pub lounge
Local lads Caiket Hughes and Vaughan Pritchard renovate the pub lounge

Aberffraw is one of the oldest communities in Wales, with 9,000 years of history, and under Llywelyn the Great was the country’s capital, home to the Llys (Royal palace) of the Kings and Princes of Gwynedd. The House of Aberffraw ruled for eight centuries but the Great Storm of 1331, which covered the Llys in sand, precipitated the village’s decline as an important trading port.

By 1949, Aberffraw had been declared the poorest village in Wales. As its traditional white Welsh cottages fell into disrepair, they were demolished and replaced by council housing. However its spirit and sense of community remained undimmed. Home to around 600 people, the uniformity of spoken Welsh has been lost but it is still the first language of around two-thirds of residents.

It is this shared history that Doug hopes to play a part in preserving. “Y Goran is more of a gathering point than just a coastal pub,” he said. “It’s one of the anchor places in a village that still has a church, cafe, shop and post office.

“This is a tight-knit community with old-fashioned values but with a sense of mischief - my father used to say it was full of Last of the Summer Wine characters. I see it as more of a Welsh Emmerdale. It has all the places where most of the soap's scenes are filmed – the pub, the church and the shop.”

Y Goron (The Crown) has been a staple of community life in Aberffraw for generations
Y Goron (The Crown) has been a staple of community life in Aberffraw for generations

There’s also a village hall and even an art gallery, run by volunteers. The vast sandy beach of Traeth Mawr is 500 metres from the village and Eglwys Cwyfan – the photogenic Church in the Sea – lies nearby.

Before the pub’s former owners sold up, the focus had switched to food, with almost two-thirds of its 130 dining covers on a large beer terrace overlooking the bay. Today, the pub is largely wet, serving local ales, but plans are afoot to renew the kitchen and offer Welsh-sourced pub grub.

Getting the balance right is crucial. “Y Goron is a local pub but like so many on the island, it’s enormously reliant on holidaymakers,” said Doug. “We want Y Goron to be a traditional Welsh pub that offers a hearty Welsh welcome to everyone. I believe holidaymakers want to meet local people, listen to the language being spoken and to hear traditional Welsh folk songs being sung.”

Pub team member Sïan Asley behind the bar
Pub team member Sïan Asley behind the bar

On Friday, live Welsh folk music returned to the pub for the first time in years when Elidyr Glyn and Gwilwyn Bowen Rhys performed for punters. Entry was free and Doug hopes the event will be the first of many.

Running the pub is an energetic trio with a wealth of ideas. Non Edwards, 26, is the licensee, aided by Owen Ward and Sïan Asley. For now, Doug’s job and council income helps pay the bills, without which the pub may struggle to get back on its feet.

Half in jest, he said he would like to see one other person added to the team – his grandmother Marion Fowlie. “She is Aberffraw through and through,” he said. “Nain was the village school dinner lady for over 30 years, so she has plenty of culinary expertise!

“It wouldn’t have been possible to have kept a pub in the village without the support of my magic mum Lisa and some of the lads, especially Oliver, Caiket and the two Pritchards, Vaughan and Gareth.” Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday

Look for places near you