Quaint Wales Coast Path pub that Hollywood star helped save now plotting next move

The Glan yr Afon, also known as the Riverside, in Pennal. Situated on the A493, the historic town on Machynlleth lies inland while the old fishing village of Aberdyfi and its sandy beach is a few miles the other way
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


An Eryri country pub with a dusting of Hollywood glamour is to open a small shop two years after it was bought and reopened by the local community. The Glan yr Afon, also known as the Riverside, in Pennal, Gwynedd, has also begun taking guests after converting upstairs rooms into stylish accommodation.

The historic pub rose to prominence when a community-led initiative was launched to keep it in the community. Backed by Hollywood superstar Matthew Rhys, this raised more than £250,000 towards the £450,000 of buying out the business after its previous owner bowed out.

The award-winning actor supported the cause because his father was born on a nearby farm. Although Matthew was himself born in Cardiff, he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast how he spend a “number of my halcyon days as a youth” at the Glan yr Afon.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: The off-the-beaten-track tearoom where the car park is always packed

READ MORE: Gaping holes appear in seaside hotel so dangerous even the emergency services banned from entering

The fundraising goal was reached in December 2022 and the pub reopened as a community-run concern in February 2023. Volunteer members of a Community Benefits Society oversee its management and employ staff to run it.

As the pub was bought as a going concern, the transition was seamless and few upgrades were initially needed. But it soon became apparent extra income was needed and in January 2024, work began on the conversion of six unused bedrooms above the pub. Bookings began in November.

“We now have four rooms available,” said Meirion Roberts, a founding member of the Community Interest Society that pioneered the ambitious initiative. “They are larger than those here previously as we had to cater for the demands of modern guests. We’ve anglers, builders and tradespeople staying here, and tonight we’re fully booked with country sportspeople. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now

ADVERTISEMENT

"The Wales Coast Path runs straight through the village but we’ve not really begun targeting walkers yet. As the village is in the national park, tourism is something we need to focus on. We had to develop the accommodation side of the business to make it more financially viable. Last year more than 400 pubs closed in the UK, so I’m told by the Plunkett Foundation, and things are becoming harder and harder in the hospitality sector.”

Matthew Rhys, who supported the community’s buy-out of the pub, returns to see how it’s getting on
Matthew Rhys, who supported the community’s buy-out of the pub, returns to see how it’s getting on

The next venture is Siop y Glan, a small shop that will open in the coming weeks. Housed in a small wooden building in the pub’s grounds, this will provide the village’s 400 residents with an alternative to the four-mile drive to Machynlleth in the neighbouring county of Powys.

Unlike the accommodation, the shop is more altruistic than financial, chiming with the pub’s ethos of supporting local businesses and food producers. “We have quite an elderly population in the village and several of them don’t drive,” said Meirion. “The shop will give them a local outlet. If it works, it works, we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Another of the pub’s remits is to promote Welsh language and culture. Pennal has links to two seminal figures in Welsh history: for 400 years the nearby Esgair Weddan farm was home to descendants of 13th century Prince of Wales Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn The Great); and the village is renowned for its historical association with Owain Glyndŵr through his Pennal Letter of 1406 – this was a message to the King of France setting out his plans for an independent Wales, the only such policy document known from the Middle Ages.

ADVERTISEMENT

These historic links came in handy when it came to the pub’s fundraising initiative. “You might think most of the 434 shareholders are local,” said Meirion. “But we checked! In fact, less than 30% were from the parish. The rest are from ex-pats, especially America, who probably have an interest in Welsh history.”

Having been retained in the heart of the community, the pub is now in the running at the 2025 Countryside Alliance awards, dubbed the “Rural Oscars”. In this annual celebration of British food, farming, heritage and enterprise, the Glan yr Afon has been shortlisted in the pub of the year category for Wales.

Guests have been bowled over by the pub's upgrades - and on Tripadvisor barman Erwan Jones comes in for particular praise. One recent visitor said: "Had a lovely stay at the Glan Yr Afon for a few days over Christmas. The room was large and the bed extremely comfy. They had local Welsh tea, coffee and hot chocolate available in the rooms and local toiletries in the bathroom. The pub is a great location for walks and clay pigeon shooting, and it was great to be able to go for dinner and drinks there too."

Being nominated is testament to Pennal’s hard work in making the venture a success. Meirion said: “To think we were on the brink of losing this lifeline for the community a few years ago.... it makes us all immensely proud to be nominated for an award such as this.

“Pennal and the surrounding area is classed as being in the top 10% of the most deprived areas for access to services in the whole of Wales. To be able to keep this asset in the community is incredibly important – it’s not just a pub but also a social hub, a provider of locally sourced food and drink, and a means of attracting visitors to the area.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It has been quite a journey over the last few years from the dark days of thinking we were going to lose it, to where we are today. Winning the award would mean so much for our small community.”

The Glan yr Afon faces stiff competition in the awards, and local bragging rights are at stake too. Another pub category finalist is the Wynnstay hotel and restaurant in nearby Machynlleth - last year it was taken over by a local couple who chose to live in the Dyfi Valley rather than Hawaii. The other two finalists are the Holland Hotel in Llanfachraeth, Anglesey, and The Tair Bull Inn at Libanus, Powys (see all finalists below).

Now in their 17th year, the Countryside Alliance awards are driven by public nomination and public voting. The vote is now open until February 22 – you can vote here. The winners will be announced at the Senedd in Cardiff on April 27. These will then go forward to the UK final, with the national champions declared at the House of Lords on June 18.

Countryside Alliance Wales director Rachel Evans said: “Yet again, we have been taken aback by the volume of nominations this year. So many wonderful businesses have been sent in by the public. Every business has an important story to tell - it’s so important that they are recognised.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

2025 Countryside Alliance awards - the Welsh finalists

Butchers

  • NS James, Raglan

  • Rikki Lloyd Butchers, Welshpool

  • ME Evans, Overton on Dee, Wrexham

  • Bromfields, Abergavenny

Local Food and Drink

  • GASM Drinks, Sarn, Powys

  • Cig Carw Llŷn Venison, Pwllheli

  • Velfrey Vineyard, Pembrokeshire

  • Fork Handles Farm Shop, Llangedwyn, Powys

Pubs and hotels

  • The Tair Bull Inn, Powys

  • Holland Hotel, Anglesey

  • Glan yr Afon, Gwynedd

  • Wynnstay Hotel, Machynlleth

Rural Enterprise

  • Lewis’s Farm Shop, Eyton, Wrexham

  • The Vale Grocer, Denbigh

  • Coterie Leather, Pembrokeshire

  • Ty Ceffyl Bach, Llandyrnog, Denbighshire

Village Shop/Post Office

  • Rhoose Village Store and Post Office, Barry

  • Llandyrnog Village Shop and Post Office, Denbighshire

  • Woosnam & Davies, Llanidloes, Powys

Look for places near you