Residents of a Welsh village have mounted a campaign to rescue their pub after a property developer purchased and immediately closed the establishment he had previously fought to preserve.
A “save our community” banner appeared on the steel fencing surrounding the Corn Exchange in Gilwern, Monmouthshire, though it was removed within hours of being displayed.
The demonstration follows the sudden closure of the 19th-century establishment by Robert Evans, a 60-year-old property developer who operates Property Wealth Management.
Just four months earlier, Mr Evans had publicly backed efforts to prevent the venue’s conversion into residential units, declaring on social media that the establishment had served his family for five decades and “should remain a pub”.
The closure has left villagers feeling betrayed by someone they claim rarely saw frequenting the establishment.
Evans had initially joined the opposition to a planning proposal submitted in May by then-owner Huw Jones, which sought to replace the establishment with four residential flats and a house.
The scheme attracted 107 objections from residents, including Evans himself, who encouraged locals through social media to submit formal complaints to the council.
“Loss of a pub…is a valid objection and one the council should support,” Evans wrote in June, describing the potential closure as “a loss to the village”.
The Corn Exchange (pictured in 2022) has been closed
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The Welsh pub proved popular with hikers
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Following the withdrawal of the application due to community pressure, Mr Jones sold the property.
Mr Evans acquired the building and promptly shuttered the establishment, erecting barriers around the premises.
Documents reveal he is now preparing his own application to transform the site into a private residence with dedicated parking facilities.
Seven veteran patrons have pledged to resist the forthcoming planning proposal with the same determination they showed against the earlier scheme.
The establishment served as the heart of village life for generations, hosting charitable fundraising walks, Monday quiz nights and gatherings for the local angling society.
Regular patrons recall Christmas morning gatherings around the fireplace and Saturday afternoons watching football results.
The venue welcomed hikers exploring Clydach Gorge and canal boat travellers along the Monmouthshire and Brecon waterway
“It was a community for people of all ages,” Catherine Evans, 56, told WalesOnline, noting it provided a safe environment where young people could learn responsible drinking habits.
Rob Eynon, 61, added: “It was a regular meeting point for people who were elderly or isolated. Young kids could bring their own games to play in the back room.”
George Morgan said the village has become “a darker place”, adding: “They’ve not even had the decency to take down the ‘for sale’ sign.”.
“We looked after each other,” Anthony ‘Biffo’ Smith, 63, whose mother cleaned at the establishment during the 1970s, said. “It was a place where women would feel comfortable to go in on their own.”
When confronted at his property by local media, Mr Evans is said to have refused to engage with questions about his apparent change of position, shouting through a glass panel: “I’ve got nothing to say to you about it.”
He blocked attempts to deliver written questions through his letterbox, threatening to destroy any correspondence left at his door.
A representative from Gap Architectural, the firm handling Mr Evans’s planning submission, suggested their client discovered the establishment wasn’t financially sustainable after examining records obtained during the purchase.
A spokesman said: “At the time he made that comment [on Facebook] he didn’t have all the documentation that came through during the purchase. It can clearly be seen the pub is not financially viable and hasn’t been for some years.”