Post Office and brewery plan for community pub

A community-run Denbighshire pub has announced plans to set up a post office inside the pub and long term ambitions to add a microbrewery and guest rooms.

The privately-owned lease of the Raven in Llanarmon-yn-Ial was bought by a community company — Raven Mad — last August following a three-month closure and has been run by villagers since.

The plan to install a post office will "more than likely" go ahead, according to a committee spokesman.

"We have made approaches to Pub is the Hub, but we're not that in need," he said. "It will take several months for the paperwork to be done and then a man will come in once a week so the elderly can collect their pensions." The village post office closed down three months ago.

Nine committee members look after the management of the Raven and the pub is manned by volunteers. It is normally closed during the day but is open this week and during summer for the school holidays.

Before opening, a "small army" of volunteers helped clean, paint and decorate. The Raven's chef is a local with 51 years' experience and other villagers including an electrician, an accountant and a builder all help out when needed.

"We let it run itself, which it does pretty well," said the committee member. "We've made a good start and have a good reputation for food and drink, so we hope it continues."

He recommended that other communities thinking of taking on the village pub need to work hard, co-operate and "be lucky".

The re-opening of the Raven was filmed last year for pub operator Jay Smith's documentary Save Our Boozer for the satellite channel Blighty.