March Pub Auction

Next South Wales pub auction will be on Wednesday 6th March at 1430 at the Celtic Manor in Newport.
Full list and updates available from the Sidney Phillips website.
Fwrrwm Ishta, Machen, Guide Price £265,000
Definitely the best pub in the auction, the Fwrrwm Ishta's fortunes have been up and down over the years, only a few years ago this pub gained a well-deserved reputation for its food, helped by the large car park that made it a destination pub. Situated on the main road from Newport to Caerphilly, the 'Sitting Bench' as the name translates has suffered from under investment by owners Enterprise over the years, as the previous tenant blamed the state of the building as one of the reasons for leaving. There was a planning application made last year to convert the building into a school. The nearby Tradesmans Arms went to auction in December last year.
Rhoswenallt Inn, Abernant, Aberdare, GP £165,000
A detached valleys' pub situated far enough outside of Aberdare to be a decent pub. Described on the pub;s website as 'Aberdare's Premier Location', which is an obvious case of hyperbole if ever I have read one! This pub seems to have a lot going for it – trade garden/smoking solution and the nearby former railway track from Hirwaun to Cwmbach that has now been converted into a path for walkers.
General Picton, Nantyffyllon, Maesteg, £100,000
Spacious end-of-terrace locals pub with lounge bar, public bar, restaurant and skittle alley/function room. The only downside is that the smoking solution appears to be the street. Guide price in the December 2012 auction was £125,000.
The Bertram, Adamsdown, Cardiff, GP £30,000 leasehold
Situated on Broadway, a street that has seen the closure of the New Dock Tavern and the Locomotive in recent years, this former Ansells pub has a lot of potential, especially as it has a free of tie lease. Although it is a bit unusual to see a lease go to auction. Garden at rear provides a smoking solution.
Old Coach House, Fishguard, GP £225,000
Town centre High Street location with three section bar and separate dining/function room. Trade garden for a smoking solution, seems to have everything going for it.
Smiths Arms, Rhos, Pontardawe, GP £150,000
Two bars, car park and gardens with a smoking shelter to the side. Seems to be the only pub in the village but then there is a lot of competition in nearby Pontardawe.
Neville Arms, Abbeydore, Herefordshire, GP £250,000
A close run to the best pub in the auction and a pub that I have visited for 20 years, the Neville is situated in the Golden Valley, across the road from the historic abbey. The pub has seen various changes in management over the years, some good, others not so good. This place has a lot of potential in the right ownership with letting rooms and a potential caravan site. Set in its own grounds with a car park, the pub also features a 2 bars and a restaurant.
Lion Inn, Briton Ferry, GP £150,000
Substantial main road property with lounge, restaurant and five double bedrooms. Currently closed, being sold with development potential, subject to planning.
The Pegasus, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, GP £145,000
Set back from the main road, this is described as 'a community-style village pub', with extensive trading accommodation. Patio and garden provide the smoking solution. A nearby pub, The Horseshoe is also closed at the moment. There is a JDW not too far away in Pontypool.
Goodrich Hotel, Caerphilly, GP £195,000
A large, distinctive edge of town centre pub with two large bars and a function room, large gardens and parking. There are plenty of pubs in the town and with the opening of JDW in 2011 its hardly surprising we are seeing pubs close and be sold.

July Pub Auction

Another pub auction coming up at the Celtic Manor on Tuesday 10th July. In the last auction earlier this year most of the pubs were sold before the auction so it will be interesting to see what happens at this one.
Full details are on the Sidney Phillips website. NB Information below may be out-of-date in the run up to the auction so check their site not this one! Last update 09.07.12
Auction catalogues can be downloaded from the Sidney Phillips site here (pdf)

Buck, Abersychan, Pontypool, Torfaen, GP £85,000
Main, bar, games room and a trade garden, this pub seems to have everything going for it. On a main road as well. There is a lot of local competition from nearby pubs though.

Golden Lion, Aberkenfig, Bridgend, GP £185,000
Public bar, lounge, function room, trade patio for the smoking solution, 7-bed accommodation, another pub that seems to have everything going for it.

Pant Cad Ifor, Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, GP £195,000
Bar area and restaurant, car park, outside area for smokers. Another gem of this sale, don't be put off by the Merthyr address, this pub has had a reputation for good food and beer in the past. In fact its in an almost rural location with the remains of Morlais castle nearby.

White Hart, Bedwas, Caerphilly, GP £175,000
Punch Taverns
Open plan but with trade gardens, this is an attractive looking stone-built pub. The pub was forced to close earlier this year by a court order because of disorder at the premises which included underage drinkers using the beer garden and noise. Or 'a popular community local' as its often described as.

Railway Tavern, Tonna, Neath, GP £125,000
Substantial pub with open-plan bar with car park and large garden.

Four Bells, St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan GP £225,000
Two bars and a lounge/restaurant, car parking and large gardens. One of only two pubs in the village, this place has potential, although with the downsizing of RAF St Athan there may be an effect on trade. Still there is potential there.

New Inn, Mardy, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, GP £150,000
Two bars, roadside location, car park, outdoor drinking/smoking area. Another pub with a lot of potential – its situated on the outskirts of Abergavenny and there are plans to build another 300 houses nearby. Seem to remember it has been opening on restricted hours for the last few years – its been closed the last few times I've been past it anyway.

Aberdare Hotel, Mountain Ash, GP £80,000
Third time in in a year this pub has been to auction. Guide price for this pub was £170,000 in the August '11 auction and £110,000 in the March '12 one. Bar/lounge and function room as well as an outside area. Net sales of what where claimed to be £200kpa have been knocked down to £160kpa. An attractive frontage to the pub, though the pub was described to me by one visitor as being 'rough as fuck'.

Dylans, Cwmavon, Port Talbot, GP £110,000
Lounge bar/restaurant, function room, family room, trade garden. Seems to have everything going from it, apart from the fact it looks like it was built as a WWII bunker.

New Inn, Mountain Ash, GP £95,000
Currently closed. Open-plan bar, kitchen, trade garden. Former Whitbread pub. Mountain Ash could really do with a decent pub.

Dunraven, Bryncethin, Ogmore Vale, GP £125,000
Public bar, games room, function room, lounge/restaurant, car park and gardens. Another pub that seems to have everything going for it.

Tredegar Arms Hotel, High Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, GP £165,000
Situated on the main road, the Tredegar Arms features a bar and restaurant as well as  8 en-suite letting rooms and a car park. Always found the place to be a quiet in recent years.

Gwyn Arms, Alltwen, Pontardawe, GP £95,000
Former Rhymney/Whitbread Brewery pub, the pub features a three-section open-plan bar area and a beer patio and garden.

Clydach Vale Workingmens Club, Tonypandy, GP £85,000
0.56 of an acre, the club is currently closed so it looks like a development opportunity here.

Hendre, Trowbridge, Cardiff, GP £235,000
SA Brain
Built around 1971 and looking like it, this estate pub features a lounge, public bars, skittle alley and is being advertised as with 'development potential'.

Imperial Hotel, Plasmarl, Swansea, GP £165,000
Public bar, lounge bar and function room, being advertised with 'development potential'. Looks like there is no smoking solution apart from the street.

Kavanaghs, Llanelli, GP £165,000
GP £160,000 in March '12 auction, was withdrawn from the sale, but it looks as if that fell through and its up for auction again – with an increase in the guide price. 'Circuit bar and live music venue...open-plan. Sounds like a delightful venue!

Marine Hotel, Barry Island, GP £255,000
SA Brain
Once part of a much larger hotel, this 0.35 of an acre site is being advertised as having 'development potential'.

Sold Prior to Auction:


Star Inn, Wick, Vale of Glamorgan, GP £225,000 UPDATE 09.07.12 Sold prior to auction
Lounge, public bar, trade garden and car parking. An ex-Welsh brewers house, the pub has seen better days but could reopen under new ownership. One of the this pubs in this auction with a lot of potential.

Bank, Station Street, Port Talbot, GP £125,000 SOLD PRIOR TO AUCTION 03.07.12

Town centre circuit pub, open-plan bar areas, extensive accommodation. Currently closed. Only smoking area appears to be the street. Looks like a residential conversation to flats may be on the cards here
Maesycwmmer Inn, Hengoed, GP £125,000 UPDATE 09.07.12 Sold prior to auctionLarge, two-bar roadside pub with car park and outdoor areas. Being sold as 'prominently located...suit development'


Dunraven Arms Hotel, Bridgend GP £295,000
Very large Victorian hotel near the train station. Interesting to see who has bought this and what will happen to it?

Fox & Hounds, Blackmill, Bridgend GP £175,000

Cilfynydd Inn, Cilfynydd, Pontypridd GP £95,000
GP £145,000 in August '11,  £130,000 in March '12

Away from the auction circuit I notice that Le Pub in Newport is up for sale. One of the few live music venues left in the City after the closure of TJ's, Le Pub has suffered due to it being an upstairs bar with no smoking access apart from the street.

Another pub auction

Wednesday 24^th August will see another pub auction at the Celtic Manor, conducted by Sidney Phillips. At the moment the list of those pubs up for auction is below, catalogue can be downloaded from Sidney Phillips site here (pdf).

Once again we see more lots of pubs being sold off by pub companies and even a few by SA Brain.

NB pubs may be withdrawn prior to the sale so don't look at this as a comprehensive guide. 

Brittania, Frogmore Street, Abergavenny (Guide price £175,000)

The earliest records of this Grade II Listed pub date back to 1741 when it was the Cock & Horse, the name later changed to the Three Kings and to the Brittania in 1821. Between 1983 and 1997 it was known as the Welsh Guardsman. Its always been a bit of a dark and dingy pub, I think I have only ever drank in there a couple of times. It's in a difficult place with the competing Auberge (former Herefordshire House) and the Coliseum (JD Wetherspoons) both nearby. More likely to be turned into retail premises than continue as pub as auction catalogue describes it as 'a development opportunity'. Rear garden used as a smoking solution.

Cilfynydd Inn, Cilfynydd, Pontypridd (GP £145,000)

Former Rhymney Brewery and Whitbread pub between Pontypridd and Abercynon. Actually trading successfully, unfortunately the pub co has decided to rid themselves of it, putting the current tenants out of work. Separate bar and restaurant. This pub could actually be a success if free-of-tie – just off the A470 and in a residential area.

Aberdare Hotel, Mountain Ash (GP £170,000)

Quite a spectatcular frontage to this pub, well for a nineteenth-century South Wales pub anyway. Bar/lounge and function room as well as an outside area. Seems like a good buy with net sales of £200,00 pa

Avondale Social Club, Mountain Ash (GP £50,000)

Large 1960/70s building 'in need of investment' according to the catalogue which usually means its in a right old state. Bulldozers on standby for a housing redevelopment I think!

Bevans Arms, Morriston, Swansea (GP £80,000)

S & N PubCo sell off. Large brewers Tudor pub, currently closed. Two bars plus a function room but no mention of a smoking solution in the catalogue.

King William IV, Barry (GP £145,000)

One of the smaller pubs of Barry but still with public bar, lounge, games room and function room together with gardens for a smoking solution. Set in a residential area.

The local community are trying to get enough money together to purchase this pub.

Maesllwch Arms Hotel, Glasbury-on-Wye, Herefordshire (GP £325,000)

Described as 'a character period hotel' according to reviews on Beer in the Evening this pub took a steep nosedive after a succession of tenants attempted to run this Enterprise Inns pub. 'Available for a variety of uses' according to the catalogue, which does cast doubt on its future as a pub.

Mile End Inn, Glendross, Swansea (GP£160,000)

Three-storey building in .48 of an acre with gardens and car parking. Conversion to residential flats is a possibility with this pub.

New Inn, Clydach, Swansea (GP £195,000)

Currently closed but with a main bar, games room, restaurant and gardens. Was featured in the 2011 edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Next to a RSPB nature reserve, this pub seems to be the gem in this sale.

Navigation, Abercynon, Mountain Ash (£185,000)

Three-storey historic building set in 2 acres. Trevithick's first ever steam locomotive ran from Penydarren to the canal terminus just outside the pub in 1804. Currently closed.

Oyster Catcher, Laleston, Bridgend (£350,000)

Currently closed, the Oyster Catcher is a Grade II listed building reputed to date from the 1500s, with 18^th Century additions. The catalogue mentions it 'will interest property developers'

Cardiff Arms, Splott, Cardiff (GP £225,000)

Former Brains pub, this three-storey corner building looks like a prime candidate for conversion to flats. Built in 1896. The owners of the nearby Grosvenor Hotel were granted permission to demolish their pub and replace it with a block of flats, perhaps a similar fate awaits the Cardiff Arms?

Prince of Wales, Ton Pentre, Treorchy (GP £100,000)

Former Rhymney/Whitbread pub with public bar and lounge. Another change of use?

Potters, Brynithel, Abertillery (GP £100,000)

Being touted as 'possible conversion to restaurant use'.

Sawyers Arms, Maesteg (GP £165,000)

Currently closed, this large two-storey pub is in the centre of the town and was formerly owned by Brains.

Wingfield, Llanbradach, Caerphilly (GP £165,000)

Large pub which in the past has had a good reputation for food.

White Horse, Llanelli (GP £165,000)

Situated on the outskirts of the town, this is another former Brains pub and was once owned by Buckley's Brewery.

Royal Oak, Ynyswen, Treherbert (GP £120,000)

Another closed pub with 2 large bar areas and a smoking solution to the rear.

Forge Hammer, Pontnewynydd, Torfaen (GP £110,000)

Currently closed, a detached building with bar, lounge and restaurant. Surprisingly low guide price for a building like this.

Pegasus, Pontnewynydd, Torfaen (GP £145,000)

'Suit development subject to planning' according to the catalogue.

Windsor Castle, Newport (£185,000)

A former Hancocks/Welsh Brewers pub in the centre of the city. Very handy for the bus station and used to serve a decent pint of Bass. A bit of an odd building as it has entrances on both Dock Street and Skinner Street despite not being on a street corner. Still under £200k for a City-centre freehouse, the only thing that lets this pub down is the smoking solution being the street and the structural problems causing the cracks in the walls.

Catalogue description is fun, especially from anyone who knows Newport:

'Busy seaside location. Traditional public house sea views'

Mitre, Canton, Cardiff (GP £175,000)

Another former Brains pub, a street-corner local in a densely populated part of the City – a residential conversion could be on the cards, but lack of parking may prevent planning permission.

One pub has so far been withdrawn from the sale due to being sold:

Golden Age, Broadway, Pontypridd

Used to be called the Railway and was a former Rhymney/Whitbread pub

Quite a comprehensive list, the previous auction at the Celtic Manor generated a lot of interest, though a lot of pubs failed to meet their reserve and were sold after the auction.

South Wales Pub Auction

The beginning of March will see the first big pub auction of the year as failing pub companies Admiral and Enterprise attempt to dispose of some of their pubs. The freehold of 29 pubs will be sold at auction at the Celtic Manor, Newport, by Sidney Phillips on Wednesday 2^nd March.

Many of these pubs have suffered from lack of investment over the years from the pub companies and some have suffered periods of closure.

 Having checked the Sidney Phillips auction site today I see a number of the pubs in the original auction have been withdrawn from sale or had their guide price reduced.

A few of the pubs are known to me so lets have a look at what is up for auction:

Hornblower, 126 Commercial Street, Newport (pictured right, behind the fire engine!)

A famous bikers pub that has had problems with alcoholic staff and gang warfare in the past as well as being shut for months on end. The new tenants have improved the place by cleaning it, always a good start! The location of the pub is not helped by the fact that it is between two derelict buildings and that the cellar is prone to flooding due to the fact that it is below the main sewer!  

Built in 1872 as the Ram Inn, it was later named the Exchange before becoming the 'Blower. Previous owners have been Lloyds & Yorath Brewery, Ansells Brewery, Punch Taverns and Admiral Taverns. The pub used to be a regular in the Good Beer Guide. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £160,000 - Now reduced to £130,000!

Talisman, 59 Commercial Street, Newport. Dating from at least 1860 when it was the Isca Brewery Tavern, this pub was owned by Phillips Brewery and then Courage. In latter years the pub has been a bit of dump, popular with the section of society who are too lazy to climb nearby Hill Street to the Salvation Army building. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £195,000

Engineers Arms, 3 Albert Terrace, Baneswell, Newport. A corner pub in a residential area of the City, the Engineers has suffered periods of closure over the last few years. Recent tenants have even had problems getting regular beer deliveries as current owners Admiral Taverns have been experiencing credit problems with breweries. I have visited a couple of times in the last few years but the erratic availability of beer has prevented the Engineers from becoming a regular stopping point. The Engineers dates from at least 1872 and was a freehouse until 1950 when Hancock's Brewery bought it, later it went to Welsh Brewers, Punch Taverns then Admiral Taverns. The Engineers features in the CAMRA publication 'Real Heritage Pubs of Wales'.

As this is a residential area there is a chance that any prospective purchaser would prefer a flat/houses conversion to this corner pub. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £185,000

Carpenter's Arms, High Street. Currently owned by Enterprise but leased to JW Bassett pub company this pub had been shut for a few years until it reopened last year. Not surprisingly JW Bassett have turned around a failing pub into a successful venue. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £225,000

Red Cow, Ystalyfera, Swansea. Also featured in the CAMRA publication 'Real Heritage Pubs of Wales', Ystalyfera is a dead-end town at the top of the Tawe Valley, populated by a closed-knit gene pool that makes the residents of Royston Veasey seem normal. Surprisingly there are quite a few other pubs and clubs in this town so competition is fierce.

Guide Price £85,000

Star Inn, Llanfihangel-Tor-Y-Mynydd, Llansoy, Monmouthshire.

A country pub set in rural Monmouthshire, this pub has extensive grounds and the pub company that purchased it only a few years ago paid well over a million for it. Since then it has experienced periods of closure and resulting loss of trade. A pity as when it was family-owned it was successful with a popular restaurant area.

Guide Price £280,000

Ty-Yn-Y-Pwll Inn, Trethomas, Mid-Glamorgan. Situated on the busy Newport-Caerphilly road this two-bar pub has a car park and should be a success. Unfortunately the pub company that has been running it has changed the lagers and beers from the ones that customers had been drinking for years so they went elsewhere. Last time I went past on a Saturday afternoon just before Christmas the pub was closed. Has a garden so more of a smoking solution than the pubs above.

Guide Price £210,000

Cambrian Inn, Blaenavon 

About 15 years this was a cracking family-run locals pub with varied real ales, changes in ownership appear to have pushed it to a Guide Price of £65,000

Well that's it for the pubs I know well, others in the auction include :

Rising Sun, Fochriw (currently closed) GP £75,000

Forest Hotel, Pontypridd (currently closed) GP £140,000

Colliers Inn, Skewen, (currently closed) GP £130,000

Tylerstown Conservative Club (currently closed) GP £87,500

Full Moon, Trecynon, Aberdare (currently closed) GP £95,000

Royal Hotel, Trelaw, Tonypandy (currently closed) GP £150,000

New Beethoven, Maestaeg (currently closed) £190,000

De Winton, Tonypandy, GP £80,000

Wattstown Hotel, Wattstown, Porth, £110,000

Ruperra, New Tredegar, GP £110,000

Copper House, Cwmavon, Port Talbot GP £115,000

Railway Inn, Llangynydd, Maesteg GP £120,000

Puddlers Arms, Rhymney, GP £130,000 Now reduced £100,000!

Smiths Arms, Pengam, Blackwood, GP £130,000

Bowen Arms, Swansea, GP £140,000

Black Prince, Ynysddu GP £175,000

Prince of Wales, Treorchy GP £175,000

Admiral, Cadoxton, Barry, GP £175,000

Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran GP ££225,000

Waterloo Inn, Oakfield, Cwmbran, GP £190,000

Star Inn, Mamhilad, Pontypool GP £180,000

Fox & Hounds, Llanharry, Pontyclun, GP £195,000

Fagins, Thomastown, Rhondda, GP £225,000

Tair Bull, Libanus, Brecon GP £170,00

Cogan Hotel, Penarth GP £225,000 Now reduced £200,000

Sidney Phillips pub auction

1430 Wednesday 2^nd  March 2011, Celtic Manor, Ringland, Newport, NP18 1HQ