Now and Then, The Lamb at Penyrheol

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, The Lamb at Penyrheol, Pontypool has been closed for the last 6 years despite their website still being up

Now and Then, Lord Nelson, Pontlottyn

The Lord Nelson, Heol Evan Wynne, Pontlottyn is still open as a pub, above as a Rhymney Brewery pub and below as a Whitbread pub

Now and Then, the former Glamorgan Arms, Abercanaid

The former Glamorgan Arms, High Street, Abercanaid, Mid-Glamorgan is now a private residence. Another old Rhymney Brewery pub with the famous Hobby Horse sign.

Now and Then, former Glantaff Inn, Troedyrhiw

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Glantaff Inn, Troedyrhiw, Mid-Glamorgan was originally known as the Glantaff Hotel and was demolished in the 1970s.

Now and Then, Ye Olde Salutation, Weobley

Ye Olde Salutation, Weobley, Herefordshire was one of Rhymney Brewery's ventures into England. The pub is still open

Now & Then, former Red Hart, Llanvapley

The former Rhymney Brewery pub. the Red Hart, Llanvapley, Monmouthshire, was turned into a private residence without planning permission some years ago.
From Wickipedia:
"The current owners closed the pub in 2002 and applied for change of use to a private house . This was turned down by Monmouthshire County Council The owners appealed to the Welsh Assembly and the appeal was turned down in 2004. The pub was boarded up for a short period after this. Prospects of the pub reopening have not changed since 2004 but the current economic conditions have improved as shown by the success of other local pubs such as the Hogs Head and Warwicks. The owners of the pub applied for a certificate of legal development in 2011 but were once again unsuccessful. The Owners of the Red Hart have subsequently and more recently submitted an application to build 3 houses on ground to the rear of the pub and this further planning application is pending.

The closure of the Red Hart occurred around the time of the closure of three other local pubs, The Hostry Inn, in Llantilio Crossenny, The Halfway House, in Talycoed, and The King's Arms, in Llanvetherine. The Halfway House reopened in summer 2007 and is now known as Warwicks. Being a rural community the pubs in this area are the heart and soul of the villages, providing villagers with socialisation, inclusion and improving relations and quality of life. The villagers feel strongly regarding the closure of the pub and would like the Red Hart re-opened for the benefit of the people of Llanvapley and surrounding areas as well as visitors to the area. Those with a very long memory will remember The White Swan, a pub once situated 1 mile outside the village towards Abergavenny, which for many years now has been a private dwelling. Llanvapley is situated on the old main road from Abergavenny to Monmouth, hence the once abundance of pubs along this route to quench the thirst of herders and farmers going to market."

More news from 2012 here

UPDATE: The Red Hart reopened in late 2019 after a closure of 17 years! Follow them on Facebook, or better still visit when you have the chance!

Now and Then, former Stuart Hotel, Treherbert

The former Stuart Hotel, Treherbert has been demolished and a car park stands in it's place at the moment. Another former Rhymney Brewery pub.

Now and Then, former Beaufort Arms PH, Rhymney Bridge

The former Rhymney Brewery pub, the Beaufort Arms PH, Rhymney Bridge, now a private residence called "Beaufort House"

Now and Then, The Crown Inn, Raglan

The Crown Inn, Raglan, Monmouthshire. This picture dates from the 1970s when this former Rhymney pub was owned by Whitbread.


Taken from Raglanpedia:

For at least 180 years The Crown Inn has hosted clubs and events but none as exciting (and upsetting) as the 'Navies Riot of 1856'. The Navies were building the new Railway through Raglan. They didn't always get along with the locals. The fight started at the Crown Inn but engulfed the whole village before it was over.

Sergeant Beswick, Superintendent of Police in Raglan Division reported: about 7 o'clock last Saturday night I was sent for to the Crown inn, at Raglan, and I went there in company with railway police constable Clark; we found two men fighting in the passage. We separated the combatants a great number of navvies came into the street, and with fearful shouts commenced an attack upon us with stones' When the police interfered two of the navvies ran to the Ship inn, which was full of navvies; there came out from 40 to 45 navvies, who immediately commenced an attack upon the police. Beswick continues, 'I then sent for my cutlass, and the Irish retreated up the street; on their way up, they threw stones at every one whom they met, breaking a great number of windows and creating a great disturbance; assisted by a great number of constables, and by several of the inhabitants, we drove them out of the village. Fearing that lives would be lost, I desired the party to halt opposite the church'. The inhabitants of Raglan were in a state of great terror and excitement.'

Things weren't always this exciting at the Crown. The more common activities were meetings, dinners, and celebrations. Such a treat was the Raglan Club Feast for members of the Friendly Society that was headed by the Clytha and Llanarth band, playing lively airs to accompany them to church services followed by an 'excellent dinner' that lasted into the night.

During World War II, The Royal Veterinary Corps were stationed in the village at the Crown Hotel and Beaufort Hotel stables. Spencer, Graham (b.1934) (of Kings Head Inn) was often seen there talking about the injured horses.

A few years ago, the "N" of "Crown" had fallen off and the Brew Wales editor thought this pub was called the Crow!
The building to the left of the Crown was also a pub, the Kings Head Inn and lasted from 1820 until 1928, when it became a butchers shop which it still is today.

Now and Then, Railway Hotel, Pontypridd

The Railway Hotel, 132-133 Broadway, Pontypridd, as it was as a Rhymney Brewery pub, it is now known as The Railway Inn. It had been previously known as "The Golden Age" and was shut for a while.

Now and Then, Red Lion, Llangorse

The Red Lion, Llangorse, Powys, a former Rhymney Brewery pub, still trading as a pub and recently owned by CH Marlow, the company behind the now defunct Breconshire Brewery

Now and Then, Cottage Inn, Llandeilo

The Cottage Inn, Pentrefelin, Llandeilo, a former Rhymney Brewery pub, has been extended since these black and white photos were taken, the extension now dwarfs the original building!

Now and Then, Torbay Inn, Llandeilo

The Torbay Hotel, 27 Heol Cennen, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, is now known as the Torbay Inn and this former Rhymney Brewery pub is now owned by Brain's Brewery. There's more information about the pub on the CAMRA What's Pub page than on the Brain's brewery page. The pub sign used to show the eighteenth century Naval ship HMS Torbay, perhaps there was a local connection with one of it's crew as there does not seem to be any other local connection with the seaside town?
A pint or two of Brains beer is recommended here as the locally-brewed ales available elsewhere in the town are very poor quality.

One of Cardiff's oldest pubs to have Wendyballl makeover

The former Dempsey's Bar at 15 Castle Street in Cardiff is to have a makeover and reopen as 'Elevens Bar & Grill' a Wendyball-themed bar. A pub on this site is recorded back in 1731 when it was known as the Globe, there is a building on this site on the corner of Castle Street and what is now called Womanby Street on John Speed's map of 1610 so it may have older origins. The pub has previously been known as Duke's and the Four Bars before being turned into the Plastic Paddy Palace known as Dempsey's.
Interview with some Wendyball player called Gareth Bale below

Now and Then, Tower Hotel, Jersey Marine

 The Tower, Jersey Marine, Swansea has been given something of an extensive makeover since these photos were taken in what appears to be the 1970s. The former Rhymney Brewery pub is shown in it's Whitbread livery in the photos but today it's known as The Towers Hotel and Spa.

 The tower itself was built in the nineteenth century as a camera obscura and after lying derelict for years has been converted into the bridal suite for the hotel.