Hollywood star Matthew Rhys helps save local village pub near where his father grew up after £250,000 fundraiser
- Matthew Rhys has donated to the Glan Yr Afon pub in Pennal, North Wales
- This comes after the owners announced their decision to sell
- Welsh actor visited pub and called on fans to join Menter y Glan campaign
Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, 48, has helped save a historic village pub after donating a whopping quarter of a million pounds to a campaign to save the boozer.
The Hollywood star has donated £250,000 to the Glan Yr Afon pub – where his father grew up nearby – after it was threatened with closure.
Owners of the Grade II listed boozer in Pennal near Machynlleth, North Wales, announced their decision to sell, but punters have banded together to save it.
They set up a group called Menter y Glan, which they hope will allow the pub to reopen after maintenance work in a few months.
There are also future plans to build a community center and a hotel.
Saving the village pub has been backed by Hollywood star Matthew Rhys (pictured at the pub) after he donated to the £250,000 campaign for the Glan Yr Afon pub
The Hollywood star joined the bid to save the heritage-listed boozer in Pennal near Machynlleth, North Wales, when it faced closure
This comes after Welsh actor Rhys, who starred in Cocaine Bear, Burnt and Brothers & Sisters, visited the pub
The money was raised through a share scheme, while volunteers carried out essential construction work.
Group president Meirion Roberts said of the project: ‘The work of the local volunteers is overwhelming and it shows what true community spirit really means. We think Owain Glyndwr would be pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished.
‘A new volunteer group has been formed to continue with the original plan to develop a village shop and cafe and develop Glan Yr Afon into a proper community centre. As part of the vision, we are eager to take steps to develop our community mental health center.”
The grand reopening is in June.
However, there is still a long way to go before it can reopen as the pub is looking for a front-of-house manager for the restaurant.
This comes after Welsh actor Rhys, who starred in Cocaine Bear, Burnt and Brothers & Sisters, frequented the pub.
Following this, he called on his fans from around the world to join the campaign to save the pub.
Matthew Rhys (pictured outside the pub) called on his fans around the world to join the campaign to save the boozer
The money to reopen the pub was raised through a share scheme, while volunteers carried out essential building work
On why he donated the money, Rhys, who now lives in New York, said: ‘It was great to visit the pub and see firsthand all the great work they have done to bring this historic pub and local community center to life. to hold.
“Owain Glyndŵr himself would be proud of the community’s fighting spirit so far.”
The campaign was also supported by funding from the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
The village of Pennal has a historical connection with the Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndŵr, who wrote to King Charles VI of France in the 15th century.
In Pennal, Owain wrote the Pennal Letter of 1406, a letter to the King of France outlining his plans for an independent Wales.
Unfortunately, the French king never replied to the letter, and with hopes of foreign aid gone, Owain’s supporters in Wales began to abandon him.
The Glan Yr Afon has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
