THE fight is on to save an iconic Pembrokeshire pub from closure and run it as a community-based asset, with £20,000 already raised.

The Tafarn Sinc – a traditional Welsh pub that promotes the Welsh language - in the village of Rosebush has been for sale for some time at an asking price of £295,000.

The current owners are retiring and have said they will close the doors before Christmas whether the property is sold or not. There have been no bids so far.

At a packed public meeting at Maenclochog Hall this week that showed the local community’s commitment to keeping open the pub, there was plenty of discussion and a proposal made to move ahead with the campaign to try to buy Tafarn Sinc and run it as a community-based asset.

A unanimous vote from the 116 people present agreed to form a committee and start gathering funds, which will be held in trust until the new company is registered as a community benefit co-operative with the Financial Conduct Authority.

“The intention of the public meeting was to find if the local community had the interest and enthusiasm to buy the pub and there sure was,” said Pembrokeshire county councillor Cris Tomos, a senior officer with PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development), who has vast experience in the field of community initiatives.

“Individuals can buy more than one share of course. Tafarn Sinc was built in 1876 and therefore only 1,876 shares will be available.

“As Tafarn Sinc is so well-known people from beyond the area and across the globe will probably be keen to invest their money as the scheme gathers momentum. Reaching the goal of selling 1,876 shares will raise £375,200.

“This is all about inclusivity and people getting involved in their local community. It’s not about being elitist.”

Although it was stressed that no money need to be donated on the night, local residents were so keen to get the ball rolling they had brought along their cheque books. A total of £7,400 was unexpectedly raised within the 30 minutes of the vote to set up the community benefit co-operative.

And within two days of the fund being set up, it has already reached £20,000 and that running total will be updated regularly on a ‘beerometer’ that will appear on the website.

For more information, go to www.tafarnsinc.cymru and also the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SaveTafarnSinc/