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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Lucy John

A well known 18th century Gower pub has shut for good and campaigners are poised to fight to save it

One of  Gower's  oldest and most historic pubs is closing and campaigners say they are ready to launch a fight to save it, should plans be lodged to turn it in something else.

The Dolphin Inn in  Llanrhidian has been around since 1785 and for over 50 years was run by the same family.

Staff announced its closure in a Facebook post on July 31, which said: "It is with great disappointment that we inform you that the Dolphin Inn will remain closed permanently.

"We would like to thank every single one of our customers who made our time there unforgettable!

"All the best from the team at the Dolphin Inn."

Earlier that month, on July 10, it was also announced on Facebook that the Dophin Inn would not re-open outdoors along with other Welsh pubs on July 13, due to maintenance work on the bar area.

Following the news, Swansea's branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said it would be "monitoring the situation closely" to prepare to save the pub if a change of use was planned.

According to branch chairman, Donough Shanahan, their stance was that losing the pub would be of detriment to the local community, especially given the loss of the Greyhound pub in nearby Oldwalls a few years ago.

He said the pub had a thriving past and had been popular with both locals and tourists, as well as being a regular feature in Camra's Good Beer Guide over the last decade. 
 

Mr Shanahan said: "While we have sympathy with the current situation, we would urge all parties to consider such changes carefully and retain this vital community hub. We would be absolutely against the total loss of this historic pub.

"Swansea Camra volunteers are monitoring the situation closely after the current owners announced that the pub 'will remain closed permanently' via their Facebook page.

"A small number of volunteers are canvassing the local area and we are looking to prepare arguments to save the pub, if a change of use is planned."


Future plans for the pub are currently unknown and no planning applications have been submitted to Swansea Council so far.

Mr Shanahan added: "There would be several options to retain the pub, with Swansea Camra not necessarily against partial changes.

"These have proven successful elsewhere, most recently at the Village Bar Cafe in Killay. However, the details of any changes would need to be clear before we could offer a definitive statement on any proposals."
 

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