All the old Llanelli buildings which look destined to be razed to the ground

Bright blue and sitting on the corner of Stepney Street, the old Altalia building had been part of Llanelli town centre's landscape since the 1800s.

But after the owners of the Italian restaurant moved on, the structure of the building was deemed unsafe in 2020 and was given a demolition notice.

Throughout its many lifetimes as a restaurant, a bar and a hotel, the building which hosted popular quiz nights, family meals and gave visitors a place to stay, was demolished at the end of 2020.

With new plans set for the building, many would argue that the disappearance of the building is a shame, and some would be glad to see them go in the name of progress for Llanelli.

And while the Altalia building has been flattened to the ground, there are a number of once-loved buildings that could face the same fate.

The old Altalia building has now been knocked down (David Hughes)

Get stories like this straight to your inbox with our newsletters.

Market Street

Although now the old buildings are boarded up and decorated with overgrown weeds, in a past life, Market Street was a nightlife hub that housed Dynevor Castle pub, The Moonraker, Storm, Tom Peppers and Bar Luna to name a few.

Buildings 8-16 on Market Street were lined up for demolition in December 2020 to make way for a new age of the town centre.

The new redevelopment planned for the area includes: "Redevelopment to provide mixed use arcade development including residential, retail, office and bar/restaurant units."

Market Street, Llanelli, where half the buildings including the old Moonraker could be demolished (Google Maps)

The new development - Y Linc, would feature new shops and restaurants (Media Wales)

The planning application put forward by Cygnus Holdings and Asbri Planning said: "The vision for the site is to create an attractive, contemporary development which takes advantage of its landmark position within Llanelli town centre."

The majority of the buildings are empty shells not currently in use, however the Jailhouse and Shaker clubs are still operating as nightclubs.

At the beginning of 2020, Carmarthenshire Council made the decision that 'prior approval for demolition was not required' and that the organisers could move forward with the demolition of the buildings but work has not commenced.

A planning application for the new redevelopment - Y Linc is currently being considered by the council.

Inside the Moonraker:

Llanelli’s most famous nightclub The Moonraker, where people travelled from miles around to get to

Raffles Nightclub

Raffles location in the heart of Murray Street cemented it as one of Llanelli's most popular nightlife spots in the 1980s.

With a bar downstairs and a nightclub upstairs it was popular on every night of the week and Llanelli folklore states that a Cadillac was left in the building when it closed.

The old Raffles building is among the buildings due to be demolished (Llanelli Star)

The existing building will be completely demolished to make way for the ambitious plans (Prime Architecture Ltd/Pass Property Development)

But the building has been unused for nearly 40 years and left to rot until demolition plans were revealed to make way for 12 new two-bedroom flats.

A pre-planning application report, carried out by Asbri Planning, said: "The vision for the site is to create an attractive place to live in a prominent location within the town centre on the site of a historically popular bar and club."

An old picture of Raffles in Llanelli. (South Wales Evening Post)

The Four Ty's

Empty and in nearly entire darkness, with high crime rates and drugs incidents, residents started moving out of the Four Ty's in Station Road.

The Maes y Gors estate, was once a thriving community where everyone knew everyone. But last year, the flats were marked for demolition giving that the buildings are empty and do not have lifts so are inaccessible to the elderly and disabled.

The Maes y Gors estate started to empty after the turn of the millennium (WalesOnline/Gayle Marsh)

And while many are sad to bid farewell to the homes that housed nostalgic memories for them, some say that they have served their purpose and new homes will welcome in a new age for Station Road.

Only two dwellings remain occupied and the flats which were built in the 1960s could be demolished as soon as March.

Crown Precinct Buildings

The derelict building in Crown Precinct, Llanelli (Media Wales)

By the tips of its fingernails, the Crown Precinct Buildings which used to house the popular wine bar Brannigan's are still standing tall in Llanelli town centre despite having been marked for demolition three years ago.

The derelict buildings which also once housed rented flats have been standing empty and derelict for years and are often a site for drug use and anti-social behaviour.

Find out what's happening in your area:

After three years, many locals are happy to see the dilapidated buildings gone in the hope that it will open up the town centre.

Head of property at Carmarthenshire Council Jonathan Fearn, applied for the demolition in December 2017, the demolition was granted in 2018.