CAMRA has released the third and final film in its community-owned pub documentary series, this time focusing on the Yr Heliwr in Nefyn, North Wales.
Yr Heliwr had been closed for a decade and the Nefyn community rallied together to save their precious pub in 2018. After an impressive fundraising campaign, the pub reopened in 2021, becoming the community’s vital social hub once again.
The film, A Pint of Love, explores how crucial the reopening of Yr Heliwr was to the town of Nefyn, both socially and financially. Through interviews with regulars, volunteers and stakeholders learn how much the pub has revitalised the coastal town with the high street brought back to life after the pub’s success.
The remarkable story offers a warm look inside of this small town and highlights the pub's efforts to keep the Welsh language and culture alive with the bar staff speaking in the language and hosting lessons for locals and tourists.
This series has been put together by the filmmaking team of Katie Greenhalf and Rachel Auty, with the help of Plunkett UK.
Watch A Pint of Love here.
The first film, More Than A Pub, starring Tottenham's Antwerp Arms, is available to watch on the Learn and Discover platform, along with the second in the series, Where Community Grows, about the Travellers Rest, North Yorkshire, here.
CAMRA Pub and Club Campaigns director Gary Timmins said: “This film shows how important pubs are to our communities. When one is lost forever it is a disaster for both the wellbeing of the people and the local economy. It’s amazing to see the impact a community-owned pub can make once open, reviving high streets and offering a friendly, welcoming space for everyone. They really are assets to our communities.
“The chancellor’s recent Budget was nothing but a complete mess for the industry, with rising business rates and lack of support likely to close many more pubs. I hope audiences watching are inspired by the success of Yr Heliwr and look into the option of community ownership to save their own local as evidently government is happy to see pubs drown in a sea of VAT, business rates, energy bills, alcohol duty and increased Employer National Insurance contributions.
“The government must also reintroduce a dedicated funding pot, so community groups can get the financial help they need to save their beloved closed locals.”
