CAMRA film trilogy shines spotlight on community owned pubs
CAMRA has released the third and final film in its community owned pub documentary series, A Pint of Love, 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 local pub in 2018. After an impressive fundraising campaign, the pub reopened in 2021, becoming the community’s vital social hub once again.
The film explores how crucial the re-opening of Yr Heliwr was to the town of Nefyn, both socially and financially. Through interviews with regulars, volunteers and key 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, Welsh 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 Katie Greenhalf and Rachel Auty, with the help of Plunkett UK.
Watch the final film in this series, A Pint of Love, here.
The first film, More Than A Pub, starring Tottenham's Antwerp Arms, is available to watch on CAMRA's Learn and Discover platform, along with the second film in the series, Where Community Grows, about the Travellers Rest, North Yorkshire, here.
Gary Timmins, CAMRA Pub and Club Campaigns Director 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 local 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 re-introduce a dedicated funding pot, so community groups can get the financial help they need to save their beloved closed locals.”
Rachel Auty, Cameron Rae Consultancy Ltd and Women On Tap CIC added:
"I loved meeting the committees, teams and locals at each of the three community pubs. It's been a real honour. Hearing their stories and learning more about their communities has been brilliant.
“I've always believed that pubs are an essential part of society, and now more than ever we need these local places of togetherness and belonging. These films reflect that.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The Yr Heliwr film is here.
The Antwerp Arms film is here.
The Travellers Rest film is here.
Photos of Yr Heliwr are here.
Clips from the film as reels are here.
Photos of Rachel and Katie filming the series are here.
CAMRA has guides and resources about saving your local pub, including community ownership, here.
Find out more about community pubs here.
The three pubs featured in the series are:
Yr Heliwr, Nefyn, Wales
After being closed for many years, a community benefit society raised enough money to buy the freehold in 2018. The pub was restored by volunteers and reopened in 2021. In 2024 the pub opened an outdoor events space to help improve health and wellbeing, tackle loneliness and give the opportunity for locals to learn new skills.
Antwerp Arms, Tottenham, London
Tottenham’s longest established working pub, serving the local community since 1822. This Georgian era building was threatened with demolition by developers and risked being turned into flats before it was saved by 300 members of its local community and CAMRA campaigners to become North London’s first community owned pub, reopening in 2015.
Traveller’s Rest, Skeeby, North Yorkshire
Darlington’s first community pub reopened in 2023 after being shut and derelict for 15 years. 250 locals banded together to form the Skeeby Community Pub Society and raised £320,000 to save and repair the pub. This welcoming pub hosts local sport teams such as darts and quoits plus bingo on Mondays.
About Learn and Discover
Learn and Discover is CAMRA’s award-winning educational platform, home to a large library of guides, articles, videos and audio material from esteemed writers, educators and industry experts.
About Plunkett UK
Plunkett UK is a charity which supports people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses, including pubs, in community ownership. Plunkett UK represents over 800 trading community-owned businesses and a further 800 in the process of setting up, from shops and pubs through to woodlands, farms and fisheries.
About the film makers:
Rachel Auty, Cameron Rae Consultancy Ltd and Women On Tap CIC
Rachel is a marketing and communications consultant, an award-winning beer writer, and a CAMRA member. She is the founder of Women On Tap CIC, former Head of Marketing at Brew York, and serves as a director on the board of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
Katie Greenhalf, filmmaker, editor and creative producer
Katie is the founder of her own production company This Film, which specialises in character-led storytelling that highlights the richness of real people, places and communities.
About CAMRA:
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit UK consumer group.
We have been campaigning for pubs, pints and people since 1971.
Media Contact:
CAMRA Press Office:
01727 337863
