This Pub is Closed Long Term
Affectionately nicknamed Ruby's after the long serving landlady who has recently [2018] retired. An old fashioned boozer that has been in the same family for over 200 years! This grade II pub consists of 5 unspoilt rooms,one of which was a haberdashery shop which was brought into pub use in 1948. There is a small corridor connecting the various rooms and in the front bar there is a framed document listing all the inns that ever existed in this market town. The first room on the left has a number of guitars on the walls. And a large garden area with a marquee is present to the rear which hosts regular music events. There are many interesting features and for lovers of traditional pubs this is one you will not want to miss.
Historic Interest
Early 19th century front to 17th century structure. Grade II Listed. Historic Wales reference 8328
Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance
Listed status: II
An unspoilt small-town pub, until recently in the hands of the same family for over 100 years. It consists of five simply appointed rooms either side of a panelled corridor. The room at the front right was a haberdashery shop until around 1948
. The tiny snug on the middle right is the original public bar and retains a (probably) Victorian counter and shelving behind: the glazed screen to the corridor is the defining characteristic of the pub. In this room an old mirror advertises ‘Ind Coope Burton Ales’. Another old mirror, for ‘Truman’s Burton Ales’, survives in the rear right-hand room. A more modern mirror, in the front right-hand bar, celebrates Ruby Holmes’ fifty years in charge (1965-2017).
UPDATE 2018:
Following the Landlady (Ruby Holmes) suffering a fall over Christmas 2016 her son decided to put the pub up for lease. New licencees, 2017.
This 17th-century unspoilt town pub consists of five small rooms, one of which was a haberdashery shop until c.1948. In the same family for over 100 years with licensee Ruby Holmes running it from 1965 to 2017. A corridor with half-height panelling divides the two sides of the pub. The tiny snug on the middle right is the original public bar and retains a c.100 year old bar counter (the top was replaced in the 1980s), old bar back shelving with a mirrored backing, and basic bench seating attached to the partition wall. Note the old cemented-on lettering on the glazed screen around the snug. There is a fine mirror advertising 'Ind Coope Burton Ales'. The ribbed hardboard dado panelling was probably added in the 1950s. Note the ledge used as a seat when busy - however the locals now call it the 'Suicide Seat' following two customers who regularly sat there committing suicide later in their lives!
Note the old tiny hatch for service in the timber and glass screen around the rear right 'TV Room'. The screen on the passageway side still has a tiny window to let the smoke out (the room had a 1950s tiled fireplace until the 1970s) and old 'Truman's Burton Ales' mirror, but the panelling and seating in this room are modern. The rear left room with '2' on the hatch door still retains old panelling with simple bench seating attached. It also has a tiny sliding window in the glass and timber partition wall to let the smoke out and is home to a pool table. The front left small room has a distinctive 1950s tiled fireplace and modern fixed seating. The main bar has shelves on a ply-panelled wall added in 1948 but the present counter dates from the mid-1980s and the fireplace is modern.
Active Campaign
The pub closed at the end of Oct 2022. A community group has an active campaign to make a bid for community ownership. In Sep 2024 they had registered as a Community Benefit Society (Crown and Anchor CBS Ltd) and were about the launch a share scheme. See news article and Facebook groupfor more details.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Crown & Anchor, Llanidloes
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