Y Pengwern – perfect for a Snowdonian AGM

CymdeithasEryri the Snowdonia Society held its AGM in Y Pengwern, the community pub that used to be called the Pengwern Arms. A perfect venue: central, spacious and welcoming. 

Local guide Catrin Roberts led an interesting walk around the village taking in the history of various buildings such as Plas Blaenddol, the posh house of slate magnates the Cassons, which is now a great self-catering option. Some sampled the local ales including Ysgawen, the elderflower brew from Purple Moose and at 1pm we enjoyed a seated lunch in the dining room with sunshine flooding through the windows. Food was excellent, everything home cooked under the watchful eye of Karen, the manager. Her family owned the pub many years ago and she certainly looks at home today, proud and efficient in her work.

The scene was set, the mood and ambience just right as forty of us took our seats in the function room. Reports were presented and well received. The annual report and accounts were approved without debate. Elections and re-elections of officers went smoothly. The motion to adopt a new constitution was approved with but a minor question as to whether there would be any associated cost. Business was concluded forty five minutes ahead of schedule. Perfect!

Tea was brought forward and we were spellbound by Dei Tomos talking under the title of ‘Storm Clouds Gathering’ and excellently translated by Bryn Jones.

Why did everything go so well? I blame the Pengwern, it’s a perfect venue. As one of the 160 shareholders I’m biased but with good cause.

It’s great to see this community pub maturing and evolving, in recent months they have refurbished five of the bedrooms and the guest book has many favourable comments. Keep it up everyone. Daliwch ati pawb!

Huw Jenkins

Pengwern Cask Marque - top beers from a top pub

It’s one thing to have a top class brewery but there’s a lot that can go wrong between the brewer and the pint you drink, especially with cask beer. It needs to be properly looked after all the way through to the final act of consumption.  This is why it makes sense to drink at Y Pengwern because they’ve been awarded the Cask Marque, an independent indicator of quality that looks into the temperature, aroma, taste and appearance of the beer. 

In case you want other reasons to drink at Y Pengwern, well .....

1. Good selection of beers, many of which are very local and are switched on a regular basis
2. Food is now served at weekends
3. It’s a community pub with all profits reinvested into the venture
4. The views are fantastic
5. There’s a great programme of events

 You know it makes sense to drink at Y Pengwern.

This house belongs to you and I

The song on the opening night (8^th July 2011) was written and sung by Iwan Morgan. It was performed in the style of ‘cerdd dant’ which is the presentation of poetry, usually to the accompaniment of the harp, where the harpist plays an air and the singer presents the words on a counter melody. The harpist plays before the singer strikes in, and the object is for both singer and harpist to end each verse together. This tradition is unique to Wales and has been part of our rich culture for centuries, possibly dating back to the Middle Ages.  

On this occasion the tune was 'Llwyn Onn' or 'The Ash Grove' and the harp was played by Dylan Rowlands known by many as Dylan Delyn (Dylan the harp).

The title of the song is 'This house belongs to you and I' and roughly translates as follows:

'Before the slate mines of Blaenau Ffestiniog were ever heard of,

and before quarrymen from north or south made for the place;

indeed, before its houses and streets were built

and before its climate was connected with mists and rain,

cattle drovers and their stock came over peat bog and moor

to spend the night in the shelter and warmth of Ffestiniog.'

'On fair and market days, 
many teemed to the 'Smithy' inn beside the 'llan' (church),

and Martha (Owens), the innkeeper, 
poured pints of her best ale for the merry drinkers.

She also provided relish and accommodation for all

who called at the inn to shorten their journey at the village.’

'Over the course of the years, 
the 'Smithy' became the 'Pengwern Arms.' 

That is how it was before its doors closed (in February 2009). 

But by today, the 'community' of the village 
have persevered to re-open the place,

hence 'this house belongs to you & I.' 

‘MAE’R TŶ HWN YN EIDDO I TI AC I MI’

Cyn sôn am geudyllau y Blaenau, na thre

Lle cyrchai chwarelwyr o’r gogledd a’r de;

Cyn codi ei strydoedd a’i thai di-ben-draw

Na chysylltu ei hinsawdd â niwloedd a glaw,

Dôi porthmyn a gwartheg dros fawnog a rhos

I glydwch Ffestiniog i orffwyso’r nos.

I dafarn ‘Yr Efail’ oedd gerllaw’r llan

Ar ddydd ffair a marchnad - bu heidio i’r fan,

A Martha’r perchennog, tywalltai hi

Ei chwrw gorau i’r drachtwyr ffri;

Rhoes enllyn a llety dros gyfnod maith

I bobun a alwai i fyrhau’r daith.

  

Dros gwrs y blynyddoedd, daeth newid i’w rhan,

Daeth ‘Yr Efail’ yn ‘Bengwern’ yma’n y Llan,

Ac felly y bu, nes i’w drysau gau ...

Ond wele’r ‘gymuned’ fu’n dyfalbarhau

I’w hagor eto .... a dyma eu cri:

‘Mae’r tŷ hwn yn eiddo i ti ac i mi!’

Official Opening - Agoriad Swyddogol

Friday 8th July was the official opening of The Pengwern with S4C broadcasting live on the programme Wedi 7 and a slate plaque unveiled by Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas. Earlier in the day the pub was featured on Radio Wales (Jamie and Louise) with customers and volunteers talking about what it felt like to have the pub open once more. Here’s what it was like on the night:

Agoriad Swyddogol

Ar nos Wener, Gorffennaf yr 8ed, cynhelir agoriad swyddogol Y Pengwern yn Llan Ffestiniog.

Ar ôl i’r Pengwern Arms Hotel gau ym mis Chwefror 2009 sefydlwyd Pengwern Cymunedol fel menter gymunedol i brynu, ail agor a datblygu Tafarn a Gwesty’r Pengwern ac ers diwedd mis Mawrth 2011 y gymuned sy’n berchen ac yn rheoli Y Pengwern. Trwy ymdrechion gwirfoddol llwyddwyd i gymoni a gwella rhannau o adeilad Y Pengwern a bellach ail agorwyd y dafarn a’r ystafell gweithgareddau.

Mae gwahoddiad cynnes i gynrychiolwyr y wasg a’r cyfryngau i fynychu’r agoriad swyddogol. Eisoes mae rhaglen Wedi 7 S4C wedi trefnu i ddarlledu’n fyw o’r Pengwern ar y noson.

Bydd rhaglen noson yr agoriad yn rhedeg o 6.00 p.m. ymlaen. Perfformir yr agoriad swyddogol gan yr Aelod Cynulliad lleol, Dafydd Elis Thomas.Bydd cynrychiolwyr Cyngor Gwynedd, Cyngor Tref Ffestiniog a nifer o’r cyrff fu’n gefnogol i’r Pengwern yn bresennol yn ogystal ag aelodau a chefnogwyr lleol Pengwern Cymunedol.

Hefyd bydd nifer o artistiaid a doniau lleol yn cyfrannu mewn gair a chân i’r noson.

Am fanylion ynglyn â’r Pengwern gweler Taflen Wybodaeth Pengwern Cymunedol.

CYSWLLT  Sel Williams  sel@bangor.ac.uk   Ffôn:  0776 049 0081

Y Pengwern, Sgwar yr Eglwys, Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. LL41 4PB

E bost:                     pengwerncymunedol@googlemail.com

Gwefan:                   www.pengwerncymunedol.btik.com

Gwefan y Tafarn:     www.pengwern.org.uk

Ffôn y Pengwern:    01766 762200

Official Opening of The Pengwern

Friday, July the 8th, sees the official reopening of The Pengwern in Llan Ffestiniog.

After the Pengwern Arms Hotel closed its doors, in February 2009, Pengwern Cymunedol was set up as a community enterprise to buy, reopen and develop the pub and hotel. Since the end of March 2011 the community owns and runs The Pengwern. A large number of volunteers have worked to renovate and improve parts of the building so that by now the pub and function room have been reopened.

Representatives of the press and media are welcome to attend the official opening. The S4C programme, Wedi 7, has confirmed that it will broadcast live from the Pengwern on the opening night.

The programme for the evening will start shortly after 6.00pm. The local Welsh Assembly Member, Dafydd Elis Thomas, will perform the opening ceremony at around 7.00pm. Representatives will be present from Gwynedd and Ffestiniog councils and from other agencies which have been supportive of the venture as well as local shareholders, volunteers and supporters of Pengwern Cymunedol.

A variety of local talents will perform during the evening followed by a jamming session with local musicians.

For further details about the Pengwern social enterprise see the Pengwern Cymunedol Information Sheet.

CONTACT Sel Williams sel@bangor.ac.uk   Ffôn:  0776 049 0081

Y Pengwern, Sgwar yr Eglwys, Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. LL41 4PB

E mail:                      pengwerncymunedol@googlemail.com

Website:                   www.pengwerncymunedol.btik.com

Pub Website:            www.pengwern.org.uk

Pengwern Tel:          01766 762200

Y Pengwern opens!

51 days after getting the keys this once run down pub is up and running; fuelled by the community and a core of committed volunteers.

This occasion was a test run to which shareholders and helpers were invited to check out the facilities and enjoy free beer. So much has been achieved in such a short time with the minimum of outside help, it’s a great community success.

Volunteer staff wore black shirts with the Pengwern logo. Service was efficient and with a smile.

In the cellar were many barrels including casks of real ale from the Purple Moose Brewery. The half-drunk cask of Glaslyn was slowly tipped forward, by a spring lifting the rear end as the weight decreased; in this way, without disturbing sediments, you get 71 saleable pints out of a 72 pint cask.

All being well the public opening will be early June.