Tafarn Cwmdu, Cwmdu (Cwmdu Inn)

The Cwmdu Inn and its separate small shop have been run by the villagers since 2000. A visit is highly recommended to see both, particularly the small public bar where you will soon be drawn into conversation accompanied by good beer - the essence of a traditional pub. It is part of an early 19th-century terrace including a small shop/post office and holiday cottages and has been owned by the National Trust since 1991. Both the pub and shop were in the hands of Miss Annie Griffiths for 50 years until she died in 1987 aged 98. Since 2000 it has been run by a volunteer community structure with a unique partnership with the National Trust, as all previous attempts by them to run it in a viable way using their standard way of charging a commercial rent to individuals (five in all) were unsuccessful.

Cymdeithas Cwmdu holds monthly meetings to run the pub and shop; also events such as Cwmdu Fete last Sat. in June; Apple Day 1st Sat. (possibly 2nd) in October etc. On 23rd October 2009 HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and President of the National Trust visited Cwmdu including its inn and shop and the locals will keenly show you photos from the event.

A flagstone corridor runs from the front door of to the servery at the rear with a figure ‘2’ on the door. On the right is the originally public room, as there was no bar in Annie’s day, and the beer was fetched from the servery. On the left is the public bar with the figure ‘1’ on the door and behind it the original servery. This very small public bar was Annie Griffiths’ living room and as part of the restoration in 1994 the National Trust added a small counter/hatch by cutting a hole in the wall on the servery side. This small room has a flagstone floor, large stone fireplace with a log fire, old settle and a dartboard. It acts as the restaurant room on a Sat. (beyond it is a kitchen), and is used for quiz nights; folk evenings 1st Fri. of month; Classic Club every 2nd Thu. of month; if rugby is on TV; and if the public bar is full. The tiny bar has a flagstone floor, two settles and just a couple of tables.

The beer is from Evan Evans brewed in nearby Llandeilo, usually the 4.0% Cwrw (= Welsh for beer) - note the hoist used to lift casks onto the stillage. By the door to the servery two items from Annie’s day - the old bottle opener and the V-shaped item is a jam jar lid opener! There are small rooms upstairs.