Hollywood star Matthew Rhys buys shares in pub Dylan Thomas used to visit

Hollywood star Matthew Rhys has bought shares in a pub the poet Dylan Thomas used to visit.

The Welshman, who has starred in films alongside the likes of Tom Hanks and Merryl Streep, has invested in the Vale of Aeron, in Ystrad Aeron, near Felinfach, Ceredigion.

The pub shut years ago and was on sale for £325,000. Back in August a venture, The Vale of Aeron Campaign, was launched to reopen it as a community-owned public house and co-operative.

They set a target of raising £330,000 through shares by December 12, and it has raised over £100,000 so far. Each share costs £1, with the minimum shareholding set at £200 and the maximum shareholding set at £30,000.

Every shareholder automatically becomes a Member of the Society, which gives them a say in how the pub is run. Each member has one vote, no matter how many shares they buy.

In a post on Twitter, Matthew Rhys said: “I’ve just bought shares in a pub that Dylan Thomas used to frequent… Should you wish to do the same… @TafarnYVale”

The initiative follows in the footsteps of a community enterprise to buy the old Ty’n Llan pub in the village of Llandwrog, Gwynedd, which was backed by the actor Rhys Ifans. It was able to reach its fundraising target of £458,400.