Pub fined for breaking Covid rules hosts celebration to mark First Minister’s resignation
Bruce Sinclair, local democracy reporter
A pub, whose previous owners were fined for breaking Covid rules, is hosting a celebration evening tonight after Mark Drakeford announced he is to step down.
Mr Drakeford announced earlier today, (13 December), that he was to resign as First Minister next March.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Drakeford said: “I have today formally notified the chair of the Welsh Executive Committee of my intention to stand down as Leader of Welsh Labour in March 2024.
Five years
“When I stood for the leadership, I said that, if elected, I would serve for five years. Exactly five years have passed since I was confirmed as First Minister in 2018.
“Nominations for my successor as Welsh Labour Leader will open shortly. The process will be concluded by the end of the Spring term, to enable the name of the winner to be put to the Senedd before the Easter recess.
“In the meantime, I remain your First Minister,” he added. ”
“There will be plenty of time for political obituaries and retrospection once I cease to be First Minister.
“But not before.”
Tributes
Following the announcement, tributes flooded in from across the political spectrum.
However Aberaeron pub, the Black Lion Hotel, took a different tack.
After Mr Drakeford’s announcement that he was stepping down, it posted on social media: “HAPPY HOUR TONIGHT!!!
“To celebrate the welcomed resignation of Drakeford, we are celebrating with a HAPPY HOUR TONIGHT!
All beers £4 a pint from 6pm till 7pm today!”
Back in 2020, under different owners, the Black Lion was issued a £1,000 fine for breaching Covid rules, supplying alcohol and remaining open when prohibited under the-then regulations.
The pub, in the town’s Alban Square, has had new owners since 2022.
The current owners have been contacted for a comment on why they are holding the celebration event.
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What a foolish thing to do it will not encourage custom.
Grateful this news was posted before I went on a trip to Aberdaron. I won’t be rushing there now, unless other businesses in the town are willing to counter the message.
You shouldn’t rush your reading either. According to the article, the pub’s in Aberaeron not Aberdaron
Sorry, the perils of not checking predictive text. I meant Aberaeron.
Is 4 pound a pint supposed to be cheap?
Mmm. I’ll be working in Aberaeron for a few days in around a months’ time. I’ll have to find out if this pub holding a celebration for Mark Drakefords’ departure is run by RT supporting headbanger Tories because if it is, they won’t be getting a single penny off me.
Mark Drakeford – Good Man, cares about people.
The Black – Bad Pub. Don’t care about people.
Well said!
How childish!
Avoid that weird place, no community spirit. May aswell be a weatherspoons
Future historians will write about great patriotic Welshmen. Lloyd George, the Tudors and Mark will feature amongst the greatest of them all.
Presume this is where the great unwashed Tories and local town idiots congregate! Thanks for story. Will avoid like the plague!!!!