The Blacksmith’s Arms, Llanmaes’ village pub, re-opened last Friday following a £170,000 refurbishment undertaken by Punch Taverns.
The new publican is James Stoodley of Rhoose who has run other pubs in South Wales including the Friendly Fox in Newport.
Vale MP Alun Cairns was invited to the launch and pulled the first pint for paying customers alongside Mr Stoodley and Guion Iwan of Punch Taverns.
Mr Cairns said, “It was fantastic to see the Blacksmith’s Arms open again with local people streaming through the doors. Pubs are the heart of villages like Llanmaes, hubs for the community, and it is heartening to see such investment in their future.
“Regular visitors to the Blacksmith’s will be happy to learn that the pub has retained the same head chef, meaning that the food will be at least as good it was before.
“Having met James Stoodley, the new publican, I am sure that he will make the Blacksmith’s Arms one of the friendliest village pubs in the Vale. I wish him the very best for the future.”