FOR a minute village in the middle of nowhere, with a population of just over 200, Dolau has shown time and again in recent years that the size of its heart is immeasurable.

And in the midst of a depressing cost of living crisis resulting in soaring energy bills that threaten to crush local businesses this winter, the thriving little Radnorshire community is actually opening a pub this weekend.

The appropriately named Dolau Arms will welcome locals with open arms this Friday, October 14, serving pints and pizza from Dolau Community Hall. The pop-up bar will welcome punters at the village hall once a month, as the community – which has been valiantly fighting the closure of its primary school for the last few years – continues to find ways to rebel against the pressures of modern life.

“The Dolau Arms will be opening for the first time on Friday, October 14, from 6pm at Dolau Community Hall,” the hall said in a post on its Facebook page.

“We are very excited for the opening of the Dolau Arms. You will also be able to grab a freshly cooked pizza from M&S wood fired pizza.

“This is the start of our monthly pop-up bar where there will also be the chance to play a variety of games, including Tippit, dominoes and many more.

“This is the perfect opportunity to meet your neighbour and the local community.”

The opening of the Dolau Arms flies in the face of the more negative side of the cost of living crisis, which is seeing electricity and gas bills skyrocket for businesses and individuals throughout Wales and the UK.

Just this week, the landlords of the Hundred House Inn, a popular country pub just 13 miles from Dolau, said they had been forced to close with immediate effect due to a tenfold increase in the pub’s energy bills.

Steve and Desri Davidson announced on the pub’s Facebook page on Tuesday that the increase made the popular roadside pub “impossible to run on any level”.