AN iconic Powys pub with a rich history has announced it is reopening, after closing just over a year ago.
The Fforest Inn dates back to the 16th century and is thought to be one of Wales’ oldest pubs. It is also associated with a famous Mid Wales murder and was even the setting of a 1940s murder mystery.
The inn, located on the side of the A44 in Llanfihangel-nant-Melan, between Hundred House and New Radnor, has been lovingly owned by Nicky and Colin Williams for almost a decade.
They described the pub as “their world” when they made the gut-wrenching decision to shut last February, due to escalating energy costs.
But now, as they close in on 10 years as landlords, Nicky and Colin plan to reopen on Friday, April 26.
“We’re very nervous about it as the world has changed, but we enjoy it so much, and invested all of our love, time and emotion into this place for almost 10 years,” said Nicky.
“We owe it to ourselves and the building to give it another go.
“It isn't going to be easy and I am very nervous about it, but we’ve been completely blown away by the response since we announced it yesterday (Monday, March 18) evening.
“I couldn't resist doing a tot-up and the posts have generated over 900 likes, 200 comments and 150 shares – it makes me feel far more confident about the decision.
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“We can't wait to see some familiar faces.”
On a revamped website, the pub announces “While a few things will be slightly different the greeting will be just the same.”
As a result of the news, the pub is also recruiting and is on the search for a kitchen assistant.
As well as being one of the oldest pubs in the country – dating back to 1548 – the Fforest is also said to be the highest pub in Powys. It often experiences the worst of the weather when temperatures plummet, and snowy scenes taken of the pub are often spectacular.
A rich history
The Fforest Inn is steeped in rich history – including murder, both fictional and real.
Hundreds of years ago, weary travellers would seek refuge at the Fforest from the impassable snow drifts that formed just past the inn on the road to Llandrindod Wells and Aberystwyth.
The pub was the setting for a 1946 novel by H.L.V. Fletcher, called ‘Forest Inn’, which tells a story of romance and murder when a mail carriage is forced to stop and its passengers spend the night.
Going back further, the pub is also associated with an actual murder – that of local legend ‘Silver’ John Lloyd, a local sheep farmer and pub regular who became famous for his heavily laden and sparkly attire.
On his way home from a Michaelmas fair in nearby Builth Wells one night his horse-drawn cart arrived home alone. He wasn't found until early the next year when Mary, the daughter of the Fforest Inn’s landlord, was skating on Lyn Heilyn lake, behind the pub.
She fell and screamed, finding, frozen into the ice and looking up at her, the corpse of Silver John.
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