AN Aberaeron pub at the centre of a dispute between Ceredigion County Council and a Llanelli-based brewery has called last orders after its landlord and landlady decided to take over another town centre pub.

The husband-and-wife team of Stephen and Michelle Colvin had been running the Royal Oak on North Road since October 2014.

But the couple have now switched to the Prince of Wales in Queen Street after Felinfoel Brewery was hit in the pocket having fallen foul of Ceredigion County Council planning regulations.

The brewery, which had aimed to spend around £30,000 on revamping the Oak, was forced to abandon its plans after council officers ruled that the pub’s new windows breached planning controls on a Grade II-listed building set in a conservation area.

The brewery – which had also intended to make the pub “cosier” as well as moving the ladies toilets inside the premises - unsuccessfully appealed against County Hall’s enforcement action and are now planning to replace the new windows in addition to seeking new tenants.

Dominic Rowley, estates manager at Felinfoel Brewery, maintained the Royal Oak’s closure was only temporary and denied its recent closure was in any way linked to the dispute with the local authority.

“The fact is Stephen and Michelle have decided to move to the Prince of Wales – another Felinfoel pub literally around the corner from the Oak,” he told the Cambrian News.

“We are looking to get a new tenant into the Oak as soon as possible – we’re looking for anyone who feels they can run a successful business in that part of Aberaeron."

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