TWO prominent Lampeter businesses are to close, with the loss of 29 jobs, it has emerged.

In shock news, brewery S A Brains has confirmed that it is to close the town’s historic Black Lion Hotel on High Street, which employs 17 people, saying the pub was not profitable.

The Spar on College Street also closed on Sunday with the loss of 12 jobs.

S A Brains claimed that the hotel’s fate was effectively sealed after a planning application for nine houses at the rear of the premises failed to get approval from Ceredigion County Council’s planning department.

But the Mayor of Lampeter, Cllr Hag Harris, launched a scathing attack on S A Brains for its decision to shut the Black Lion, which is a listed building and which has served customers since the 18th century, describing the closure as “a massive blow”.

He also said it was disingenuous of them to blame the problems with the planning application for the closure of the public house.

The county and town councillor claimed the brewery had neglected the pub for a number of years, adding: “Frankly, the disinterest, lack of consideration and total lack of adequate investment in the hotel over many years is appalling.

Fellow councillor Elin T Jones described the prospect of the hotel being boarded up as “heartbreaking”.

She added: “This will turn a building that should be treasured as the original public house and coach house in Lampeter into a total eyesore and a huge blot in the centre of town."

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