The owners of a cafe in Criccieth say they have been forced to close with immediate effect “following a four-year legal battle”.

Swn Y Môr said “it is with the heaviest of hearts” that they have had to close.

“After over 36 years as tenants, following a four-year legal battle with the Executors of the Estate of Elizabeth Cadwalader and despite us successfully renewing our lease for Blue China, our lease at Swn Y Mor has now been terminated and we have been forced to bring our time here to an end.

“This is not how we ever imagined our story would end.

“Throughout our tenancy, we have always done our best to be good tenants. We have never missed a rent payment. We always enjoyed an excellent relationship with our landlady, which makes the events of the last four years all the more difficult for us to come to terms with.

“We have fought incredibly hard to keep Swn Y Môr open, but sadly, despite everything we have done, we have reached the end of the road.

“What makes this so heartbreaking is that we are not just closing a café. We are saying goodbye to a family business, a lifetime of memories and a huge part of our family's history.

“Our grandparents started this business back in 1990. Over three generations, Swn Y Môr has become so much more than a café. It has been a place where families have celebrated weddings, christenings, birthdays and anniversaries, and where people have gathered during some of life's saddest moments, including saying goodbye to loved ones at funerals.

“We have watched children grow up, welcomed generations of families through our doors and been privileged to play a small part in so many people's lives. There are memories within those walls that can never be replaced.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to all our wonderful staff, past and present. You have been such an important part of Swn Y Môr, and none of this would have been possible without you.

“Thank you also to our amazing local suppliers, and especially Idris Café, who have supplied our bread since the very beginning. Your loyalty and support have meant the world to us.

“Most of all, thank you to every single customer who has supported our family business over the years. Whether you visited us every day, enjoyed a special family occasion with us or simply popped in for a coffee, you have all helped make Swn Y Môr what it is.

“We are devastated that our time here has ended this way. “We don't yet know what the future holds, but we will always be incredibly proud of what our grandparents started and what three generations of our family have built together.

“A business can be taken away, but the memories, friendships and legacy of three generations can never be erased.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of our journey.

“Goodbye, Swn Y Môr. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts.”