The owner of a popular Aberystwyth pub who said its future is “uncertain” after losing out on council grants, has spoken of his “renewed energy to fight”.

Marcus Sedghi, the owner of Rummers, a popular pub, wine bar, music venue and restaurant, beside Trefechan Bridge, received an outpouring of public support, after announcing on Facebook that “the future of Rummers is uncertain”.

The stark warning came after the latest appeal to Ceredigion council for Covid grants was turned down, Marcus told the Cambrian News.

Marcus took over ownership of Rummers in August 2018. Like other hospitality venues, it has faced months of closures due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Marcus said Rummers applied to Ceredigion County Council for the Lockdown Non Domestic Rate Grant during the firebreak lockdown in October, but said he was told by that the application was unsuccessful as the bar was “not actively trading up to 6pm on 23 October 2020”.

Similarly, the pub was denied the December lockdown grant because the “property was not open and trading as at 4 December 2020”, Marcus said.

Marcus claimed that he sent proof that Rummers was still trading on both these dates, but says he was then told that he still could not receive the grants because the trade at that time was not his “core business”.

“They turned down my grant applications because they didn’t ask the decision maker of the business whether his business is open, whether his business is trading or whether it’s possible to purchase goods and/or services from his business. It’s ludicrous.”

But despite these financial challenges, Marcus says the warm public response has led him to fight on.

“The question ‘why is the future of Rummers uncertain’ simply doesn’t exist anymore. Have you seen the response from the people?” Marcus said.

“If there was ever a reason to stay and fight, the response, support and love from the Rummers Universe is it. Unbelievable.”

Marcus claimed this is not the first issue he has had with the council since taking over Rummers in 2018.

“I feel very unsupported,” he said. “From a chunk of the historic Pont Trefechan bridge being broken off by the council and never repaired, to the 10-plus times our bins weren’t collected.”

He also claimed his kitchens were assessed at the beginning of lockdown while they were closed and in the process of being redeveloped, so got a one-star rating.

Ceredigion County Council, when asked to comment, said: “We do not comment on individual cases. We recommend the individual contact the council via the contact centre on 01545 570881 in order that the matters raised can be investigated further by officers.

“Furthermore, any individual who wishes to complain about how council services are delivered are encouraged to contact the council`s complaints service to report their concerns, so that matters that need to be addressed can be put right.”