A LLANDYRNOG pub will shut its doors for the time being this week, after the coronavirus pandemic bought its closing date forward.

Having initially planned to keep going under current management for 'at least another couple of years', The White Horse/Ceffyl Gwyn has been put up for sale on the market through estate agent Sidney Phillips.

Cllr Merfyn Parry, who has ran the pub on and off since 2001 said: "Hilary (Merfyn's partner) will be retiring as of this week and the White Horse will not be opening again.

"We purchased the White Horse in 2001 and had Alex’s famous 40th birthday in that November and I’m sure we invited the whole village, we even had Jimmy Garvey as the DJ. We put in a lot of hard work with the help of Simon Frost in designing the layout to convert it from a village boozer to the famous eating establishment it has been up to now."

"The White Horse was officially opened in June 2002, by Emlyn Bach and Mr Emlyn Davies, two famous village characters and our opening chef was Bryn Lloyd Roberts from Abergele.

"We have made very few changes to the running of the White Horse over the last 18 yrs. as our starting formula seemed to work for us and our customers."

"We as the whole family would like to thank all our staff and customers and suppliers over the last 18 years for making the White Horse the business, we are all proud to say we had a share in.

"We would especially like to thank Emma our chef and anchor woman, Annie for looking after the front of house so well, also to the faithful long-term staff of Pym (Chomphunart Janpheng), Lowri Thomas, Ashley Jackson and Kerri Marshall the list is too long to name them all.

"We will miss you all and for everyone’s benefit we hope someone will purchase and keep up or improve the White Horse/ Ceffyl Gwyn Experience."

Another pub owned by Cllr Parry in Llandyrnog, the Golden Lion, will be re-opening this coming Thursday.

Having been closed since January 6, the pub will be ran by Mark Roberts from Rhewl.

Cllr Parry added: "I did have a potential sale on the place to some local people however due to Coronavirus 19 this made it virtually impossible for such a deal to go through.

"I felt that Llandyrnog needs the Goldie open and we both are going to give it a go again and see how it all works out.

"There's lots to sort out with such a small pub regarding regulations to comply with the COVID-19 conditions in a hospitality venue but I’m sure we can overcome these with the help of our customers."