Post by migs on Mar 17, 2004 22:59:23 GMT -5
Dylan Pub Under the Hammer
The pub where Dylan Thomas drank and found much of his inspiration is going under the hammer next month after being up for sale for almost a year.
Brown's Hotel in Laugharne, where the poet could regularly be seen propping up the bar, is being auctioned off.
It was put up for sale last May when landlord Tommy Watts decided to call time after 33 years.
But no buyer has so far emerged although auctioneers say the pub is expected to fetch around £400,000.
Celebrity Dylan fans including James Bond star Pierce Brosnan and Mick Jagger have visited Brown's in the past.
There had also been speculation that Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey, who co-owns a restaurant and pub in Laugharne, may have been interested.
But estate agent Terry Thomas said no celebrity bids had ever materialised.
Although born in Swansea, Thomas and his wife Caitlin moved to Carmarthenshire in 1938, raising their family in the now-famous Boat House overlooking the estuary.
It's claimed he was inspired to create most of his famous works while drinking in Brown's.
Mr Thomas said he was expecting a lot of interest in the auction which will be held in the Memorial Hall in Laugharne on 21 April.
"Brown's Hotel is an integral part of life for many people in Laugharne and I'm sure they will want to go there to see who will be running it," he said.
"I would think there will be many people there out of curiosity as much as anything, but hopefully there will be some interested buyers as well."
The Grade Two listed pub, which is being sold as a going concern, still retains most of its original features and has changed little since Thomas's time.
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/3515936.stm
Published: 2004/03/16 13:28:46 GMT
© BBC MMIV
migs
