Wales

Morlais Tavern

Dowlais, Mid Glamorgan

During the industrial revolution, Dowlais had over 100 pubs to quench the thirst of the village's foundry workers. Today, Morlais Tavern is one of the very few that remain. Over a hundred years ago, an ironworker's cottage was converted to create the Morlais and, over time, the tavern expanded by linking three adjoining terraced cottages.

When David Rumble and Vicky McKenzie took over the Consortium Group managed house in September 2002, it was still a high-barrelage, working man's drinking den. The couple soon realised there was huge potential to develop the Morlais and broaden its appeal to a much wider audience. A key element in David and Vicky's plan was to add a restaurant as well as rejuvenating the pub.

Open-door policy

The six-month major rebuilding work started in June 2005. By careful planning, the pub never closed its doors to customers despite all the demolition work, completely rewiring and re-plumbing the tavern, and building new toilets and cellar. Vicky says: "We were still taking around £5,500 to £6,000 per week with just a fraction of the pub open."

The lengthy building programme has inevitably skewed comparisons of the Morlais's trading figures. Even so, wet sales for 2006 are on target to be 17% higher than the 12-month period immediately prior to rebuilding.

Growing food sales

The restaurant opened for business for the first time last June, but dry sales are on target to top £180,000 in the first year. The recent addition of a second chef leads David and Vicky to predict that providing 600 meals per week is easily achievable because of rising customer demand. David adds: "There is a huge food market for us because other pubs in the area are shutting."

Although food sales will play a vital role in the Morlais' future, the pub's drinking heritage hasn't been forgotten. Pool and darts teams are based at the pub and all the major football and rugby matches are screened.