Copyright walesonline
A 'tough pub' is up for sale because it has the reputation as one of the hardest in Britain welcoming visitors from some of the hardest jobs and sports backgrounds possible but also, more recently a growing reputation for illegal activity. The Wyndham Arms in Merthyr Tydfil town centre became infamous for drawing boxers, hardened former miners and steelworkers and has been described by one customer on website Pubs Galore as 'a place (that) has a reputation all over the valleys, the type of place where ex-boxers and miners drink, not for the faint hearted, but good fun!" Even over two decades ago the pub's reputation was explored, featuring in 2004 in the Sky TV show 'The Toughest Pubs in Britain'. However, more recently it was shut down after there were instances where shoplifters could offload stolen goods. READ MORE: The eight best places to live in Wales YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'I have risked absolutely everything to save the Barry Island landmark that I love' The local council’s licensing committee decided to revoke the pub's licence meaning it had to close. It follows an incident at the premises on March 22, 2025 when stolen meat and other items were purchased from a known shoplifter by Kevin Jones who was the premises licence-holder and designated premises supervisor. The committee saw a police warning letter sent to publican Kevin Jones referring to “continuous” criminal activity (retail theft) linked to the premises and the committee heard further details of the past and current problems associated with shoplifting sales at the premises from the police at the meeting. The committee accepted the police’s evidence that for some considerable time going back a number of years the Wyndham Arms had been central to the on-going shoplifting blight on local retailers on the basis that shoplifters regularly took stolen items to the premises to sell to patrons. Find out more about that here . Prior to its closure, landlord Jones was questioned at the police station regarding handling stolen merchandise before making a "full and frank admission" of purchasing stolen items. PC Steve Moseley provided testimony confirming the considerable efforts police had undertaken to collaborate with Mr Jones to "break this chain of criminality" including failing to prevent others purchasing and selling pilfered goods on the premises. But now it might not be last orders for this pub dating back to Victorian times because the end-of-terrace establishment is now going to property auction with a guide price of £138,000 and is looking for a new and more positive chapter in its history via a let on a six-year lease. Auctioneer Paul Fosh said: "The lively pub occupies a prominent corner position close to Merthyr Tydfil town centre. Above the pub bar area there is a two bedroomed flat with planning consent, on which work has started, to create an additional second one-bedroom flat. "Merthyr Tydfil is a busy town situated just below the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road and is linked to Cardiff to the south and the Brecon Beacons to the north via the A470. "The property consists of the public house on the ground floor with the main bar area, lounge bar, toilets and cellar. On the first floor there is a flat with hallway, living room, kitchen and shower room. "There is also a derelict area which is in the process of being converted to a second bedroom. There is a landing and two further bedrooms on the second floor." The three-storey building with pub and flats with potential are going to online auction with Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of £138,000 on Tuesday November 11 to Thursday November 13, call 01633 244044 to find out more. Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here
