A former Brains pub in Cardiff has been saved from the brink of closure thanks to an agreement between its manager and the council. The Willows Pub in Trowbridge was among three Brains pubs in the city that the Cardiff-based brewer ordered to shut down earlier this year, with landlords given just weeks to vacate.
Staff and regular customers of the Willows Pub, The Wolfscastle in Llanishen, and the Newbridge Inn in Trowbridge were left devastated in July by the sudden instruction that the properties had to be given back to Brains empty by August 5. All three pubs were among the 156 Brains branded pubs in Wales which brewery and pub firm Marston's took over the running of from SA Brain & Co in February 2021.
The deal, which saved up to 1,300 jobs, was needed "to address Brains' immediate funding requirements", according to a statement issued by the companies to the Stock Exchange at the time. The pubs continued to operate under the Brains brand and sell the Welsh brewer's beer.
