Restaurant and café bar plan for Guildhall

Restaurant and café bar plan for Guildhall

CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council’s executive board is to consider exciting proposals for a new restaurant and café bar at Carmarthen’s Guildhall in a £1million private investment that will see the historic courtroom retained and the surrounding areas of the building sensitively developed.

The company – which cannot yet be revealed – has approached the council with plans to invest in the building, introducing a restaurant and café bar whilst keeping the famous courtroom open for visitors.

The proposal, which would see 25 new jobs created in the centre of the town, will be considered by the council’s executive board members on December 18.

Executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, said: “We have been approached by a private company with vibrant and exciting plans for the Guildhall. Their proposals would be an excellent and sympathetic re-use of this historic building. The restaurant and café bar would create an anchor in the centre of Carmarthen town centre, connecting the old and new areas of the town and generating increased footfall that will benefit independent traders in the old part of town.

“The proposal would see a quality sympathetic development that respects the rich history of the Guildhall and keeping the famous courtroom for people to visit and use, whilst giving it a new and sustainable lease of life. We hope it would add to the redevelopment of this part of the town centre and create a new momentum for further investment.”

He added: “This company has a track record of delivering quality developments elsewhere and we are excited to be in talks with them. Their proposal will come formally to the executive board in December where we will decide whether to proceed.”

Executive board member for resources, Cllr David Jenkins, added: “We bought the Guildhall with the intention of it being retained and re-used to support the wider regeneration objectives of Carmarthen town centre. This latest proposal is a vindication of our original decision, with private sector occupation of the building relieving the council of its financial liability whilst generating an income and adding to the vibrancy of the town centre. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the proposal in more detail.”