Welshpool pub set to reopen this month

You’ve heard of ‘gastropubs’, well Welshpool is set to welcome a ‘Glasto’ pub after the new owner of The Talbot revealed it could be open as soon as the end of April.

Michelle Youens, from Woolston Bank, near Oswestry, said she fell in love with the 16^th century pub “the minute I stepped inside it and knew it as for me”.

And she has exciting plans for the venue which was popular for live music prior to its closure in 2021.

“I plan to have plenty of live music and theme nights,” Michelle told us last night.

“I love Glastonbury so that will be a big thing for me at the pub, with the outside screens showing that.”

The former Kellogg’s Company Food Safety/Technical Manager has experience of returning pubs to their glory days having purchased The Original Ball in Maesbury with an ex-partner in 2013.

“We did it up and ran it for four years, then rented it out until we sold it in 2022,” she said, adding that she was wanting to get back into the trade.

“I looked at many businesses but nothing was inspiring me,” she said. “The Talbot caught my eye when I was looking through the commercial businesses for sale and I thought how nice it looked.

“I arranged a viewing but nearly cancelled it for a dog walk with friends! But in the end, I decided to go. The minute I stepped inside I knew it was for me. I absolutely loved it. It just ticked all of my boxes and when I saw the outside area, I just thought this is perfect.”

She will be rolling up her sleeves over the next fortnight to have the pub ready to open as soon as possible, and she said that could even be for a soft opening before the end of April.

“I want to get the cellar ready as a priority and the outside ready for live music,” she said. “I’ve got two league pool tables coming and I’m going to get ready for the summer pool league in the games room. There will also be snacks in the bar, serving Rikki Lloyd pork pies and scotch eggs, with cheese baps and pickles.

“I’ve done quite a bit of research on the pub and the pictures and other accessories will reflect this. It’s going to be cosy and friendly. My plans for next winter are to open up the fire places, after consent off CADW.”

Welshpool’s night time economy has been springing back to life with pubs reopening and major investment happening at places like the Pinewood, which is also expected to reopen this summer. The Angel is also set to double in size with expansion into the former Harrison’s building next door.