A MAN with strong connections to Harlech has started a fundraising appeal to help a pub in the town to repair damage caused by a storm over the bank holiday weekend.
Andrew Parry started the fundraising page to help the Queen’s Hotel purchase a new outdoor canopy.
He told the Cambrian News about why he feels it necessary to support the pub and about the connections he has to it and Harlech.
Andrew said: “My mum Rosemary Parry worked at the Queen’s Hotel for around 20 years and I as a child have very fond memories of the pub as my friends mother and father ran it and I was always at or around the hotel with my friend Paul Jones.
“I had to move away from Harlech (my true home) for work 17 years ago, but love to visit my family often and usually end up meeting old friends in the Queen’s for a pint or two.”
He continued: “I keep a very close eye on what is going on at home and recently saw a video on Facebook of the amazing transformation that Rachel and Liam Madigan had done to the hotel.
“To think they are not a part of a big chain brewery, they have pulled a rabbit out of the hat and created a fantastic place for locals to meet and socialise. They must have spent a small fortune inside and in the garden, only to receive a cruel blow from the recent storm and were forced to close for the night due to a damaged shelter.”
Andrew added: “What a kick in the teeth after being forced to close due to this awful coronavirus pandemic.
“I just wanted to help in a small way, I can’t physically due to living in Caerphilly but hoped that a Gofundme page would go a small way to helping them repair and rebuild the outdoor area for customers again.”
A spokesperson for the Queen’s Hotel said: “We are actually overwhelmed by the fact that someone has done this for us, we don’t expect anyone to donate but very grateful.
“We have worked so hard to transform the Queen’s hotel. We took over in December 2019 just before the coronavirus outbreak so we haven’t had the best start to running the pub. We love the fact we have good local support and already so much feedback. It was so unfortunate that the weather destroyed our little shelters. We are now in the process of trying to get more sheltered areas so people feel safe and can enjoy a drink come rain or shine.”
To donate to the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/the-queens-hotel-new-canopy
So far, it has raised £190 of its £200 fundraising target.