Pub chain asks YOU for a name

14/02/2014 @ 12:04

Pub giant J.D Wetherspoon is understood to have accepted that its planned name for The Black Boy in Newtown has not been embraced by local people and will ask the public for their views.

MyNewtown revealed last week how the pub chain planned to name the Broad Street pub the Llewellyn ap Gruffydd. And while the famous prince had links with Dolforwyn Castle, many residents felt it was not "local" enough.

MyNewtown has campaigned for a new name along with Powys County Councillor Joy Jones who has had talks with officials at the company about the matter.

However, we understand that Wetherspoon will be opening up to suggestions for names ranging from The Robert Owen to The Kerry Hill.

The pub is due to open in late May and work has already started on renovating it.

"I understand they will open it up," said Cllr Jones who will be starting a Facebook group for name suggestions. Cllr Jones will then forward this to Wetherspoon for their consideration.

"It's become quite a topic for debate in the town and I've been stopped by people who are quite passionate about the name change."

Local historian, David Pugh, has also contacted MyNewtown with suggestions. "Visitors to Newtown are going to have difficulty with the name Llewellyn ap Gruffydd for the new Wetherspoon's and, as has been pointed out, the gentleman concerned had little to do with Newtown.

"My own suggestions are "The Georgie Black" or "The Mad Marine", both frequent visitors to the Black Boy, or better still, "The Lucy Jones", who was an excellent landlady there for many years. At least they are names well known in the town."

MyNewtown readers can also have their say. Let us have your suggestions for names for pub via Facebook at www.facebook.com/mynewtown or tweet us @my_newtown - www.twitter.com/my_newtown.

Caption: (Top) The Black Boy public house in Broad Street, Newtown, where work has begun on renovations for a new Wetherspoon's pub and (left) Cllr Joy Jones.