Licensees aim to lose pub's bad reputation

A PUB once dubbed the "most poorly run premises in Carmarthen" by police has new licensees and is undergoing a major revamp.

The Three Salmons in Water street is also having a new name — the Lolfa Lounge — as efforts are made to turn its fortunes around.

Up to 20 full and part-time jobs will be created and food will also be served.

Talking the helm at the SA Brains brewery owned pub is businessman John Paul James and his father Thomas James — who will be the licensee.

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Joining them will be business partner Kevin Evans.

John Paul said: "Ten years ago it was a lovely place to go but it went downhill and attracted a lot of the wrong kind of attention and trouble there. It went so bad that it couldn't get any worse.

"We are hoping to give it a fresh start.

"We are not going to keep the name Three Salmons because of the reputation it had in the town, which is real shame but it needs a fresh start as a pub."

The pub will open on Saturday and will be screening the Wales v England Six Nations rugby match.

"People won't recognise the place, we took over four weeks ago and have spent all that time working on it and installing televisions and revamping the place.

"We want to make it somewhere for people of all ages to enjoy.

"People of my dad's age have nowhere to go in the town to enjoy a drink, so we want all ages to enjoy the place."

Mr James said he wanted to change the pub's reputation.

Four years ago the premises was regularly being visited by police and blighted by issues such as underage drinking, loud music and fighting.

In September 2009 the licence holder at the time was sacked as a result of a licence review by Carmarthenshire Council.

During that review hearing Dyfed-Powys Police inspector Paul Lewis described the pub as "the most poorly run premises in Carmarthen."

The solicitor for SA Brains at the hearing, Matthew Phipps, described the lack of action by the then licensee as "an embarrassment".

As a result, improvements and steps were taken by the brewery and a new licensee holder.

Mr James said he was adamant the pub will be well run. "We will have six door staff working to ensure there is no trouble.

"I want to see the pub shake-off its bad tag as people see what we have done with the place."

Mr James and his father are continuing to pursue plans for a snooker hall in the town.