Saith Seren

Saith Seren is a Welsh-language community centre, pub and cultural venue in central Wrexham, North Wales. Its name means “Seven Stars” in Welsh and translates the historic name of the public house that previously occupied the site. Rather than being a conventional commercial hospitality brand, Saith Seren combines food and drink service with Welsh-language activity, community events, cultural retail and meeting facilities. It functions as a physical gathering place for Welsh speakers, learners, supporters of the Welsh language and the wider Wrexham community. The venue occupies a Grade II listed building at the corner of Chester Street and Lambpit Street. Public-house activity has existed on the site since at least the eighteenth century, with records indicating that the site was licensed in the 1750s and that the Stars inn was established there by 1769. The Seven Stars Inn was sold to its tenant James Marshall in 1880 for £2,500, together with a yard and nine nearby cottages. The present building dates mainly from a 1898 rebuilding designed by Liverpool architect Thomas Price. Constructed in Ruabon red brick, it uses a commercial architectural style incorporating Arts and Crafts elements. Its asymmetrical two-storey form includes a prominent semi-octagonal corner tower, a slate roof and a decorated Chester Street gable. Price also designed the adjacent Empire Music Hall, added in 1902 and later incorporated into the Saith Seren premises. The Seven Stars operated as a pub under that name until its closure in 2011. Following the 2011 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, local volunteers and Welsh-language supporters developed a plan to reopen the building as a Welsh cultural centre and community-run pub. The project was organised through Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam, a cooperative created to operate the venue. Supporters raised initial funds, negotiated a long-term lease and planned a phased reopening, with hospitality facilities on the ground floor and offices, meeting rooms and Welsh-language teaching space upstairs. Saith Seren opened in January 2012. Its intended role extended beyond serving drinks. The centre promoted Welsh food, real ale, Welsh-language classes, cultural gatherings and a Welsh-speaking environment in the city centre. It also hosted learner activities such as Clwb Clebran and provided meeting space for community organisations. The venue was described in 2013 as Wrexham’s only community-owned pub and one of several community-owned pubs in North Wales. It experimented with cooperative fundraising and member participation, including share issues intended to finance development and improvements. The pub also brewed its own beer during its early period and explored the use of the adjacent former cinema space. Saith Seren faced a serious financial threat in 2015 when Pennaf Housing Group, whose Clwyd Alyn subsidiary was involved with the building, sought to end the arrangement because of unpaid obligations. The centre announced a possible closure, prompting support from Welsh-language organisations, local campaigners and members of the public. A regular-pledge campaign eventually reached the target needed to keep the venue operating. The episode highlighted the economic difficulties facing independent pubs and community enterprises, including limited custom, location challenges and the wider pressures affecting the hospitality sector. Subsequent activity included a collaboration with Coleg Cambria’s Rendezvous restaurant on a new menu, efforts to obtain permission to fly Welsh flags from the listed building, and a monthly Welsh-goods shop selling items such as books, cards, crafts and CDs. In 2020, Wrexham A.F.C. owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney sent the venue three cases of Aviation Gin. In August 2023, the cooperative purchased the building, replacing its previous long-term lease with direct ownership. This acquisition strengthened Saith Seren’s long-term position as a community-controlled Welsh-language institution and hospitality venue.

The Saith Seren premises stand on a long-established public-house site at the junction of Chester Street and Lambpit Street in Wrexham. The site was licensed by the 1750s, and the Stars inn was recorded there by 1769. In 1880, tenant James Marshall bought the Seven Stars Inn at auction for £2,500. The transaction included the inn, its yard and nine cottages along the adjoining streets, illustrating the scale of the historic property. The building was substantially rebuilt in 1898. Liverpool architect Thomas Price designed the new structure, while Jack Scott was associated with its construction up to 1904. The resulting Grade II listed building uses Ruabon red brick, a slate roof and a commercial style with Arts and Crafts details. Its corner tower, asymmetrical frontage and decorated gable give it a distinctive civic-pub character. Price also designed the neighbouring Empire Music Hall, added in 1902. The former music hall and cinema, described as an early purpose-built cinema in North Wales, later became physically associated with the pub. The property continued as the Seven Stars, also known at different times as the Seven Stars Hotel or The Star, until the pub closed in 2011. After Wrexham hosted the National Eisteddfod that year, local Welsh-language supporters sought to create a permanent centre for Welsh speakers and learners. Volunteers raised initial support, established Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam as a cooperative and negotiated a long lease. Clwyd Alyn Housing Association acquired the property on the cooperative’s behalf, while the centre planned to raise further money for repairs, kitchen equipment and bar facilities. The venue reopened in January 2012 as Saith Seren, the Welsh translation of Seven Stars. The cooperative’s concept combined a pub with a language and cultural centre. The downstairs area provided hospitality, while upper rooms were intended for offices, meetings and Welsh-language classes. Activities included learner gatherings, cultural events, Welsh food, real ale and community meetings. The pub also developed its own beer and explored options for bringing the former Empire space into wider use. The organisation pursued a cooperative ownership model in which members could invest while retaining equal voting rights. A second share issue in 2013 sought £40,000 for development, and the centre was reported to have approximately 100 members. That year, Saith Seren was identified as Wrexham’s only community-owned pub and part of a wider concentration of community pubs in North Wales. It also hosted fundraising activity for the Wrexham Supporters Trust and investigated uses for the long-vacant former cinema. Financial pressure produced the centre’s most serious crisis in 2015. Pennaf Housing Group, including Clwyd Alyn, sought possession because the cooperative had been unable to meet amounts owed. The proposed closure attracted criticism and concern from Welsh-language advocacy organisations. Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg appealed to the Welsh Government, while community supporters organised regular donations. The campaign reached the reported £3,000 monthly target required to continue operating. Directors subsequently examined ways to improve the venue’s sustainability, identifying weak customer numbers, the site’s commercial challenges and broader pub-industry pressures as contributing factors. Saith Seren continued to expand its cultural role. It worked with Coleg Cambria’s Rendezvous restaurant on a menu in 2015, applied in 2016 for permission to fly several Welsh flags from the listed building, and began hosting a monthly Welsh-goods shop in 2017. In 2020, the venue received Aviation Gin from Wrexham A.F.C. owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. In August 2023, Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam purchased the property outright. The acquisition transformed Saith Seren from a cooperative tenant into a community-owned building and improved the basis for its continued role as a Welsh-language centre and pub.

• 2023

  The operating cooperative buys the building

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam acquired the building after operating Saith Seren under a long-term lease.

• 2015

  Community fundraising averts closure

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  A regular-pledge campaign secured enough support to keep Saith Seren open after a landlord dispute over finances.

• 2013

  Second cooperative share issue

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  The centre pursued a second share issue to raise development funds and reported around 100 members.

• 2012

  Saith Seren opens

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  The cooperative-run Welsh-language centre and pub opened in January.

• 2011

  Welsh-centre plans are launched

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  After the Seven Stars closed, volunteers announced plans for a Welsh-language community centre and pub.

• 1902

  Empire Music Hall is added

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Price designed the adjacent Empire Music Hall, later incorporated into the Saith Seren premises.

• 1898

  The present listed building is constructed

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Price designed a substantial rebuilding in Ruabon red brick, incorporating commercial and Arts and Crafts elements.

• 1880

  James Marshall buys the Seven Stars Inn

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Tenant James Marshall acquired the inn, its yard and nine nearby cottages at auction for £2,500.

• 1769

  The Stars inn is recorded

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  The Stars inn is documented on the site, establishing the historical origin of the later Seven Stars name.

• 1750

  The site is licensed as a public house

  [1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Records indicate that the site had a licence for public-house activity by the 1750s.

A community-owned Welsh-language cultural hub that combines a traditional pub with language learning, cultural activity and cooperative local ownership.

• Hospitality · 2012

  Welsh-language pub

  The core commercial offering is a community-oriented pub serving drinks, including real ale, alongside Welsh food and informal social space. Its distinctive value is the Welsh-speaking environment rather than a packaged consumer product. The pub supports the centre’s wider cultural mission and acts as a meeting place for speakers, learners and visitors.

• Community services · 2012

  Welsh-language learning and meeting facilities

  Saith Seren provides rooms and programming for Welsh-language learners, community meetings and cultural activity. Clwb Clebran gives learners a place to practise Welsh socially, while the upstairs areas have been associated with classes, offices and general meetings. These facilities distinguish the venue from a conventional pub.

• Cultural retail · 2017

  Welsh-goods shop

  The centre introduced a monthly shop for Welsh-related goods, including books, cards, crafts and CDs. The initiative was developed with Siop Cwlwm after the closure of a nearby Welsh-goods retailer and extended Saith Seren’s role into cultural retail.

• Cultural services · 2012

  Community events and cultural programming

  The venue hosts fundraisers, Welsh-language gatherings, cultural events and community meetings. Its programming supports both fluent Welsh speakers and learners, while its hospitality facilities provide a social setting for public activity. Specific events vary over time and are not presented as a fixed product range.

• 2015Save Saith Seren fundraising campaign

  Wrexham · Wales

  Following a threatened closure over unpaid financial obligations, supporters organised donations and monthly pledges. Welsh-language advocacy groups publicly backed the effort.

  Outcome. Supporters reached the reported £3,000 monthly target and prevented the planned closure.

  Source
• 2011Community launch fundraising

  Wrexham · North Wales

  Volunteers raised early community support to lease and develop the former Seven Stars as a Welsh-language centre and pub. The cooperative model invited members to contribute capital while retaining equal voting rights.

  Outcome. The campaign enabled the centre to secure premises and open as Saith Seren in January 2012.

  Source

• 2023

  Purchase the Saith Seren buildingM&A

  Background

  The cooperative had operated the venue under a long-term lease and faced the inherent limits of tenant status.

  Action taken

  Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam bought the building and assumed direct ownership.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition gave the community cooperative greater control over the venue’s future and removed dependence on the former lease arrangement.

  Source

• 2015

  Adopt a recurring-pledge model to avoid closureStrategy

  Background

  The landlord sought possession after the cooperative struggled to meet its financial obligations.

  Action taken

  Supporters and organisations raised regular monthly pledges to cover the amount needed to continue operating.

  Aftermath

  The centre remained open and began examining longer-term operational improvements.

  Monthly support target. £3,000 per month target (2015)

  Source

• 2013

  Issue additional cooperative sharesStrategy

  Background

  The centre needed further resources for development while operating as a community-owned pub.

  Action taken

  Management conducted a second share issue with a stated fundraising objective of £40,000.

  Aftermath

  The centre reported approximately 100 members and continued exploring improvements, including possible use of the neighbouring former cinema.

  Fundraising target. £40,000 target (2013)

  Source

• 2012

  Reopen the former Seven Stars as a Welsh-language community hubStrategy

  Background

  The historic pub had closed in 2011, while Wrexham’s Welsh-speaking community sought a permanent city-centre venue following the National Eisteddfod.

  Action taken

  Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam reopened the premises under the translated name Saith Seren and combined pub operations with language learning, cultural activity and community meetings.

  Aftermath

  The venue became a recognised gathering point for Welsh speakers and learners and developed a cooperative ownership structure.

  Source

• 2023

  Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam purchases the Saith Seren building[1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The cooperative that had operated the centre acquired the building, ending its reliance on the previous long-term lease arrangement.

• 2020

  Wrexham A.F.C. owners send Aviation Gin to Saith Seren[1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney sent three cases of Aviation Gin to the Wrexham venue after becoming owners of Wrexham A.F.C.

• 2017

  Saith Seren begins monthly Welsh-goods shop[1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The centre announced monthly retail sessions for Welsh-language and Welsh-themed goods following the closure of a nearby specialist shop.

• 2015

  Saith Seren faces possible closure over financial obligations[1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The centre was told to vacate the building after difficulties meeting its financial commitments. Welsh-language organisations and local supporters backed a fundraising effort that secured sufficient recurring pledges to avert closure.

• 2012

  Saith Seren opens in Wrexham[1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The building reopened under the name Saith Seren as a Welsh-language centre and community-run pub operated by Canolfan Gymraeg Wrecsam.

• 2011

  Plans announced to create a Welsh-language centre at the former Seven Stars[1]Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Volunteers announced plans to reopen the former Seven Stars as a Welsh-language community centre and pub, supported by community fundraising and a cooperative operating model.

1. 1Saith Serenen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Saith Seren official websitesaithseren.org.uk