Enterprise Inns buys Dylan Thomas' favourite pub

National pub operator Enterprise Inns has bought the Black Lion hotel in the seaside resort of New Quay in West Wales off a guide price of £775,000.

The pub, which overlooks the bay on the Ceredigion Heritage Coast, was a favourite haunt of Dylan Thomas, who wrote the radio scripts for Quite Early One Morning and Memories of Christmas in what was then the hotel kitchen and is now Dylan's Bar.

Dylan's Bar is now the headquarters and monthly meeting place for the Dylan Thomas Society and contains memorabilia including original copies of Thomas's works.

The bar area of the property dates back to before 1680 and the hotel was extended in 1840 at the same time as the harbour. It was owned by Thomas's friend Jack Pat in the mid-1940s.

The business comprises two bars, a 24-seat restaurant, and nine letting bedrooms (six of which are en suite). It has large gardens and a car park.

The Bristol office of Christie + Co sold the freehold on behalf of David and Carol Bellamy.

By Angela Frewin