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The Colliers’ Arms
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Where the Colliers’ Arms is situated today is not where the original
Colliers’ Arms was situated. The original Colliers was situated at
the end of a row of terraced houses known as Colliers Row and
was opposite the entrance to Pwll Park, about 150 yards further
west than it is today.
The UK census of 1881 shows that Margaret and William Hughes
were living at the Colliers’ Arms. In 1924 it was recorded that the
tenant was a Mr Griff Phillips who agreed to pass the tenancy on
to Benjamin and Catherine Emmanuel.
Twelve years after moving into the Colliers Arms, Benjamin
Emanuel died and his wife Catherine continued to run the pub
with the help of her daughter, Maggie, and son-in-law. On 18th
December 1945, Catherine Emmanuel died and her estate was
left to her two daughters, Maggie and Lil, who both ran the
Colliers until 1948.
Above: Colliers’ Arms can be seen at the end of Colliers Row
Below: The original Colliers’ Arms. Standing
outside is Estelle, Dorothy [we think] and their
grandmother Catherine Emanuel nee Gwenter.
(Photo: Paul Clement)
Above: Colliers Arms (c 1994)
In 1948 the Colliers’ Arms was compulsorily purchased by Llanelly
Borough Council and demolished to enable the road-widening scheme
to proceed.
Buckley’s Brewery had decided to let the licence lapse but Maggie
decided to transfer the licence to Mulberry House (which had been
owned by her parents). Mulberry House is the current location of the
Colliers’ Arms.
‘Maggie Colliers’ as she was fondly known and her second husband Dick ran the Colliers until Maggie died in 1980. She
had been associated with the Colliers Arms for 60 years.
The pub was refurbished and reopened in 1983 and was run by Estelle and Gwynne Clement (Maggie’s daughter and
son-in-law). Some of the chapel pews from Salem Chapel, which was being demolished at the same time, became part of
the furniture of the refurbished Colliers. Estelle and Gwynne continued to run the Colliers’ Arms until 1990 when Gwynne’s
ill health forced him to retire and the pub was sold to a Mr Keith John.
After a turbulent three years another Keith John purchased the Colliers’ Arms.
Keith ‘The Bookie’ John could often be seen serving behind the bar on most evenings of the week.
Above: Estelle Clement (nee James) behind the bar of
The Colliers’ Arms (mid 1980’s) - Photo: Paul Clement
Source: Llanelli History ©, A Long Mile ©, Bônau Cabbage Patch ©,
Paul Celent ©
During the latter months of 2022 the Colliers’ Arms was
sold to Red Town Taverns who spent the next 4 months
refurbishing the pub.
Finally,on Friday February 3rd 2023 the ‘new’
refurbished Colliers’ Arms was opened to the public.
The current landlord of the Colliers’ Arms is Steve Rees
and his wife, Victoria.
Above: Colliers Arms Sign (1980’s)
Above: The refurbished Colliers’ Arms
2023
-`
Left: Colliers’ Arms Sign (2023)