“Rwy’n credu’n llwyr eich bod chi ar y trywydd iawn.”

31 Gorffennaf 2026

Gan Huw Jones, Trysorydd Menter Ty’n Llan

Helo Scott

Roedd hi'n braf siarad â chi heddiw, clywed am yr ymgyrch i achub 'Workies' y Tymbl a rhannu rhywfaint o'n profiad ni o wneud rhywbeth tebyg yma yng Ngwynedd.

Rwy’n credu’n llwyr eich bod chi ar y trywydd iawn ac os gallwn ni helpu a rhannu mwy o feddyliau wrth i bethau fynd yn eu blaenau, mae croeso i chi gysylltu.

Fy sylwadau pennaf fyddai:

• Ar bob cyfri, tynnwch ar atgofion cynnes pobl o'r lle yn ei anterth ond peidiwch â chyfyngu'ch hunain i'w gadw i fynd fel y mae neu fel yr oedd. Peidiwch ag ofni ei ailddychmygu o'r top i'r gwaelod fel y cyfleuster y byddai eich cymuned yn ei hoffi yn yr 21G a chredwch y gallwch chi gyflawni hynny.
• Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod chi'n cynnwys y gymuned gyfan o'r dechrau. Gwnewch yn glir y bydd yn gyfeillgar i deuluoedd ac yn amlbwrpas. Gofynnwch i bawb beth fyddent yn ei hoffi ohono a seiliwch eich cynlluniau ar yr ymatebion hynny. Gofynnwch hefyd beth fyddent yn fodlon ei wneud i helpu – gwirfoddoli? Buddsoddi? Rhedeg clybiau?
• Ewch ati i greu cynllun busnes tymor canol sy'n adlewyrchu'r uchelgeisiau hynny – 7-10 mlynedd

Ein profiad ni yw hyn:

Cofiwch fod Llandwrog yn lle llawer llai na’r Tymbl – 400 o drigolion, nid 4,000.

Roedd ein tafarn wedi bod ar gau ers 2017 ac aeth ar werth yn ystod Covid ddechrau 2021. Y perygl oedd y byddai'n cael ei werthu fel tŷ preifat ac y byddai'r unig gyfleuster cymunedol oedd gennym yn cael ei golli am byth. Daeth grŵp bach at ei gilydd, a phenderfynu fod yn rhaid gwneud rhywbeth. Galwyd cyfarfod Zoom lle daeth 120 o bobl arlein. Penderfynon ni mai'r model Cymdeithas Budd Cymunedol oedd yr un a fyddai'n gweithio orau i ni. Beth oedd yn gyrru pob un ohonom oedd yr angen i wneud ein gorau dros ein cymuned, tra’n sicrhau fod gennym fodel busnes oedd yn mynd i weithio.

Yn y cyfarfod cyhoeddus cyntaf hwnnw, fe wnaethon ni wahodd addewidion ar ffurf benthyciadau 12 mis a fyddai'n caniatáu inni wneud cynnig am yr eiddo. Roedden ni'n synnu pan wnaeth 33 o bobl addo mwy na £700,000. Fe wnaeth hyn adael i ni gytuno ar bris gyda'r gwerthwr, a thra bod y gwaith cyfreithiol yn digwydd, i gychwyn creu'r Cynllun Busnes a'r Cynnig Siârs Cymunedol. Fe gawson ni lawer iawn o gymorth rhad ac am ddim gan Cwmpas wrth wneud hynny. Mabwysiadwyd y Rheolau model a grëwyd gan Sefydliad Plunkett fwy neu lai yn eu cyfanrwydd. Mae'r rhain wedi gweithio'n dda ac fe gawson ni gyngor da hefyd gan arbenigwyr a benodwyd ganddynt.

Fe wnaethon ni osod dyddiad cau o 7 wythnos i ni ein hunain o ddyddiad lansio'r Cynnig Siars er mwyn cyrraedd ein targed o £400,000 ac fe gafwyd ymgyrch gyhoeddusrwydd gyda fideos o gefnogaeth gan sêr llwyfan, chwaraeon a sgrin. Peidiwch â bod yn swil! Mae gan Gwm Gwendraeth enw a lle gwych ym mywyd a hanes Cymru. Fe gawson ni ein synnu gan faint o gefnogaeth ddaeth o'r tu allan i'r pentref. Daeth tua hanner o gylch o 25 milltir; chwarter o weddill Cymru a'r gweddill o bob cwr o'r byd. Roedd ganddon ni stori dda yr oedd pobl yn ei hoffi ac yn prynu mewn iddi.

Ar ôl cwblhau'r pryniant ym mis Mehefin 2021, heb orfod gofyn am y benthyciadau, dechreuon ni wneud cais am grantiau i ganiatáu inni osod to newydd ac ail-bwyntio waliau ac ati. Y pwynt hanfodol yw bod nifer o grantiau ar gael sydd wedi'u targedu'n benodol at sefydliadau sy'n bodoli i wasanaethu eu cymunedau. Dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu rhoi'n awtomatig ac mae llawer iawn o waith yn gysylltiedig â gwneud y ceisiadau ond maen nhw’n agor y drws i gyfalaf ychwanegol y tu hwnt i'r hyn y gallwch ei godi o'r cynnig siârs. Mae cynlluniau grant newydd yn cael eu creu o bryd i'w gilydd. Roedden ni'n ddigon ffodus i fod yn un o'r sefydliadau cyntaf yng Nghymru i elwa o bolisi 'Levelling Up' Llywodraeth flaenorol y DU, ac rydym hefyd wedi llwyddo i sicrhau grantiau gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac yn fwy diweddar, y Loteri Genedlaethol.

O'r dechrau roedden ni eisiau adeilad wedi ei weddnewid a’i ymestyn, oedd yn ddeniadol, modern, ac addas i deuluoedd – nid dim ond y dafarn fel yr oedd – ond roedd pawb yn awyddus i ailagor cyn gynted â phosibl, gyda Nadolig 2021 fel y targed. Dyma lle daeth y gwirfoddolwyr i mewn – glanhau, garddio, peintio, cael y lle i ryw fath o siâp mewn pryd. Wedyn ailagor yr hen gegin erbyn y Pasg a chytuno ar gynllun gwaith ar gyfer y to. Ac fe lwyddon ni i gwblhau’r gwaith cyntaf yna heb orfod cau.

Dros y flwyddyn wedyn fe aethon ni ar ol grantiau, benthyciadau a chynnig siars arall cyn i ni gau ym mis Mehefin 2024 ar gyfer ein hadnewyddiad llawn a'n estyniad newydd, a gafodd eu cyflwyno o'r diwedd ym mis Tachwedd 2025.

Ers hynny rydym wedi bod yn masnachu'n llwyddiannus. Mae gennym dŷ bwyta deniadol sydd hefyd yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel lle cymunedol; mae pum ystafell wely ar gyfer gwely a brecwast; ail stafell gymunedol; maes parcio newydd a chegin newydd – ac mae’r tu mewn i’r dafarn wedi ei drawsnewid hefyd. Roedd yn gynllun mawr, costus – llawer drytach nag yr oedden ni wedi'i ragweld yn wreiddiol ond gyda chefnogaeth eang o amrywiaeth o ffynonellau mae'r gost wedi'i thalu. Fe wnaethon ni golledion ariannol bach yn ystod ein pedair blynedd gyntaf o fasnachu (ond gan gofio ein bod wedi bod ar gau am gyfanswm o 20 mis) ond eleni rydym yn disgwyl gwneud elw o rhwng £30,000 a £60,000 ar drosiant o fwy na £1 miliwn.

Mae rhai tafarndai cymunedol yn penderfynu chwilio am denant ar gyfer y busnes cyfan. Mae hynny'n sicr yn opsiwn i'w ystyried. Y fantais fawr yw ei fod yn lleihau'r baich ar y Pwyllgor sydd i gyd yn wirfoddolwyr. Mae eraill yn ceisio rhedeg y cyfan eu hunain – fel y gwnaethon ni yn wreiddiol, ond fe ffeindion ni ein bod yn colli arian ar ochr y bwyd.

Ein system nawr yw bod yr arlwyo (bwyd) yn cael ei wneud gan gwmni lleol annibynnol ar sail rhannu incwm a chostau tra ein bod ni'n rhedeg y bar a'r ystafelloedd, gan gyflogi rheolwr a staff i wneud hynny. Ni hefyd sy’n trefnu'r digwyddiadau cymunedol sy'n rhan bwysig o beth sy’n digwydd yma. Ar y cyfan mae’n gweithio'n dda, gan fod y cwmni arlwyo wedi'i ysgogi i wneud elw ac ry’n ni, yn y pen draw, yn cael rhan o hwnnw.

Bydd pob lle yn wahanol wrth gwrs. Ry’n ni mewn ardal sy'n cael busnes twristiaid sy'n rhoi hwb mawr i ni yn yr haf. Ond ry’n ni wedi synnu faint o fusnes sydd yna drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Mae pobl leol o ardal eang yn dod aton ni i fwyta, cymdeithasu a chael diod. Roedd yna alw mawr am bartïon Nadolig – yn rhedeg o ddiwedd mis Tachwedd i’r Flwyddyn Newydd – ac mae dathliadau pen-blwydd hefyd yn ymddangos yn beth eithaf mawr – i bob oed. Mae pobl isie trefnu te ar gyfer bedydd ac angladd a’r flwyddyn nesaf bydd gennym gwpl o briodasau hefyd. Nid oes gennym Sky Sport ond ry’n ni’n rhoi sylw i gemau Cymru a digwyddiadau mawr fel Cwpan y Byd.

Mae ein rhaglen digwyddiadau cymdeithasol a chymunedol yn helaeth ac yn cael ei chefnogi’n dda. Mae clybiau’n aml yn cael eu creu ar sail awgrymiadau sy’n dod gan aelodau’r gymuned. Ar hyn o bryd neu’n ddiweddar mae gennym grwpiau / clybiau / timau rheolaidd ar gyfer:

• Pwl
• Dartiau
• Sgwrsio Cymraeg
• Sgwrsio Ffrangeg
• Garddio
• Crosio
• Grŵp pobl ifanc
• Grŵp cerdded
• Darllen
• Bore coffi wythnosol
• Ciniawau gaeaf wedi sybsideiddio
• Gemau gwyddbwyll a bwrdd
• Barddoniaeth
• Cadw’n heini mewn cadair
• Sesiynau cerddoriaeth werin

Mae ‘na noson gwis bob mis a digwyddiad cerddoriaeth o leiaf bob dau fis. Y mis diwethaf, cynhaliwyd eisteddfod dafarn a sesiynau Hel Atgofion lle daeth pobl â’u hen luniau a’u memorabilia. Dangoswyd ffilmiau â chysylltiadau lleol.

Mae’r gweithgaredd hwn i gyd ar ben y cymdeithasu arferol, naturiol sy’n digwydd dros beint, pryd o fwyd neu wydraid o win. DOEDD DIM O HYN YN DIGWYDD O’R BLAEN. Ni ellir gorliwio’r graddau y mae hyn i gyd yn cyfrannu at helpu pobl i wneud cysylltiadau a lleihau unigrwydd ac felly gwella llesiant yn gyffredinol.

Un rhybudd – mae’n sicr o fod yn llawer o waith. Ry’n ni’n ffodus bod gennym bwyllgor cryf o wahanol grwpiau oedran sy’n gallu dod â set o sgiliau gwerthfawr i’w defnyddio. Mae gennym is-bwyllgorau: Gweithredol; Adeilad; a Digwyddiadau a Chyhoeddusrwydd. Ar ben hynny mae gennym nifer o wirfoddolwyr eraill sy’n helpu’n rheolaidd gyda phethau fel cadw pibellau’r dafarn yn lân, garddio ac ati. Mae gweithrediadau dyddiol fel gwasanaeth bar, ac ati yn cael eu gwneud gan staff cyflogedig. Yn absenoldeb un person sy’n gyfrifol am bopeth, mae llawer yn disgyn ar ysgwyddau aelodau’r pwyllgor. Bydd angen iddyn nhw fod yn barod i ymroi am y tymor hir a theimlo bod ganddyn nhw gefnogaeth lawn y gymuned yn ogystal a bod yna dipyn o ‘rotation’ o bryd i'w gilydd.

Ond fe fydd yn brofiad anhygoel, gan gyfoethogi bywyd pawb.

Rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd y Tymbl yn dod at ei gilydd i wneud rhywbeth i’ch cymuned chi sy’n debyg i'r hyn rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n llwyddo i'w wneud yma.

31 July 2026

From Huw Jones, Treasurer of Menter Ty’n Llan

Helo Scott

It was good to speak to you today, to hear of the campaign to save the Tumble ‘Workies’ and to share some of our experience of doing something rather similar here in Gwynedd.

I absolutely believe you are on the right track and if we can help and share more thoughts as things progress, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

My primary comments would be:

• Draw on people’s warm memories of the place in its heyday by all means but don’t limit yourselves to just keeping it going as it is or was. Don’t be afraid to reimagine it from top to bottom as the facility which your community would like it to be in the 21st century and believe you can achieve that.
• Make sure you involve the whole community from the beginning. Make it clear that it will be family friendly and multi-purpose. Ask everyone what they would like from it and base your plans on those responses. Also ask what they might be willing to do to help – volunteer? Invest? Run clubs?
• Create a medium-term business plan which reflects those ambitions – 7-10 years

Our own experience is this:

Bear in mind that Llandwrog is a much smaller place than Tymbl – 400 inhabitants, not 4,000.

Our pub had been closed since 2017 and went on sale during Covid in early 2021. The danger was that it would be sold as a private dwelling and that the only community facility we had would be lost for ever. A small group got together, decided that something had to be done and called a Zoom meeting to which 120 people tuned in. We decided that the Community Benefit Society model was the one which would work best for us. All of us were motivated by the need to do our best for our community, while trying to ensure that there would be a viable business model.

At that first public meeting we invited pledges in the form of 12 month loans which would allow us to make a bid for the property. We were astonished when 33 people pledged more than £700,000. That allowed us to agree a price with the seller and while searches etc took place to set about creating the Business Plan and Community Share Offer. We received a huge amount of free help from Cwmpas in doing so. We adopted the model Rules created by the Plunkett Foundation more or less in their entirety. These have worked well and we also received sound advice from specialists appointed by them.

We set ourselves a 7 week deadline from launching the Share Offer to reach our target of £400,000 and created quite a high profile publicity campaign with videos of support from stars of stage, sport and screen. Don’t be shy. The Gwendraeth has a great name and place in Welsh life. We were surprised by how much support we got from outside the village. About half came from a 25 mile radius; a quarter from the rest of Wales and the rest from all over the world. We told a good story and people liked it and bought into it.

Having completed the purchase in June 2021, without needing to draw on the loans, we started applying for grants to allow us to re-roof and re-point walls etc. The essential point is that there are a number of grants available which are exclusively targeted at organisations which exist to serve their communities. They are not given automatically and a good deal of work is involved in making the applications but they open the door to additional capital over and above what you can raise from the share offer. New ones are created from time to time. We were lucky enough to be one of the first organisations in Wales to benefit from the previous UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ policy, and we have also managed to secure grants from the Welsh Government and more recently, the National Lottery.

From the beginning we wanted an extended, attractive, modern, family-friendly facility – not just the pub as it was - but everyone was keen to re-open as soon as possible, with Christmas 2021 as the target. This is where the volunteers came in – cleaning, gardening, painting, getting the place in some sort of shape just in time. Then we re-opened the old kitchen by Easter at the same time as agreeing a work plan for the roofing etc, which we managed to complete without closing down.

It took a further share and loan issue, plus numerous grant applications again before we eventually closed in June 2024 for our full refurbishment and new extension, which were delivered finally in November 2025.

Since then we have been trading successfully. We have a beautiful restaurant area which is also in use as a community space; there are five bedrooms for B and B; a second community space; new parking and a new kitchen – as well as having transformed the interior. It was a big, expensive plan – far more expensive than we had originally envisaged but with wide support from a variety of sources the cost has been covered. We made small financial losses during our first four years of trading (bearing in mind though that we were closed for a total of 20 months) but this year we expect to make a profit of between £30,000 and £60,000 on a turnover of more than £1million.

Some community pubs decide to look for a tenant for the whole business. That is certainly an option to consider. The great advantage is that it lessens the burden on the Committee who are all volunteers. Others try to run it all themselves- as we did originally, only to find that we were losing money on the food side.

Our system now is that the catering (food) is undertaken by an independent local company on an income and cost-sharing basis while we run the bar and rooms, employing a manager and staff to do so – as well as the organisation of the community events which are an important part of what we do. On the whole this works well, since the catering company is motivated to make a profit in which we, eventually, share.

Each location will be different of course. We are in a tourist-friendly area which gives us a big boost in the summer. But we have been pleasantly surprised by just how much year-round business there is, drawing in locals from quite a wide area to eat, socialise and be entertained. We were amazed by the demand for Christmas parties – running from late November into New Year and birthday celebrations also seem to be quite a big thing – for all ages. We have had numerous teas for christenings and funerals and next year we will have a couple of weddings as well. We don’t have Sky Sport but we do make a fuss of Wales games and big events like the World Cup.

Our social and community events programme is extensive and well-supported with clubs often created on the basis of suggestions made by members of the community. Currently or recently we have regular groups / clubs / teams for:

• Pool
• Darts
• Welsh conversation
• French conversation
• Gardening
• Crochet
• Young people’s group
• Walking group
• Reading
• Weekly coffee morning
• Subsidised winter lunches
• Chess and board games
• Poetry
• Chair-based keep-fit
• Folk music sessions

We have a monthly quiz-night and a music event at least every two months. Last month we held a pub Eisteddfod and ‘Thanks for the memory’ sessions where people brought along their old photos and memorabilia. Films with local connections have been shown.

This activity is all over and above the normal, spontaneous socialising which happens over a pint, a meal or a glass of wine. NONE OF THIS WAS HAPPENING BEFORE. The degree to which all this contributes to helping people make connections and reducing loneliness and therefore improving well-being all-round cannot be exaggerated.

One caveat – it is bound to be a lot of work. We are fortunate in that we have a strong committee from different age-groups able to bring a range of valuable skills to bear. We have sub-committees for Day to Day; the Building; and Events and Publicity. On top of that we have a number of others volunteering regularly to help with things like keeping the pub’s lines (pipes) clean, gardening etc. Day-to-day operations such as bar service, etc are done by employed staff. In the absence of a single person who is in charge of everything, a lot falls on the shoulders of committee members. They will need to be in it for the long haul and to feel they have the full support of the community as well as reinforcements from time to time.

But it can be an incredibly worthwhile experience, enriching life for all concerned.

I very much hope that Tymbl comes together to do for your community something similar to what I think we are managing to do here.