PLANS are afoot to convert part of an old Cardigan public house to bed and breakfast sparking speculation over the future of the watering hole.

The Ship Inn pub in the town centre recently closed and was re-opened as a coffee house and the Commercial Hotel a stone’s throw away in Pendre also closed its doors and is to re-open in the near future as a restaurant.

Now a planning application has been submitted to Ceredigion County Council for conversion of a function room and living accommodation on the first floor at the Red Lion in Pwllhai to four bed and breakfast rooms, but owner/licensee John Williams stressed it will not affect one of the oldest pubs in the area.

The hostelry recently became a free house after Mr Williams, also proprietor of Celtic Racing Credit Betting Ltd, purchased the property from Brains Brewery.

The landlord, who is one of the main sponsors of Costcutter Football League champions Cardigan Town, who use the pub as their headquarters, said: “As far as the Red Lion is concerned it will be business as usual, the only difference being that there are refurbishment plans in the pipeline.”