Newport Chronicle: The Halfway pub in Tal-y-Coed wins at Wales Food and Drink Awards for its Pubtopia CIC partnership, supporting rural community projects and tackling isolation.

A rural pub has scooped national praise for its role at the heart of the community. The Halfway, located in Tal-y-Coed, was recognised in the community category at the Wales Food and Drink Awards, with judges particularly recognising its unique partnership with Pubtopia CIC, a community initiative based at the pub. Rhiannon Metters, who runs The Halfway alongside Jason James, said: "We're absolutely over the moon. "While the award has our name on it, it really belongs to our whole community and the partnership we've built through Pubtopia." Directed by Ms Metters, Jack Davies and Emma Bacon, Pubtopia CIC is a community-led initiative based at the pub and shaped by local people. Together, the pub and CIC support local life through a range of projects that allow people to connect. This includes a village shop, creative workshops and future plans for a community vending scheme and low-impact accommodation. They also support local producers and help tackle rural isolation, through the initiative. This recognition highlights how rural pubs can work hand-in-hand with their communities to create lasting social and economic impact.