THE OWNERS of a pub in Conwy have said they are “utterly sad” that the Original Conwy Pirate Festival in the town has been cancelled.

The festival, which had become a hugely popular event in the town, was cancelled indefinitely last week amid allegations of bullying and threats being made within its committee.

Organisers said they were left with no option but to bring an end to the festival, which attracts thousands of visitors each summer.

The owners of a pub that was instrumental in the festivities, the Blue Bell, on Castle Street, have said they are “utterly sad” at the news, having acted as an unofficial “pre-party headquarters” for several years.

In a post on social media, the pub said: “As the official unofficial pirate pre-party headquarters for the last several years, we are so utterly sad that the Conwy Pirate Festival has been cancelled.

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“Being so closely connected we know how much it has been a labour of love for those involved in the organisation of such an amazing event year after year.

“Hours of unpaid planning, thinking, creative process, building, admin, management, red tape, hospitality, negotiation, more admin and red tape.

“So much so, that not only do the lovely humans involved in bringing the weekend to Conwy have to donate hundreds of hours through the year, they actually rarely even get to enjoy the weekend themselves.

“Yet year after year, the weekend has happened, it has been totally amazing and Conwy has revelled in piratey fabulousness.”

“So let’s totally appreciate what the Conwy Pirate Weekend has been and how brilliantly the people involved have brought us such shindiggery every year for nearly as long as we’ve been here in this pub.”

The pub added that “rogue pirates” said they would still be partying at the Blue Bell on June 7 and 8, 2024, when the event would have been held.