Wild Horse Taproom recognised for getting its community moving through free running and cycling clubs.
A Llandudno taproom helping people get active and make new friends has been named Community Sport Hero – Wales at the PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards 2026.
Wild Horse Taproom received the award at the House of Commons last night (8 September), after being nominated by Bangor Aberconwy MP Claire Hughes.
The independent brewery runs the Wild Horse Running Club and Wild Horse Cycling Club, offering free monthly opportunities for people of all abilities to exercise together.
Designed to be as much social as sporting, the clubs bring experienced athletes and complete beginners together, helping promote physical and mental wellbeing while tackling isolation and creating new friendships.
The taproom also uses its events to support good causes, including its Big Fat Tappy Quiz, which has raised money for the Tom Furey Memorial Trust.
Dave Faragher, from Wild Horse Taproom, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to win the Community Sport Hero Award for Wales. The response to both our run club and cycling club has been amazing, and it has been fantastic to see the engagement from our local community.
“These clubs have been created and driven by members of our team, who have voluntarily given their time and energy to get them up and running, using our taproom as a welcoming place to bring people together and get active. This award is a real credit to them, and to everyone who has come along and helped make the clubs such a success.”
Claire Hughes MP said: “I was absolutely delighted to see Wild Horse Brewery recognised with the Community Sport Hero Award at the PubAid Awards. They are a fantastic example of a local business in Llandudno that goes above and beyond to support its community.
Their commitment to local sport and the opportunities they help create for people to get involved is something to be really proud of. It is wonderful to see a business from Bangor Aberconwy receiving national recognition for the positive difference it makes, and I want to congratulate everyone at Wild Horse Brewery on this very well-deserved award.”
Des O’Flanagan, Co-Founder of PubAid, said: “Wild Horse Tap Room is a brilliant example of just how important pubs are to the communities they serve. What they have achieved in Llandudno, from bringing people together through free running and cycling clubs that make grassroots sport accessible to all, shows that a great pub is about so much more than food and drink; it is a place that brings people together, supports those who need it and makes a real difference locally.
“We’re delighted to recognise Wild Horse Tap Room as a Community Pub Hero and celebrate the incredible contribution they continue to make to Llandudno. Their story is exactly what these awards are all about, shining a light on the people and pubs that sit at the heart of communities across the UK.”
Claire Hughes MP, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, said: “Wild Horse has shown how a local business can use sport to make a real difference to its community. Its running and cycling clubs give people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to get active in a welcoming and supportive environment, while building friendships and improving wellbeing at the same time. It is a fantastic example of grassroots sport bringing a community together and I’m delighted to see that work recognised.”
The pub was one of 13 category winners recognised across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, celebrating the contribution pubs make through community support, fundraising, grassroots sport and sustainability.
The 2026 awards attracted hundreds of entries from across the UK and a record number of nominations from MPs, highlighting growing recognition in Parliament of the role pubs play within their constituencies.
The evening also saw Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, presented with a special award recognising her tireless work championing pubs and her support for PubAid, the Beer Group and the wider industry. It is the first time PubAid has presented the special award.
The PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards 2026 are sponsored by Diageo and supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG).
For more information visit https://www.pubaid.co.uk/community-pub-hero-awards/