Landlady who barricaded herself inside her pub in the 90s

The landlady, Josie Williams spent four weeks barricaded inside her pub after being told to quit her premises. 

Ms Williams who ran the Beaufort Arms in Ebbw Vale objected to a new leasing scheme which was being forced in by the breweries. 

The landlady claimed many businesses were under threat from by the new scheme.

She was leading a nationwide campaign to make the government intervene in the brewers' plans too force tenants to buy their leases or face eviction.

Josie Williams stood in front of the pub (Image: Archive) Mrs Williams urged local landlords to join the campaign and protest to their MPs about their situation. 

She wrote a letter to every landlord affected by the situation telling them that if they value their livelihoods they should join the fight.

"We must win the fight. Without everyone's support the government and the breweries will have their way.

"It is a nationwide problem and a nationwide campaign and it affects everyone.

Josie Williams speaking to the press (Image: Archive)

"If this goes ahead ours will be the only Garden Festival where people will have to bring their own beer."

Bailiffs smashed their way into the Beaufort Arms in Ebbw Vale at 7.30am on a morning in the 1990s.

Mrs Williams was set to address a rally of publicans from all over britain protesting against the brewers bringing in new tenancy agreements.

A copy of a letter by Blaenau Gwent MP Michael Foot urging her landlords, Grand Metropolitan, to reconsider their actions and meet to discuss the situation was delivered as the landlady and her husband were put out on to the street.

Josie Williams and her partner Trevor Williams (Image: Archive)

Mrs Williams had refused to sign a new agreement, claiming it was "unfair and immoral" and would bankrupt her business.

Grand Metropolitan had successfully taken her to court over the eviction claiming that she had come to the end of her tenancy and had refused to sign a new contract. They also applied for non-repayment of rent.

On November 13, 1991, Mrs Williams, who was met by staff and regular customers outside the pub said: "I'll still fight the breweries tooth and nail for what they are trying to do - all this means is that they have given me an extra 14 hours to do so.

"I was due to speak at a rally today... I will try to go now because what has happened to me will happen to everyone who doesn't sign their new agreements."