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Discussions over the future of Llancaiach Fawr, described as the “jewel in the crown” of Caerphilly County Borough, have taken place behind closed doors today (Wednesday July 30).

Council documents show cabinet members were meeting to discuss an update to an “alternative delivery model” for Llancaiach Fawr, but those talks were held in private, owing to “personal information about the identity of the potential operators and detailed financial information about the work undertaken to date to seek operators”.

The heritage site closed in late 2024 after senior councillors agreed to “mothball” the venue, which was receiving a £485,000 annual subsidy.

Opponents of the closure have branded the council’s decision a “retrograde step” and “tantamount to cultural vandalism”.

Despite criticism, the council pushed ahead with the plan on the basis it could save money by handing the manor house venue over to a new operator.

Interest in the project has been described as “very positive”, and the council’s leader, Cllr Sean Morgan, said new management could lead to more weddings and events at Llancaiach Fawr while also retaining its museum.

In recommending the cabinet meeting be held privately, the council’s monitoring officer said not doing so “would prejudice the council’s ability to achieve best value in the process which has yet to be concluded”.

This suggests the long process to reopen Llancaiach Fawr is ongoing and has dragged on considerably since previous optimism a new operator would be found by the end of April.

Speaking previously to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Morgan acknowledged the timeframe between the mothballing decision and the venue’s eventual reopening, describing it as “months of misery we have to put up with”.