‘We need a miracle’: Aberystwyth’s oldest family-run business is set to close on Christmas Eve after a landlord’s complaints over a noisy extractor fan.

Much-loved Rheidol Café and Cakery on Cambrian Street - known for its iconic birthday cream cakes enjoyed by generations of residents - has been operating in the town for 51 years.

But complaints to Ceredigion County Council from the owner of the neighbouring building will force the Aberystwyth institution to close its doors, initially temporarily, on 24 December.

David Lees - who took over running the bakery from his father, Peter, five years ago - said the business cannot afford the legal fees if the case over the 40-year-old fan’s decibel levels goes to court.

In late November, the county council’s environmental health team said the noise of the extractor would need be reduced dramatically from about 60 decibels to less than 30 by New Year’s Eve – meaning the family have been afforded little more than a month to make it compliant.

Mr Lees says the costs of paying for a silenced fan, moving the existing one or muffling it are likely to set the business back tens of thousands of pounds, which his family cannot afford.

Despite this, he thanked the community for supporting the business after a GoFundMe page was set up, raising more than £3,000.

He said all the money, including £2,000 of his own, will pay for costly assessments to be carried out on the extractor to examine all available options to bring it within compliant levels.

He is still appealing for advice or support and has been applying for business loans, including from the county council.

But he says the beloved café now needs a ‘Christmas miracle’ or a donation from a charitable millionaire ‘around the corner.’

He told the Cambrian News: “It’s just really sad. It’s come at a bad time because my dad’s ill and we just wanted not to have any more worries.

“But the support we’ve received from people has made it bearable for us – people have been amazing.

“For us it’s all about the community, otherwise we’d have stopped going by now – money isn’t the first motivation for us.

“My dad is still the owner and, to us, loyalty means a lot. People have stayed with us and that means the world.

“We’d like to think we’ve done a lot for the community and provided a service for the older generations.

“Everyone is going through tough times at the minute – that's why we didn’t want to do a fundraiser.

“I’m hoping the council will extend the deadline – we're having a meeting in January to discuss what’s happening.

“The only way in my opinion for us to get down to 30dbs in such a short time is if we pay for a no sound fan which would cost between £30,000 and £40,000.

“I’m so proud to be the oldest family-run business in Aberystwyth – we'll be together until the end.

“But the worst thing about all this is actually being forced to close.

“My heart still tells me we will reopen, but my head says we won’t.”

Mr Lees admitted the chances of reopening are slim without any support from the council or other grant funding.

The bakery employs six members of staff - all students at Aberystwyth University - who will be out of the job.

Mr Lees and his sister - who also works at the bakery - now face an uncertain Christmas and could soon have to begin applying for benefits.

Nia Gore – who set up the fundraising page – wrote: “I’ve always been a fan of Rheidol restaurant and bakery, since I was a child, the ‘Rheidol birthday cake’ was always priority at birthday time, as many other families had too.

“Any donations received, will hopefully go to help Rheidol get the professional advice they need and the equipment that they need.”

In a Facebook post at the end of last month, Mr Lees wrote: “It is very emotional to write that unfortunately this Christmas could be the Rheidol’s last after 51 years.

“Over the last three years we have tried to keep our prices down to help and support the community as our dad has done since he started.

“...We have been in Cambrian Street since 1986 since moving from Great Darkgate Street which was first open in 1972, and have never had any complaints about the sound of the fans extractor.

“... But most of all we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone as without you the Rheidol wouldn’t be here after 51 years, we appreciate it so much. Diolch/Thank you.”

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: "The Local Authority cannot comment on individual cases that are subject to our enforcement policy.

"Nevertheless, we always advise responsible individuals or companies to seek the advice of an independent noise consultant on how best to resolve noise levels that are a statutory nuisance under the law of the land."