Plans for future of Royal Hotel unveiled

* Above and below: Artists impressions shown at the consultation event of the proposed new look for the Royal Hotel from the river side.

The new owners of Llangollen’s Royal Hotel have revealed their plans for the transformation of the town’s grade II listed venue in what was the first of a number of public consultations.

Back in March it was announced that a local hospitality group which already oversees Tyn Dwr Hall wedding venue and Three Eagles Restaurant Bar had bought the hotel in partnership with local businessman Tom Bellis. 

Part of the announcement indicated that the Royal would be closed in the new year to enable a full building renovation to be carried out with the aim of re-opening it as a high quality, boutique destination hotel in spring 2021.

Held on Tuesday evening the public consultation was said to be very well attended with a dining room full of members of the local public who were openly invited to put any questions they had to group owner and Llangollen man Matt Jones.

The evening started with the presentation of a number of proposed floor plans and artistic impressions of what the re-vamped hotel will look like on the exterior – showing the  construction of a spa and two separate plunge pools which will overhang the River Dee as part of a ‘cantilevered super-structure’. 

Above the spa, new accommodation will be created – each room with its own private balcony to look out across the scenic riverside view.

New spaces will be created within the interior of the hotel, allowing for a more organic ‘flow’ through the building and enabling an all-new high-end restaurant – headed up by executive chef Adam Gaunt-Evans - with the intention of becoming a focal point.

The plans also indicated that new decking would be extended further out over the river to incorporate more dining space which will accompany a new bar/bistro accessible through a new opening that will be constructed.

The design team were introduced as architects Donald Insall Associates and interior designers Blackthorn Design whilst the contractor enlisted to deliver the renovation is Wrexham-based Knights Construction. 

Due to the historic importance of the hotel works will be undertaken in close consultation with CADW so as to ensure sensitivity towards the fabric of the building, according to a press release from the owners.

Matt Jones said: “Over the last few months we have already gone to great lengths to ensure that we fully understand this building and the many different phases of its construction throughout its history.

“Our team have a grand vision for creating a venue that people from afar will want to come and experience. The level of service and quality of venue will be something that hasn’t been seen in this region before.”

The press release adds: "The consultation ended with a number of attendees wishing the best of luck with one man even predicting that the Royal Hotel 2021 would 'totally transform Llangollen for the better'.”

New Dot says "good elf" with its latest screening

New Dot Cinema Llangollen are wishing the town a very Merry Christmas by showing the hilarious Christmas classic, Elf. 

The film will be shown on the big screen free of charge this Friday, December 13.

Buddy (Will Ferrell), is a regular-sized man who was raised as an elf by Santa Claus (Edward Asner).

When Buddy discovers that he’s not actually a real elf, he heads back to his place of birth, New York City, in search of his biological family and all sorts of festive chaos ensues.

To accommodate families and younger audience members, doors and the bar will open at the earlier time of 6.30pm, with the film starting at 7pm. Tickets are first-come, first-served, so arrive early to avoid disappoint.

There will also be a very special guest at the event - New Dot volunteer Jen Rush said: ‘We’ve written to Santa and invited him to take short break from his preparations in the North Pole to join us for what we understand is one of his favourite Christmas films!’

In true New Dot style, expect a few festive extras including an elf-themed photo booth and Christmas tipples and treats. 

For those who would like to dress for the occasion, there will be both adult and child prizes for the best Christmas outfit. After the film, the bar will re-open and the seasonal fun is set to continue with an indoor snowball fight.

Collection buckets will be dotted around the Town Hall for those who would like to make a donation to DASU Wrexham (formerly Welsh Women’s Aid), the charity the cinema have chosen to support this year.

Further information can be found on the New Dot website, with regular updates on the cinema’s facebook page and Instagram.

New documentary film about Llan gets a showing

* The audience watches Llangollen, Home of the Two Ladies at St Collen's Community Hall. 

A new documentary film featuring Llangollen has just had its premiere in town.

It was shown to an invited audience at St Collen's Community Centre by its director Philip Harland who said: "Llangollen, Home of the Two Ladies was the result of many happy hours spent in the town during the early summer of this year.

"It is one of a series of short documentary films that we are in the process of shooting, editing and publishing about aspects of Wales. 

"Our initial intention for the film was to base it entirely on Plas Newydd and its illustrious occupants, the Ladies of Llangollen.

"As it turned out, we got to know and feel intrigued by so many other facets of the town that the film ended up skimming the surface of Llangollen's contemporary life and culture, such as the serendipitous blessing of the new St Collen statue, before moving on to the historical story."

He added: "In the early part of the new year we shall be filming in Anglesey where our 'springboard' is the artist Kyffin Williams. 

"This has been made particularly interesting for us through the memories and correspondence of an artist friend who had a close relationship with the famous man. 

"Other subjects have been St David's, with a look at early Christianity in South and West Wales, and Conwy, focusing on 'visitors', from early invaders to the far more welcome tourists of recent decades."

Town carol service is this Sunday

TOWN CAROL SERVICE

SUNDAY DECEMBER 15^TH

Llangollen Town Hall

4pm Festive Afternoon Tea (free)

5pm Service starts

Llangollen Silver Band

All welcome!

    Llangollen Cytun (Churches Together)

Timely advice about waste collections

Calendars promoting the dates of waste and recycling collections for the next 12 months have been issued to residents in Denbighshire.

Every year the council issues an annual reminder of which dates the various collections will take place, including the all-important information for the Christmas and New Year period.

The booklet includes a quick guide to make sure residents are putting the right items into the correct container.

Also included is information about a brand new energy to waste facility that is opening in Flintshire this year, to deal with waste from five of the six North Wales counties.

There’s also a feature on disposing of waste through a contractor and steps residents should take to check the waste is heading to the correct destination.

Tony Ward, Denbighshire’s Head of Highways, Facilities and Environmental Services, said: “These guides are easy to use , they provide a lot of practical advice and information about all things waste and recycling and they are back by public demand.

“They provide a definitive guide on what kind of recycling or waste will be collected when and also provide details of when collections are happening in your area.  They also serve as a regular reminder to put the correct items out for collections at the right time."

* The information is also included on the council’s website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling  or if anyone requires a new calendar, they should contact the Council’s Customer Services team, on 01824 706000.

Carol concert revives happy memories for Iola

* Former pupil and teacher Iola Roberts chats to the children from Ysgol Acrefair.

A carol concert at the Llangollen residential home where she now lives brought back some happy memories for 86-year-old Iola Roberts.

Because the group of youngsters entertaining Iola and fellow residents of The Old Vicarage were from Ysgol Acrefair which she herself attended and where she went on to become a special needs teacher years later.

Bethan Mascarenhas, owner of The Old Vicarage, said: “SG Estates, who are doing some building work in the area, arranged for the children to come and sing carols for our residents and it was just by chance that Iola told me of her links with the school.

“After they’d finished singing for us she chatted with the children for quite some time as did other residents at the concert.

“It was a lovely afternoon and part of my aim to involve residents with younger people from the community as much as possible.”

She added: “SG Estates have also arranged to take the residents out for Christmas lunch at the Wild Pheasant hotel in Llangollen.”

* The children sing for The Old Vicarage residents.

Santa's seasonal quiz will boost air ambulance