More details given of £6.5m plan to transform Royal Hotel

* Artist's impressions of how a redeveloped Royal would look from the river side (above) and Bridge Street (below). 

Potential developers have given more details of the £6.5m plan to transform the Royal into luxury hotel and spa.

As revealed last week by llanblogger, Denbighshire County Council is currently considering an application to breath new life into the historic hotel which dates back to 1752.

If this wins approval the Royal Hotel, which has been empty since 2019, would be redeveloped by One Hundred Knights, the Welsh company behind local success stories at the nearby Tyn Dwr Hall wedding venue, the Three Eagles Bar & Grill, and The BLK Sheep Baa & Grill. 

The planning application for the Grade II listed Royal Hotel has been submitted by local business partners Tom Bellis and Matt Jones who have owned the hotel since 2019.

Mr Jones says the proposed redevelopment would conserve many of the historic characteristics of the hotel, and that refurbishment and development work would be undertaken with expert guidance from the Welsh historic environment service Cadw.

The proposed development would include an extensive refurbishment of the hotel’s interior, with the addition of an upscale bar and bistro, as well as a flagship new luxury spa wing. 

The spa wing would include plunge pools on a cantilevered super-structure, with elevated views over the River Dee. The total investment would be in the region of £6.5m.

With its commanding riverside location adjacent to the Grade I listed Llangollen Bridge - one of the Seven Wonders of Wales - the 18th century Royal is a key part of the visual identity and heritage of the town.

The future Queen Victoria was a guest at the hotel with her mother in 1832, just five years before she succeeded to the throne. More recent visitors include the late Italian operatic superstar Luciano Pavarotti.

The new Royal Hotel development would include 45 bedroom suites, and developers say it is likely to generate in the region of 65 jobs and six apprenticeships per year. 

Mr Jones says that if planning is approved, he could reopen the hotel to guests as early as summer 2023.

“The Royal is a gem of a building and location, and has drawn visitors to Llangollen for more than 250 years. Our redevelopment plans would help to ensure that it is still bringing visitors to our town for many more generations to come.

“For a long time The Royal was considered one of the most prestigious hotels in Wales, but now it needs significant investment and development to help it shine again. We believe our plans can deliver a landmark hotel for the region, drawing new visitors to Llangollen and Denbighshire, and creating sustainable year-round jobs.”

Mr Jones says that his company is in the process of setting up the One Hundred Knights hospitality training academy in partnership with Coleg Cambria, and says the hotel would take on six hospitality apprentices per year.

Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism said: “It’s great to see such an ambitious company as One Hundred Knights producing major plans for transforming the iconic Royal Hotel in Llangollen. 

“The company has a track record of investing in quality, such as their restaurant The Three Eagles Bar and Grill also in Llangollen, which won the best eatery at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards in 2021. I wish them the best of luck with the planning application and look forward to working with them.”

A decision on the planning application is expected from Denbighshire County Council in the coming weeks.

Holy Cross Church holding soup kitchens to support Ukraine

Holy Cross Catholic Church is hosting two Lentern soup kitchens during April to raise funds for the people of Ukraine. 

The first one will be held at the church in Oak Street this coming Friday, April 1, from 12 noon until 2pm.

The second soup kitchen will also be in the church on Friday April 8 between the same times.

Entry is through the church. 

MS calls for more Welsh Government support for tourist sector

* Sam Rowlands MS, far left, on a recent visit to Llangollen Railway. 

Sam Rowlands MS, chair of the Senedd’s Tourism Cross Party Group, is calling for more Welsh Government support for the tourism sector.

The Senedd Member for north Wales was commenting on the latest Council Tax Empty Dwellings Regulations.

He said: “The tourism sector is so important here in Wales. We welcome around 11 million overnight domestic visitors, 87 million day visitors, around a million international visitors in normal years.

“These people come to our country, spend their money, support local jobs, enjoy all that we have to offer, and in my own patch in north Wales, this sector is worth around £3.5 billion a year to our economy. 

“One of the big concerns that the tourism sector are sharing with me is the Government's latest council tax empty dwellings regulations and specifically, the criteria for self-catering accommodation. 

“The new changes mean they are now in line with business rates instead of council tax with properties needing to be let for 182 days, which is a 160% increase, and available to let for 252 days, which is an 80% increase. 

“Many people in tourism sector are shocked with these changes, and they seem to be detrimental to their livelihoods.” 

Mr Rowlands asked the Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, did he think the changes were good for the sector. 

The Minister said it was a challenge to strike a balance which could not be struck successfully if they did nothing and simply carried on as they were.

Mr Rowlands added: “I am extremely disappointed with the response from the Welsh Government. Tourism in my region of North Wales is vitally important for the economy of the area and businesses involved in this sector need to be supported more.”

Scrubbies entrepreneur Kerry has day at House of Lords

* Kerry Mackay with Simon Baynes MP on the House of Lords terrace.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes met Kerry Mackay from Glyn Ceiriog at a reception in the House of Lords for the top 100 most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs in the UK. 

Mr Baynes praised the success of Kerry, a resident in his constituency, on the success of her business Scrubbies, which manufactures home-compostable cleaning pads made from bamboo, organic cotton and vegan ink.

Back in January Mr Baynes championed Kerry’s achievements in the House of Commons, for a second time, during Women and Equalities Questions with the Minister Kemi Badenoch MP.

Kerry, whose product has been popular in Llangollen, said: “What an honour to be invited to the House of Lords and to be recognised in such a special way. My MP coming along to express pride in my achievements which made my day and is yet another example of his unwavering support for local business within his constituency."

Mr Baynes said: “It was great to meet again with Kerry at the reception in the House of Lords and to congratulate her on her achievements as one of the top 100 most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs in the UK – she really is a true inspiration. 

"I know that the residents of Clwyd South and myself are extremely proud of the success of her business, Scrubbies, and I wish her all the very best for the future.” 

Work planned on 2020 project next week

Work planned for week starting Monday March 28 on the town's 2020 project is:

Daytime works

• Continue the Yorkstone paving up the east side of the bridge
• Continue laying kerbs around the radius towards Mill Street
• Install the bell bollards
• Install drainage on Mill Street/Abbey Road (north side)
• Install kerbs on Abbey Road/Mill Street (north side)

Night works (6pm until midnight)

Surfacing on Castle Street (A5 to Market Street)

Bryn Collen children aiming for a wheely great week

Children from Ysgol Bryn Collen will next week be joining almost 800,000 youngsters from across the UK when they take part in the 2022 Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel event.

The largest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge, it aims to inspire pupils to get active of their school run.

This year over 2,400 schools are taking part, including Bryn Collen which has invited all its children to either walk to school, from the green by Pengwern park, or head in by cycle or scooter from St Collen’s church car park each day from Monday to Friday. 

MS highlights north Wales dental care "crisis" in Parliament

North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has highlighted the problems people in North Wales are experiencing in accessing an NHS dentist with the Health Minister.

And he called on her to take action to address the "dental crisis" facing the region.

Questioning the Minister in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said it is 16 years since the North Wales Regional Committee raised concerns about a forthcoming NHS dental crisis in Wales and asked why the problem has not been dealt with.

He said: “I have relatives in Flintshire who themselves have struggled to access an NHS dentist, who thankfully recently received treatment after weeks in great pain. 

"We know that, in January, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board insisted that action is needed to address dentistry in North Wales, after 83 dental posts were lost during the last year, and the British Dental Association warned that significant numbers of dentists were planning on leaving the NHS, saying that NHS dentistry is hanging by a thread because without NHS dentists, there would be no NHS dentistry.

“And earlier this month, Bupa Dental Care handed in notice of termination for their Flint branch. It's 16 years since the North Wales Regional Committee raised concerns about a forthcoming NHS dental crisis in Wales, and here we are, all these years later, in these circumstances. 

“So, what action will the Welsh Government now take to engage with the British Dental Association to address their concerns with the dentistry contracts, that these reduce focus on regular check-ups, force dentists to choose between old and new patients, and fund dentists by 15 per cent less than six years ago?”

Responding, the Health Minister said: “We are doing all we can”.

She told Mr Isherwood: “We're continuing to work with the British Dental Association to explore how the reform of the national dental contract can encourage dental practices to collaborate at a local level. 

“I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear, in relation to Bupa in Flint, that the health board plans to recommission replacement services in the area as early as possible.”