Renovated Palé Hall opens its doors
The Grade II-listed Palé Hall, which has been converted into a country house hotel, has opened its doors to guests as the first Welsh member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
The property, which once hosted Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill, was previously on the market for four years, variously priced at between £2.45m and £2.95m before being acquired by Alan and Angela Harper.
Extensive renovations have been undertaken by the Harpers to create a 18-bedroom hotel on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.
Palé Hall, one of Wales's most important surviving homes, was created by Henry Robertson, a railway engineer, industrialist and contemporary of Brunel.
The individually-designed bedrooms, all enjoying views of the surrounding countryside, feature Zoffany furnishings and William Morris prints. The Victoria Suite is home to the bed that Queen Victoria once slept in, and her original bathtub, while the panelled Churchill Suite is where Churchill is alleged to have played snooker on his many visits.
Michael Caines, formerly executive chef of Gidleigh Park in Devon, will oversee the food and beverage operation at the hotel, while Gareth Stevenson will run the kitchens as head chef. The hotel's general manager is Pim Wolfs, who has joined the hotel from Macdonald Pittodrie House in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, having previously worked at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire.
SLH announces Palé Hall as its first Welsh member >>
Michael Caines to head relaunch of North Wales hotel >>
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