Palé Hall owners open Bryntirion Inn gastropub with rooms

The owners of the Palé Hall Estate in Bala, north Wales, have invested £1m into the launch of a new gastropub-with-rooms, the Bryntirion Inn.

The Inn is located on the edge of Eryri National Park in Bala and dates back to 1695, offering a 60-cover dining room and bar area adorned with owner Anthony Cooper-Barney’s collection of classic car and motorsport memorabilia.

The kitchen is being led by head chef Tristan Fitt, formerly of the two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, Lords of the Manor Hotel in the Cotswolds, Wheeler’s Oyster Bar in Whitstable and the Westbury in London’s Mayfair.

He is serving dishes showcasing local suppliers such as Keith Jones at Ty Uchaf Farm, Caepant Eggs, and butcher TJ Roberts, while the drinks selection, chosen by Palé Hall’s head sommelier Garry Clark, features Welsh craft drinks.

Example dishes include chicken liver parfait with plum gel infused with lemongrass and umeboshi plums; chicken pie with baby vegetables, garlic and herb-infused pomme purée, and Opera-style tiramisu with espresso ice cream and Tia Maria gel.

A Sunday lunch centered around roasts and a more casual bar snack menu consisting of the likes of black pudding sausage rolls is also available.

Guests are able to stay in six bedrooms, each named after a Welsh mountain, which house a flat-screen TV, a coffee machine and Penhaligon’s toiletries. These are priced at £140 a night, including breakfast, which is delivered in a hamper each morning.

Cooper-Barney said: "We are thrilled to introduce the Bryntirion Inn as the latest part of the Palé Hall Estate. This project is especially close to my heart – it has given me the perfect place to share my classic car collection, while creating a true village pub where locals can feel at home. With Tristan leading the kitchen, we are proud to offer a food and drink experience rooted in local produce and quality. The Bryntirion is about genuine hospitality, great food, and celebrating everything that makes this part of Wales so special."

The Cooper-Barneys took over from former Palé Hall owners Angela and Alan Harper in April last year, following a £6m sale.

Since the acquisition, the new owners have announced plans to add another restaurant to the hotel, a spa with an organic dining space and potentially extra bedrooms.