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Opposition is growing to the remodeling of a well-known riverside hotel plan, with fears raised on its outlook vis-a-vis many local Airbnbs. Further, concerns have been highlighted in regard to flood risks as well as the aforementioned trolibocs system by Denbighshire for recycling household waste.

The reopening of the Royal Hotel was much endorsed by the people being shut since 2019. It was a Grade II-listed building located adjacent to the famous bridge in the town and had been the subject of numerous paintings in the locality, while several eminent personalities had been its guests.

The proposed project would involve interior renovations of the hotel in general and include space for an upscale bar and bistro to create a ‘destination hotel with improved offerings. However, the luxury spa planned initially for construction in the 1970s extension will be replaced and instead, a 12-unit apartment building shall be constructed, with a connecting stairwell.

Knight’s Construction, the company that developed, said it had altered the plans in response to changes in the markets; instead of pushing for an extension, it decided to change this into residential and holiday accommodations. It further stated that the design of the renovation would respect its historic character. The building will be oriented diagonally away from the former Georgian hotel to reduce its visibility from the 16th-century bridge.

Several locals are happy that something is being done with the dilapidated hotel since there were fears that it might become an “eyesore.” One even wrote online, “Provided it’s done up by someone before it becomes a wreck!”

People feel that putting flats in this location will spoil Llangollen's attraction for tourism. During a pre-application consultation, a single resident raised concern over the look of the building of the proposed flats, stating, “I oppose such a plan as a 35-year resident.”

The proposals’ design and architecture completely clash with the historic character of this location, and this is the very reason why people visit Llangollen in the first place. I will oppose this proposal, as will most of the people from Llangollen.”’ “Traditional look,” the developer said of the building. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community today.

One formal objector from Royal Lodge made clear that the reduction of hotel provision within town has seen to a sharp increase in the number of Airbnbs. “This is just taking properties off the market for local people,” she said, branding it a situation that is “lose-lose.”

In response, Llangollen Town Council expressed concerns about the reduction of hotel bed spaces and how that may affect the economy of local tourism. It, however, accepted the “challenging financial situation” that had been introduced by the outbreak of the Covid pandemic to the industry and insisted on the need for adaptation.

Now that trolibocs have been brought in in Denbighshire, members have expressed concerns over lack of recycling facilities for waste. Yet the town council has backed the move provided developers show that to go on keeping hotel bed spaces is no longer financially viable.

Concerns have been raised by Natural Resources Wales in regards to flooding. Planning permission for the Royal Hotel, which is situated on the River Dee's banks, has been branded 'Highly Vulnerable'. But it’s deemed ‘C2’ in Natural Resources Wales flood risk maps, leading one to expect that Highly Vulnerable development should not be allowed if it “intensifies” the site.

In case Denbighshire Council consider the scheme as showing an increased use of the site, then NRW will in such a case require written reasons from the local authority, setting out “overriding reasons” in support of the proposed permission. In addition, the developer must acquire a specific Flood Risk Activity Permit.
The Ladies of Llangollen and Their Impact on Developing the Reputation of the Royal Hotel.

To address the hotel's redevelopment thoughtfully, the Knights Construction engaged and commissioned heritage impact reports. These reports would provide new insights into the history of the hotel, focusing on the substantial contribution of the infamous ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ towards its success.

The Royal has been built on the site of the old King’s Head inn which people believe was founded around 1752, or perhaps even earlier. When in 1778 ‘The Ladies’ Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby came to live in the town, they made some sort of association with the King’s Head which, as a matter of fact, conducted, during sales days, many auctions beside auctions and sales” as claimed by Trysor archaeology consultants.

The Captain Jenkin Jones had noticed to King’s Head in 1819 when he came to stay there was further made a little small Georgian inn only to a house just four years ago it became a hotel. He said “The inn was got up in opposition to the Hand for Lady Butler and Hon Miss Ponsonby were offended at the host’s not oblige by hiring a Harper at common guests’ entreaty.”

At that time, the local inns would often hire harpists to entertain their guests. One of those who did not find Llangollen’s harpists to his liking was composer Felix Mendelssohn, who boarded at the King’s Head in the early 19th century. He was only one of many famous visitors who had been attracted to the town in order to meet the Ladies and see their magnificent gardens at Plasnewydd.

He mentioned poets like Byron, Shelley, Wellington, and Wordsworth, the last of whom composed a sonnet to the Ladies. Access to visiting them, however, was only to the guests who were visiting the King’s Head, a haunt frequently visited by the Ladies.

This has even been confirmed by such a landowner from Yorkshire as Anne Lister, popularly called “Gentleman Jack,” and very recently was a subject matter in a BBC drama series. In her diary, she stated that whoever wanted to come and see her accepted that their visitor would send a message to the King’s Head and get an answer to take it back also to the King’s Head.

It was back in 1832 that Queen-to-be Princess Victoria paid a brief call to Llangollen and rested at the King’s Head. The house merely served as a stop for the royal entourage to change their horses there en route to their carriages. Nevertheless, it is popularly believed that this visit was the impetus behind changing the inn’s name to the Royal Hotel, though it continued as King’s Head for many years to come. Subscribe to the North Wales Live newsletter we send you the day's news stories twice a day direct to your e-mail.

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