Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Member since:07.12.2002
Reviews:261
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The Plas Hafod is a small hotel situated in the small village of Gwernymynydd just outside the county town of Mold, Flintshire. Plas Hafod translated into English is Summer Palace. An appropriate name for the hotel with its ample conservatories (dining rooms) and the large glass topped pavilion (dining room / wedding suite / conference facility) producing a bright and airy atmosphere all year round. The hotel is also nestled within nine acres of landscaped gardens at their best in the summer.
I was prompted to write this review following attendance at a recent training day. My employers regularly use the hotel for training purposes popular due to good service they offer and the reasonable rate charged. As a team, we have also used the hotel for our Christmas party for the past three years staying overnight in their luxurious rooms and for lunches away from the austere county hall. The hotel was built in approximately 1700 as a country house for the Buckley family. The house was converted into a hotel in 1989. The Buckley family descendants still own and live at the hotel overseeing the family business. Photographs of the family and the house through the years are displayed in the bar area. They are worth lingering
over to take a look at the changes made to the hotel.
The hotel is situated just off the Mold Ruthin road (A494) where a brown sign directs up a long and narrow road. Half a mile up the road is the hotel. Sitting on the Clwydian mountainside, its elevated position gives wonderful vies over Flintshire and the neighbouring counties of Cheshire and Merseyside.
There is plenty of parking however the surface of the car park is little worn in places so care is needed when walking over it. The path is well lit in the evening complete with little fairy lights adorning the tree next to the entrance.
Entry to the hotel is through a small lobby containing a variety of information leaflets for the surrounding area; the register and information about the wedding service provided. The walls are adorned with photographs of a number of weddings that have taken place at the hotel.
Directly through the lobby is a small bar area which is open to the public as well as residents. The bar area has big old fashioned comfortable leather seats. The walls are decorated with pictures of 18th century inn scenes in keeping with the character of the old house.
To the left are the conservatories which double as the restaurant. Here the tables are set quite close together (the restaurant is nearly always full) so there is not a lot of opportunity for private conversations. Candles sit on each table lit in the evening. The lightening on these occasions is dim giving the room an atmospheric and romantic feel.
To the right is another small bar area where bar meals can be eaten. Within this room are various artefacts kept from the hotel over the ages.
Leading from the bars are the public toilets. In my experience these are always kept clean with a baby changing facility in the ladies.
There are eleven en-suite bedrooms each with a distinctive and individual look reflecting the theme given to the room. They each have rich and sumptuous period furniture, fireplaces and special features appropriate to their individual theme. The rooms are The Victorian, The Edwardian. The French. The Pine, The George the Fifth, The Olde Servants Hall, The Amelia, The Garden Centre, The Auld Billiard room, The theatre Clwyd and The Coachmans Cottage. I have stayed in The French and in the Victorian both of which were extremely comfortable and had a luxurious feel.
All of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, televisions, radios, direct dialtelephones, trouser press, hair dryer and tea & coffee making facilities. Everything you would properly need. If there is anything else though, the hotel offers room service, a laundry service, ironing facilities and a shoe cleaning service. The rates for the rooms are pretty reasonable. £59 for single B & B and £79 for a double B & B.
The glass topped pavilion is used for Sunday lunches, parties, wedding services and for conferences. This is a large rectangular suite of rooms. There is plenty of room for tables with a central wooden floored dancing area to the centre. The glass top main area provides a light airy feel to the suite (although it can be very noisy in the rain!!). The walls are painted pink with a large flowered carpet not to my taste but then may appeal to some.
The gardens are magnificent! The hotel is surrounded by large landscaped lawned areas with ornamental shrubs and flower beds set in. There are a number of benches scattered around the gardens enabling visitors to sit and watch the wildlife that live in the area including badgers, squirrels and a host of birds.
Meals including business lunches, bar meals and evening meals are generally served in the Conservatory Restaurant. Meals are served Monday to Saturday with a 2 course meal offered for £8.95 or 3 courses for £9.95. Menus are changed daily. Sunday lunches are served in the Pavilion Suite with a three course lunch costing £14.95 including coffee & mints. The meals are magnificent I have never been disappointed yet!! The portions are ample. The waiters / waitresses are attentive without being intrusive.
The Plas Hafod is licensed for the Solemnisation of Civil Marriages with room for up to 200 guests. I have never actually witnessed a wedding here but there is plenty of information available for this if wanted.
As I mentioned earlier, Plas Hafod has excellent conference facilities. On each training day, I have attended here, tea, coffee and biscuits are served on arrival, mid morning and mid afternoon. A choice of hot and cold buffet foods is offered (including deserts). The food is mouth-wateringly good and ample is provided. (I am not sure how many people are awake for the afternoon though!!) The price per head (according to the training officer is £19).
Booking is extremely easy and can be done online, by phone or by post. The hotel has an excellent website with comprehensive information about what is on offer with prices. There are some wonderful pictures included on the site www.plashafodhotel.com
I do recommend the hotel. It is perfect for a romantic weekend; a good base for a walking holiday in the Clwydian range; offers good conference / training facilities. It offers reasonable rates, the rooms are comfortable and the food is magnificent!!
Pictures of Plas Hafod Hotel, Mold Flintshire Wales
Conservatory
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