A country house which once played host to Queen Victoria and Sir Winston Churchill has opened as a luxury hotel on the edge of the spectacular Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. 

Palé Hall, which officially opened on 1 September, is one of the finest country house hotels in Wales, and indeed the UK, and the first member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World in Wales.

The new owners Alan and Angela Harper have lovingly restored the historic house to its former glory, creating a peaceful and luxurious retreat surrounded by the natural beauty of the Welsh valleys on the edge of Snowdonia.

Palé Hall, near Bala, is one of Wales’s most important surviving homes, with a fascinating history dating back to the late 19th century when Henry Robertson, a railway engineer, industrialist and contemporary of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, bought the estate as a grand personal project at the end of his transformative career in building public works. Since construction, the manor house has played host to some of Britain’s most famous figures including Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill.

The Drawing Room

In its new chapter as a hotel, 18 guest bedrooms and suites have been individually designed with their own style and personal identity, as have the beautiful light-filled public areas of the house including the opulent drawing room and tranquil parlour overlooking the grounds.

The individually designed guestrooms use Zoffany furnishings and quintessentially British William Morris prints. Each room holds its own history, such as the aptly named Victoria Suite, home to the bed that Queen Victoria once slept in and her original bathtub. A special highlight is the amazing wood panelled Churchill Suite, where Churchill is alleged to have played snooker on his many visits to Palé Hall.

The Churchill Suite

One of the UK’s most talented and well-known chefs, Michael Caines, who previously held two Michelin stars at Gidleigh Park Hotel in Devon, lends his invaluable guidance on the development of food and beverage at Palé Hall, ensuring that fine-dining is at the heart of this new hotel.

At the helm in the kitchen is Head Chef Gareth Stevenson, an experienced and talented chef who has worked with Michael for years. Having held positions at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze as well as Michael Caines’ Abode, Gareth is responsible for the day-to-day running of Palé Hall’s kitchen, working with Michael’s counsel to create and deliver a menu of exceptional fine dining dishes in refined yet relaxed surroundings.

The three dining areas within the house provide breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner to residents and non-residents, each with a different look and feel. The largest of them is the grand Henry Robertson dining room, followed by the Venetian dining room and finally the intimate library, the perfect setting for private dining.

Private Dining in the Library

The menu focuses on the fantastic local produce surrounding the hotel, including meat sourced from within Gwynedd and Denbighshire, welsh cheeses, local cream and milk, Halen Mon sea salt from Anglesey, fruit and vegetables sourced in Wales and Llandderfel honey.

“The restoration of Palé Hall is one of the most exciting new hotel developments in North Wales in recent years,” said Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism. “The work put in by Alan and Angela Harper has certainly paid off and the fine-dining experience developed by top British chefs Michael Caines and Gareth Stevenson is impressive. We look forward to including Palé Hall on our luxury tours of North Wales in the months and years to come.”

With the gorgeous surrounding natural landscape, a wealth of outdoor activities are offered in the grounds of the hotel and beyond. Guests can enjoy countless walks and hikes from Palé Hall’s front door and, during the season, Palé Hall organises shooting parties in the surrounding estates, and also trips to local fishing beats on the neighbouring streams and rivers that are renowned for their salmon and trout.

If you or your group would like to experience the splendours of Palé Hall on a tailor made luxury tour, please do contact us to discuss your requirements.