Rooms & Accommodation

With Planning Permission finally granted after some delays, work is now progressing on the nine new ground floor en-suites. Some will sleep four or more guests - ideal for families. Two have full disabled facilities.

The Atrium inner yard is to be smartened up, with new covered walkways replacing the old atrium roof and the yard laid with stone slabs, complete with a water feature, plants and outside seating.

The Health Spa and sports room is nearing completion, with the sauna, plunge pool and hot tub all due to be up and running this summer.

Work has started on a major £1/4m restoration of the main conservatory, with all the joinery on order.

Building work continues in what was the Blue Bar, to convert it into a 90 cover a la carte restaurant. Access to the restaurant will be via the front court yard with summer dining on the patio and terrace behind the castle. The terracing behind the restaurant and the conservatory is to be laid with stone slabs and the rotten iron railings replaced.

A second bridal suite is to be built in the main castle (in area marked by the arrow above) and further en-suites are being added to this area of the castle. This summer we have around 1,200 guests a month staying overnight at the castle. Please turn over for an update on the projects in hand.

We were getting complaints about the ‘budget accommodation’ Nurses Block which has 11 rooms with shared showers and toilets. The complaints dropped after we spruced the block up. We laid carpet in the corridor and added a load of pictures of the Country Park and Castle to the walls in the corridor and rooms, making the Nurses Block ‘warmer’ and more welcoming.

We’ve also kept the room tariffs low, so they are reasonably good value. The fundamental problem though is that they are not en-suite and in order to qualify as a Hotel under new Tourist Board criteria in 2007, ALL our rooms should be en-suite.

We duly applied for planning permission to convert the Nurses Block into ten en-suites instead of the current 11 non en-suites, with the existing lounge, kitchen area and shower areas made into en-suites. However though planning was granted in February 2007, it was subsequently withdrawn due to the listed buildings department apparently not being correctly notified by the planning department that planning had been granted! This meant we ran out of time to complete the works before the Summer Season this year.

Planning issues aside, the estimated cost of converting this block into en-suites is over £100,000, so we are now considering whether this money would be better spent on building additional new en-suites, and retaining for now the Nurses Block as ‘budget’ accommodation suitable for ‘overflow’ accommodation needs. As well as providing overflow B&B for weddings, the budget rooms are popular with the Princes Trust and a couple of training schools who use it regularly. However if we were ever able to secure some grant money we would prioritise converting these rooms to en-suite – assuming we also get the planning issues resolved.

(2) NURSES BLOCK SHEDS

As an alternative to upgrading the Nurses Block into en-suites, we are now applying for planning permission to convert the row of stone sheds between the Nurses Block and the rear car park into four Duplex apartments, sleeping four persons each. This will provide en-suite accommodation for up to 16 persons and will be ideal for families who are not part of a wedding or function, as they will be away from any guests of the wedding party.

(3) ATRIUM BLOCK GROUND FLOOR – NINE GROUND FLOOR EN-SUITES

Conversion of the derelict ground floor rooms of the Atrium block into luxury en-suites was due to commence in January 2006 but was held back due to delays in the planning process. We had to change our original architects as they were not responding to questions from the listed buildings officer.

We appointed a well respected local man, Barry Tomlinson of Brecon in 2006. His work is highly regarded by the Brecon Beacons National Park and includes the award winning design for the recently restored Penycae Inn. New plans for the Atrium Block were submitted by Barry in summer 2006 and were approved in February 2007. Work is now progressing as rapidly as possible to complete the nine new en-suite rooms/ apartments.

The first two rooms converted were the old ‘map room’ and ‘laundry room’ (located to the right of the archway in the picture). The map room (now AB15) became two double bedrooms (sleeping 4) plus a lounge with sofa-bed (sleeping a further 2). The old laundry room (now AB16) has one double bedroom (sleeping 2) and a lounge with a sofa-bed (sleeping a further 2). These were completed in April 2007.

Two disabled en-suites (AB11 & AB12) were completed in mid May 2007. Three more en-suites (AB17, 18 & 19) were to be ready by early July but to avoid disturbance to guests, this work will now be done in Jan & Feb 2008. AB13, a ground, first and second floor duplex apartment with lounge and two/ three en-suites, will be ready some time this year. AB14, a small en-suite, should be ready by August.

BEFORE (The pictures above were taken in March 2007)

AFTER (The pictures below were taken in early May 2007)

(4) ATRIUM BLOCK FIRST FLOOR – SECOND SET OF THREE EN-SUITES & NEW LANDING / HALLWAY

In Jan 2008 we start work on a new staircase, landing and entrance hall outside the current side entrance by the Conservatory Dorm. This work has to be done in the winter months, when we are less busy.

The new staircase and corridor is to be built outside rooms 35 and 36, with the passageway that curves around AB24, passing through Room 24. Room 24 (shown on left) will thus be divided into two rooms – AB24 & AB29. The new AB24 will be a small single en-suite and the new AB29 a double en-suite overlooking the courtyard and taking in the current passageway. Rooms 23, 28 and 24/29 require new soundproofed ceilings and floors so this will be done at the same time.

This work will take 8 - 10 weeks, to end March 2008. We will gain an additional two en-suites on the first floor following the alterations to room 24 to become rooms 24 & 29 and following the conversion of a derelict room next to the Bridal Suite into another en-suite.

I would never have believed the complications we’ve had here. But then if I’d known what was involved, we would never have been diverted down this unplanned journey.

It all started at the Builth Wells show in Summer 2005, when I spotted a hot tub. Having spent the afternoon reviewing different hot tubs, I paid a deposit and anticipated delivery in a couple of weeks. My idea was to install the Jacuzzi in a log cabin in the garden. But on consulting the Brecon Beacons National Parks Authority, we discovered planning permission for a log cabin would not be granted. So where to put the Jacuzzi?

Our General Manager Ian Bloom had the bright idea of putting it in the derelict Aviary adjoining the old Conservatory. The Aviary of course would need some restoration work. We then decided we’d need a space for exercise equipment – to create a sports room. Next we realised we would need showers and toilets for the new sports room and spa.

We added disabled facilities including a disabled loo and shower and a hoist for the hot tub and exercise equipment for the upper body (suitable for disabled use). All the levels on the floor had to be changed to allow wheelchair access. The coping stones didn’t fit and had to be recast and eventually tiled over.

The steel took 6 months to fabricate and erect instead of the five weeks or so quoted by the suppliers – not a problem as we were still scratching our head over the wall, ground levels and coping stones. Just straightening up the old iron rails on the patio outside involved a month digging up the old patio and laying new foundations.

Two and a half years later, and some £150,000 of work done so far, maybe I’d have been wiser to cancel the hot tub and lose my £300 deposit! The good news is that we have finished restoring Adelina Patti’s Aviary (see two pictures above). Also we have replaced what was an eyesore, the ugly hospital era glass lean-to (see previous page), with a new glass and steel extension (see previous page and top left and middle of this page) to house the sports centre and spa.

The steelwork on this smaller conservatory (replacing the lean-to) is an exact replica of the original Aviary steelwork – care of a local firm, Matrix Welding & Engineering in Pontardawe. The glass is provided by Siesta Conservatories & Windows in Neath Abbey. All the rest – foundations, repairs of stone walls, re-tiling the roof, internal walls, installation of loos and showers, internal tiling, ground-works, painting, etc - has been ably completed by our in-house seven-man builders team: Anthony Davies, Steve Sax (so named as he also plays the Sax), Mathew (Matej Misanko) & Peter Stano and Ivan Holub from Slovakia, Oliver Annaly our stonemason and Jerry (Jerzy Pulut) from Poland. The sports equipment, lockers and changing rooms can now be used, but the Jacuzzi and Sauna are not yet in service.

(6) RESTORATION OF MAIN CONSERVATORY TO PROVIDE SECOND FUNCTION ROOM .

The problem with restoring the Aviary and making it into a smart spa and sports room, is that we had an eyesore next to it – the main Conservatory. This has been a leaky derelict building fit for nothing, with water streaming into it for decades. Most of the roof was rotten and the original felt covering had disintegrated. As for the 130 year old windows, these as you can see from the picture (left) are in a sorry state.

The top third of what you see on the left is original while the lower two thirds are cheap modern panes installed in the Hospital era, probably in the 1950’s/ 1960’s, when the Conservatory was used as a TB ward.

Our original thoughts were to fence it off so it could not be seen from the spa. However the water pouring in through the leaky roof was introducing water into our new toilets for the spa area and flooding the neighbouring Breakfast Room (resulting in damp walls and peeling wallpaper). So we bit the bullet and had the entire roof professionally repaired, stripping off the old roofing felt, replacing all the rotten timbers, and covering over with a durable fibreglass roof.

After several months of work during summer 2006, with pauses in-between rain showers, the roof of the Conservatory has now been repaired (below right). Rotten timber and old gullies have been replaced and it does look very neat.

Our thanks to Keith Willis of Ystalyfera; his team have done a most professional job at a reasonable cost of £8,500. As fibreglass is far superior to roofing felt, Keith tells us it should not need any major recovering for another 30-50 years or more. However over the winter we found a few more leaks, so Keith will be visiting us again in the dry weather to do some final repairs.

We are replacing the window frames and glass panes of the Conservatory. The joinery is on order but will take four months to be made up. We will then erect the new walls and glass windows.

We were pleased to find the Conservatory, despite its appearance, is fundamentally sound. The building is supported by heavy wrought iron pillars and has not subsided or deteriorated structurally. With the roof repaired, it is not an overly complicated task to replace the windows, retile the floor and re-install the heating. The heating can be reinstated using original radiators which have been shot-blasted and powder bake finished. The floor will be repaired with a self-levelling surface finish and retiled. While we are dependent on the speed of subcontractors, unlike the tricky work on the Aviary, the main Conservatory should be a reasonably straightforward restoration with no ‘change of use’ or physical alterations involving lengthy planning applications.

The Conservatory overlooks Craig y Nos County Park and the River Tawe (below):

Patti’s Conservatory, abandoned since the 1970’s, will be brought into service as a function room for weddings and events by Summer 2008. A new bar will be installed in what is currently the ‘Conservatory Dormitory’ and the existing Atrium toilets will be upgraded for guests using the Conservatory. Initially the Conservatory will use the Nicolini Bar which can be accessed from the Breakfast room (via a door leading into the Conservatory).

Catering will be via new secondary kitchens in the cellars. Until then, catering will be limited to buffet style pending the conversion of the cellars into secondary kitchens as part of our new restaurant project (below).

(7) BLUE BAR AND CELLAR KITCHENS – DEVELOPMENT OF 90 COVER CELLAR RESTAURANT .

We found most of the ceiling joists supporting the room above, the heavily used Music Room and main Function Room, were rotten. So during a slack January and February in 2006 we replaced all the floor joists. Though nothing can be seen for this work, it was quite major and took several weeks. We now have a new ceiling with recessed spotlights in what was the Blue Bar. It just needed a lick of paint and to be ready for use.

First we decided the new ceiling was too low (as we’d boxed in some ugly pipes – see picture on left). Anyone over 6 foot would hit their head on it.

Then we decided to convert the Blue Bar into a restaurant. For this we needed a second set of commercial kitchens in the neighbouring cellars, to provide catering both for the new restaurant and longer term, the Conservatory.

Our architects pointed out the ceilings were too low for a commercial kitchen as you need to allow at least four feet above the cooker hobs to vent off any un-burnt gasses. So we have excavated the floor, dropping it by three feet. The initial question was – how far could we dig without undermining the foundations? Test holes were dug and duly inspected by a structural engineer. As we cannot get any equipment in to this area, two of our Slovakians have spent over a year of hand-digging, on and off, between other jobs. Carted out by wheelbarrow, the floor of the old Blue Bar formed a pile of rubble in the rear car park that took eighteen 20 ton truck loads to clear.

Meanwhile we’ve continued puzzling over how to plan for the new kitchens as the physical space is quite limiting. If we position the new cellar kitchens in the centre of the cellars, they can service both the Cellar Restaurant and the restored Conservatory. Or we can make the cellars into a food preparation and storage area, with large walk-in chillers to store food prepared in the main kitchens above.

Work continues but this has proved a far more involved project than we realised. However, once completed, the Cellar Restaurant and the Conservatory will both be able to be used as a breakfast area, and as a separate function room and restaurant / tea rooms.

(8) SUMMARY OF WORKS INTENDED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY 2008

Our main season runs from April to end October. The winter is reserved for our major indoor works so as to minimise disruption to guests. The works on the ground floor of the Atrium are continuing during the summer but we can move guests away from areas where building work is being done.

Where do we hope to be by early 2008?

(1) Barring unforeseen complications, we will end up with 35 en-suites. There will be 4 duplex en-suites in the sheds behind the Nurses Block, 9 extra, luxury en-suites on the Atrium Block Ground Floor, and 2 further en-suites elsewhere in the castle. AB24 divides into AB24 and AB29, and a further en-suite is added outside the existing Bridal Suite. The second Bridal Suite and the room under it, in the main castle, provide two further en-suites. Added to the 16 existing en-suites on the first floor of the Atrium, this brings us to 35 full en-suites.

(2) In 2009 we will have the option to convert the Nurses Block into a further 10 en-suites, bringing the total to 45 en-suites.

(3) The main Conservatory will be restored by end 2007 ready for the 2008 season but with limited catering facilities, initially using the Nicolini Bar and the Breakfast room. A new bar will be added in the current ‘Conservatory Dormitory’, and new loos provided for guests using the Conservatory. The verandah outside needs levelling and new stone laid.

(4) The Breakfast and Nicolini Bar both need sprucing up. The Breakfast room has peeling wall paper which needs replacing but we have not been able to repair it because water was still coming in. Once the last of the roof leaks from the Conservatory are fixed and the wall has dried out, we can redecorate the Breakfast room.

(5) By end of 2007 we SHOULD have the spa, sauna and sports room finished.

(6) Most hotels have a waiting area or reception room for guests to sit down and relax in, upon arrival, and the Nicolini Bar, being next to the reception desk, will make a very pleasant lounge. So we will remove the Bar from the Nicolini room, reinstate the fire place behind the present bar, and convert this room into a lounge that guests can relax in upon arrival.

A lot of work is being done in 2007 / 8 and guests coming back for repeat visits will continue to see many changes. However the inevitable delays in a project of this scale mean not all works may be completed in the time hoped for. Updates on our progress will advise any changes in our plans.

Craig y Nos Castle
Brecon Road, Penycae
Powys, SA9 1GL
01639 731167 / 730205
www.craigynoscastle.com