January 2011 Update on Wetherspoon's here
Fair play to millionaire Stephanie Booth for making a clean breast of it regarding the Castle Hotel. She’s now on the record confirming what we already kind of knew—that, in spite of planning permission, J D Wetherspoon won’t be investing its £2mil in the building.
This is a major blow for the local economy, but that’s not the end of the matter. There are two issues to note. One is that, if you believe the press, Wetherspoon’s has not yet finished with Rhuthun, though it won’t be at the Castle Hotel. And the other is that the Booths are investing in the hotel themselves.
And, let’s face it, the hotel needs significant investment, particularly in the crumbling exterior of one of our most prominent buildings. We trust the Booths can match Wetherspoon’s resources. There’s no reason why not, provided they make a sound return.
To do that, the transformation’s already started. The Castle Hotel has realigned its food offer. This recognises there are already a number of high-end restaurants in the town (e.g. On the Hill, Castell Rhuthun Castle, The Manorhaus, The Picture House and Fusions at the Wynnstay). Competition in this segment’s stiff. The Castle Hotel has plumped for a traditional steak house feel, offering honest food at reasonable prices, perhaps not dissimilar to the Spoon’s package. Unlike Wetherspoon’s, the difference is that, with immediate effect, the Steak House at the Castle Hotel promises a range of food that is freshly prepared from Welsh and possibly local ingredients and not microwaved from frozen.
Booth has blamed the current economic conditions for the Wetherspoon’s decision. There are mixed messages coming from the pub giant that has hit harder times but the future remains ‘ale and hearty’ according to the Independent, this month. Also this month, the Daily Post commented that JDW was outperforming its peers.
Interestingly, a Wetherspoon’s statement exclusive to the Denbighshire Visitor says, “We can confirm we are no longer interested in that particular site. We are still interested in the town and will now continue looking in the area for a possible site.” Will this place the Steak House at the Castle Hotel head-to-head with Wetherspoon’s?
Fair play to millionaire Stephanie Booth for making a clean breast of it regarding the Castle Hotel. She’s now on the record confirming what we already kind of knew—that, in spite of planning permission, J D Wetherspoon won’t be investing its £2mil in the building.
This is a major blow for the local economy, but that’s not the end of the matter. There are two issues to note. One is that, if you believe the press, Wetherspoon’s has not yet finished with Rhuthun, though it won’t be at the Castle Hotel. And the other is that the Booths are investing in the hotel themselves.
And, let’s face it, the hotel needs significant investment, particularly in the crumbling exterior of one of our most prominent buildings. We trust the Booths can match Wetherspoon’s resources. There’s no reason why not, provided they make a sound return.To do that, the transformation’s already started. The Castle Hotel has realigned its food offer. This recognises there are already a number of high-end restaurants in the town (e.g. On the Hill, Castell Rhuthun Castle, The Manorhaus, The Picture House and Fusions at the Wynnstay). Competition in this segment’s stiff. The Castle Hotel has plumped for a traditional steak house feel, offering honest food at reasonable prices, perhaps not dissimilar to the Spoon’s package. Unlike Wetherspoon’s, the difference is that, with immediate effect, the Steak House at the Castle Hotel promises a range of food that is freshly prepared from Welsh and possibly local ingredients and not microwaved from frozen.
Booth has blamed the current economic conditions for the Wetherspoon’s decision. There are mixed messages coming from the pub giant that has hit harder times but the future remains ‘ale and hearty’ according to the Independent, this month. Also this month, the Daily Post commented that JDW was outperforming its peers.
Interestingly, a Wetherspoon’s statement exclusive to the Denbighshire Visitor says, “We can confirm we are no longer interested in that particular site. We are still interested in the town and will now continue looking in the area for a possible site.” Will this place the Steak House at the Castle Hotel head-to-head with Wetherspoon’s?
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