Wonder whether owner of the Anchor and the Castle Hotel, Stephanie Booth, reads Ruthin Town & Around. This is the newsletter of the civic association. On page three, the September 2010 edition featured her Castle Hotel, but not in a positive way.If Booth does get to read the publication, I wonder how the Lloyd’s Hotellier feels. Once a year, the newsletter goes widely to every household in town and September's was it. Because of this widespread negative publicity regarding the exterior state of the Castle Hotel, does Booth feel embarrassed or enraged.
The civic association's article was fairly direct. Yet, there's no denying the evidence that you see every time you climb Clwyd Street or walk along St Peter's Square: the Castle Hotel's façade is now so bad that it's difficult to see how the rot can easily and economically be repaired. It's gone way beyond "a stitch in time…" Here we have one of Rhuthun/Ruthin's most prominent buildings seemingly turning to dust.
The civic association reminds us of the work Booth has done recently in Wrexham. Booth's breathed life into the town centre Wynnstay Arms, presumably risky during a recession and with the Ramada newly opened. Yet, it's in Llangollen that Booth's been most energetic. Whereas the association's editor remarks that her Rhuthun properties appear low on her list of priorities, the current state of the Castle Hotel might actually be an opportunity for the town to engage positively with Booth, as in Llangollen.
Last year, we suggested that Booth tried to do for Rhuthun what Booth at least on the surface seems to have achieved in Llangollen, by direct involvement in our town. Booth could so easily turn the negative into a positive, using the Castle Hotel as a focus for work in Rhuthun. Rhuthun is, of course, very different to Llangollen, is conservative in a different way and would have to overcome the prospect of outside help. But could Booth ride into Rhuthun as a modern day hero?
Meanwhile, in 2007, the McDonald's-in-a-pub chain J D Wetherspoon almost bought the Castle Hotel. Citing the recession, they pulled out. Three years later, this now seems odd, as Wetherspoon's opened almost 50 new branches last year and their profits appear to be significantly recession busting. The Castle Hotel was reported on the market again shortly afterwards. No takers, possibly owing to its condition. Perhaps Booth can again try to persuade Wetherspoon's to take the Castle Hotel off her hands...
If not, better, then, to engage with Booth across a number of fronts that might see improvements at the Castle Hotel… and benefits for the town. Indeed, perhaps she should spearhead a launch for national park status for the Clwydians and Dee Valley, linking Llangollen (about which she seems most passionate) and Rhuthun.
Related news:
- From this edition, the civic association's newsletter seems to have vastly improved photo reproduction.
- Has anyone noticed the change in paper quality & thickness, from Thursday's edition, of the Denbighshire Free Press?
- The Boar's Head is seeking a new lessee.