Over the past week, it's seemed a little odd peering in through the windows at Wetherspoon's. It's all dressed up yet somehow looks abandoned, left on the shelf, like someone who's made an effort at a dance but who's left as a wallflower. But not for much longer. Yesterday, Wetherspoon's opened for corporate hospitality and the feedback from those who went in was good. Later today, the rest of the town can get a glimpse. To reflect the momentous occasion, one for good or ill, we've changed our tagline, top left.
As the door swings open, here's a brief timeline as to how we got to where we are.
November 2007—the rumours appear to be confirmed that Wetherspoon is to buy the Castle Hotel from Stephanie Booth's Llangollen Hotels, with the seeking of planning permission.
October 2008—Wetherspoon's, having by now gained planning permission, is reported to be getting cold feet. Blaming recessionary uncertainties, it pulls out of the deal to buy the Castle Hotel. Meanwhile, the frontage of the Castle Hotel has begun to deteriorate considerably.
November 2008—Booth confirms the deal's off. Wetherspoon's confirms that it's still interested in Rhuthun when the time is ripe—but *not* the Castle Hotel. Meanwhile, Booth states she will invest in the Castle Hotel. This promise is never honoured by her.
January 2009—Booth invests not in the building but in the restaurant side of the business by offering food for a fiver, at lunchtime. We suggested at the time that she was trying to be more like Wetherspoon's than Wetherspoon's. There was no evidence of any uplift in demand.
December 2009—it's reported that Wetherspoon's continues to be interested in Rhuthun. No one yet knows where, though.
September 2010—the Castle Hotel has deteriorated to such an extent that it has become an embarrassment. The civic association’s newsletter, delivered widely throughout the town, is highly critical.
January 2011—Booth sells her Castle Hotel to Wetherspoon's. She retains the Anchor and the cheap £5 lunches there.
March 2011—the Castle Hotel struggles on under Booth's ownership while paperwork completes. Still no evidence of large numbers of diners visiting the premises for cheap lunches.
March 2011—75 per cent of respondents to a Rhuthun/Ruthin Blog survey felt that Wetherspoon's should revert to the older name of the White Lion instead of the Castle Hotel. No confusion with the pile up the road. Wetherspoon's responds with a polite but perfunctory "Thank you for your email and your interest in our new pub in Ruthin. I will pass your suggestion for a new name for our new pub to our Property Team for their consideration". We hear no more.
July 2011—Booth's Global Investments Group takes a tumble, nearly closing the Anchor though the inn survives. Perhaps Wetherspoon's might've bought the property more cheaply had they waited this development.
August 2011—refurbishment work starts on the Castle Hotel, on 30th. A mid-January date is set for opening under Wetherspoon's.
September 2011—scaffolding appears on the frontage. But workers disastrously pull down a listed ceiling and all work is halted but soon recommences. The opening date is consequently put back to 31st January.
January 2011—the site is ready, the staff are appointed, training is done (the place was busy with staff on Saturday)… ahead of the public opening today at noon.
As the door swings open, here's a brief timeline as to how we got to where we are.November 2007—the rumours appear to be confirmed that Wetherspoon is to buy the Castle Hotel from Stephanie Booth's Llangollen Hotels, with the seeking of planning permission.
October 2008—Wetherspoon's, having by now gained planning permission, is reported to be getting cold feet. Blaming recessionary uncertainties, it pulls out of the deal to buy the Castle Hotel. Meanwhile, the frontage of the Castle Hotel has begun to deteriorate considerably.
November 2008—Booth confirms the deal's off. Wetherspoon's confirms that it's still interested in Rhuthun when the time is ripe—but *not* the Castle Hotel. Meanwhile, Booth states she will invest in the Castle Hotel. This promise is never honoured by her.
January 2009—Booth invests not in the building but in the restaurant side of the business by offering food for a fiver, at lunchtime. We suggested at the time that she was trying to be more like Wetherspoon's than Wetherspoon's. There was no evidence of any uplift in demand.
December 2009—it's reported that Wetherspoon's continues to be interested in Rhuthun. No one yet knows where, though.
September 2010—the Castle Hotel has deteriorated to such an extent that it has become an embarrassment. The civic association’s newsletter, delivered widely throughout the town, is highly critical.
January 2011—Booth sells her Castle Hotel to Wetherspoon's. She retains the Anchor and the cheap £5 lunches there.
March 2011—the Castle Hotel struggles on under Booth's ownership while paperwork completes. Still no evidence of large numbers of diners visiting the premises for cheap lunches.
March 2011—75 per cent of respondents to a Rhuthun/Ruthin Blog survey felt that Wetherspoon's should revert to the older name of the White Lion instead of the Castle Hotel. No confusion with the pile up the road. Wetherspoon's responds with a polite but perfunctory "Thank you for your email and your interest in our new pub in Ruthin. I will pass your suggestion for a new name for our new pub to our Property Team for their consideration". We hear no more.
July 2011—Booth's Global Investments Group takes a tumble, nearly closing the Anchor though the inn survives. Perhaps Wetherspoon's might've bought the property more cheaply had they waited this development.
August 2011—refurbishment work starts on the Castle Hotel, on 30th. A mid-January date is set for opening under Wetherspoon's.
September 2011—scaffolding appears on the frontage. But workers disastrously pull down a listed ceiling and all work is halted but soon recommences. The opening date is consequently put back to 31st January.
January 2011—the site is ready, the staff are appointed, training is done (the place was busy with staff on Saturday)… ahead of the public opening today at noon.