Llandudno hotel ‘no longer viable as a business’, say owners!

 
The hotel boom in Llandudno is over and the council need to let some of these hotels be converted. A HOTEL in Llandudno considered “no longer viable as a business” by its owners could be converted into a residential property.

The Epperstone, a bed and breakfast at Abbey Road, could become a home for its owners who have applied to Conwy County Borough Council for a change of use.

Owner Mark Baker, who runs the business with wife Tina, said the business was “no longer viable” due to increased costs, fewer tourists and competition from AirBnB lets, chain hotels and the tourist tax.

Mr Baker said he also works full time to help pay the hotel’s bills, and that the “rarely full” bed and breakfast’s closure would not affect the town’s tourism industry.

The bed and breakfast would be a home for the couple and their adult children.

In a planning support statement, Mr Baker said: “We are currently living in the basement which is unsuitable for our living requirements.

“Due to declining tourists, increasing utility and produce costs, insurances and legal policies and cost of living it is no longer viable as a business.

“As our costs rise we cannot raise our prices to cover these as we still need to remain competitive. “AirBnB, large cheap chain hotels and incoming tourist tax exacerbates these issues.

“I work full time to help pay for these bills which leaves my wife to run it on her own.

“We are not in the tourist zone. We are a freehold property. It was traditionally a family home in the past. We do not believe our five tourist rooms, that are rarely all full, will affect the tourist industry.”

The property, originally a house for the Champney family (linked to the Mostyn estate) was previously on the market for a period of 18 months, but saw “no interest”.

The Baker family are not the first hotel owners in Llandudno to seek their business' conversion to a residential property.

Gillian Evans, owner of Lakelands Guest House on Lloyd Street, had sought to change its use to that of a residential building, citing a "decline in bookings".

Conwy County Borough Council rejected the proposal, in order to "safeguard an appropriate level of serviced accommodation for tourism".

Plans for the The Epperstone now await a decision by the local authority's planning committee. From...https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/25091724.llandudno-hotel-no-longer-viable-business-say-owners/