Well done to Conwy Council for a change for allowing this hotel to close and convert the building to a home. Hotels in Llandudno are dropping like flies, denial is not the answer, but finding a use for the buildings when they are no longer viable as a hotel Air B and Bs are taking over sadly. A HOTEL in Llandudno looks set to close after the council gave the owners permission to convert the building into a residential property.
The Epperstone, a bed and breakfast at Abbey Road, will become a home for its owners, who have successfully 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 will now become a home for the couple and their adult children.
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 application for a change of use was supported by Llandudno Town Council and Conwy Council following a consultation.
The Pioneer understands that no conversion has yet taken place, and the business remains trading at this time.
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". From....https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/25196998.llandudno-hotel-no-longer-viable-business-can-close/
Hotels in Llandudno are failing, this will happen more and more, at least this time the council did the right thing
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