Llandudno Bay Hotel Review
It’s that time of year where we are all about to fill every spare moment with festive gift buying, Christmas card writing and nativity play watching. So, when HotelRez got in touch and asked if I’d like to review a newly refurbished hotel in their portfolio, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for a change of scenery and a recharge before December arrives.
I decided to make it a girls trip and took my friend Nic along with me for the ride. Oh WHAT a ride it was.. That weekend 80 mph winds were forecast and the drive was blustery to say the least. We arrived in one piece and were greeted by the Llandudno promenade stretching out before us to The Great Orme (the headland in the distance).
I pulled over the car to take a photo of this view as we drove in. There was A LOT of laughter coming from the passenger seat of the car as I tried to take a shot whilst balancing on a wall in the midst of the gale force winds. The things we do for our art ‘eh?
The hotel is smack bang in the middle of the promenade, facing the bay. It’s a row of the beautiful regency buildings, restored and converted to a perfect seaside hideaway. The 61 bedroom, boutique style hotel was totally refurbished in the summer and it’s spa is due to be completed during 2016.
The interior of the hotel is welcoming but luxurious. Every soft furnishing oozes comfort, tempting you to sink in to the nearest sofa and relax. We sat in the light, airy bar and enjoyed a quick coffee. The afternoon tea we spied across the room was a sight to behold, but we decided to go and explore some more first.
We stayed in a compact but perfectly formed twin room, facing the sea. Mountains of cloud like pillows, Elemis toiletries and photos of the local area were all well thought out touches. The room wasn’t huge, but life is very different travelling without children, I realised how little space I take up on my own!
We spent the afternoon exploring the pretty town of Llandudno. It’s a very smart, but in no way pretentious, place for a seaside getaway. No kiss-me-quick hats or arcade games here. Just a friendly welcome and lots of good food and drink. (Two words: WELSH CAKES. It’s all about the Welsh Cakes.)
The Llandudno Christmas Fayre was on whilst we were staying and it was a real treat. Definitely worth a visit and a stay during the festive season.
We ate dinner that evening in the hotel restaurant. I enjoyed a beetroot starter with whipped goats’ cheese (would you look at those little macarons..) Followed by a comforting Welsh lamb dish. It was a super menu, not overwhelmingly large, the sort of menu where I quite fancy trying everything. Nic had a truffle and parsnip soup and then a duck dish which was the star of the show.
The food was stylish and well thought out without being fussy. Fresh, local and interesting. I was only sad that I couldn’t manage a pudding.
We decided to join in with the Christmas Cocktail Masterclass that the hotel were hosting that evening. We learned to make a Festive Old Fashioned and a Sloe Gin Martini amongst others. There was a lot of laughing and shaking and I had a very sore head the next morning, which is always a sign of a great cocktail lesson I think.
The next morning we made our way down to the dining room for breakfast. I love the old school glamour of those chandeliers, it made us wonder what the resort was like in the 1920s – can you imagine?
I would love to tell you that I enjoyed some of the lovely local yoghurts and other healthier breakfast choices, but no, I ordered the full Welsh breakfast and loved every moment of it. Seriously though, that egg..
I love and appreciate my children more than anything, but a lie in, gossip over breakfast and some fresh sea air? These are the moments that are good for Mummas to recover with.
We waved goodbye to the lovely Llandudno Bay Hotel and the view across the bay, refreshed and relaxed to embark upon the festive season. I’m already planning my return, to bring the children in the warmer weather (aka when the spa is finished…).
The Llandudno Bay Hotel and Spa is represented by HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts, a collection representing independents hotels in the UK and abroad, such as the Llandudno Bay. Find more of their properties at: Hotel Rez.
Disclosure: Our stay and food was kindly provided by HotelRez for the purpose of this review.
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The post A Windy Weekend in Wales – Llandudno Bay Hotel Review appeared first on Taming Twins.