Palé Hall Hotel, the historic Grade II* listed country house at Llandderfel, near Bala, Gwynedd, has now passed to new owners Alan and Angela Harper. The hotel will remain closed whilst undergoing an extensive programme of refurbishment, re-opening in summer 2016 with additional guest capacity and an exclusive fine dining restaurant created in association with Michael Caines, the acclaimed two Michelin star chef.
New owner Alan Harper, a former director of Vodafone and subsequently a telecoms entrepreneur, said:
“Initially we hadn’t planned to become hotel proprietors. We both have a passion for the North Wales landscape and a lot of prior experience with historic properties; it was this combination of interests that first brought us to view Palé Hall. But we were also seeking a project we could focus upon as a couple, whilst scaling back some of my international business commitments. We soon realised that Palé Hall offered us an ideal combination of opportunities.”
Bringing world class experience
Alan was already acquainted with chef Michael Caines and was aware of his ambitions for developing new hotel and fine dining restaurants of his own. Alan says, “I approached Michael with the proposal to partner with us on the Palé Hall project and I was very pleased that he shared our view of its potential. Michael and his consultancy team will bring world class experience of running a hospitality business to the very highest standards. With their considerable knowledge and expertise on board we’re now able to proceed with complete confidence.”
Caines is one of the most recognisable stars in the firmament of celebrity chefs, appearing as a judge on TV’s Masterchef Professionals and also a regular contributor to the BBC’s Saturday Morning Kitchen. In a career spanning more than twenty years he has gained two coveted Michelin stars during his tenure as Head Chef at Gidleigh Park hotel in Devon. He now oversees a number of restaurants bearing his name and also provides trackside gourmet dining facilities to the Williams F1 team. In 2006 he was awarded an MBE for his achievements.
Exciting development
Michael says of the Palé Hall project, “This represents an exciting development for us and I’m delighted to be working with Alan and Angie to realise their vision for Palé Hall to become a destination hotel and restaurant in a dramatically beautiful part of the world. Their ambitions are aligned with my own belief in creating a relaxed and friendly dining experience to delight our customers, offering a signature menu that makes the most of the finest locally-sourced ingredients, delivered with absolute professionalism in preparation, presentation and service.”
Angela Harper, with a career background in education and a former headteacher, adds, “It’s important to us that Palé Hall should be part of the local community too. Once we’re fully operational again we’re keen for the restaurant to source as much as possible from local suppliers, but also for the hotel and kitchen to provide an opportunity for work experience and apprenticeship training for young people from the locality; we’ve already opened a dialogue with Coleg Cambria towards this end. We also hope that Palé Hall will be contributing to the wider local economy and providing local employment. Right from the outset we’re intending to use local contractors and trades people whenever we can for the refurbishment work.”
About Palé Hall
Palé Hall is regarded as one of Wales’s most important surviving country houses. It won great favour with Queen Victoria who stayed there as a guest during a visit to North Wales in 1889. So charmed was she by the house and its surroundings that she remained in residence much longer than her schedule had intended. The house has its own hydro-electric power supply generated from a facility within the 50-acre grounds. Installed in the 1920s this is believed to be one of the oldest surviving hydroelectric generators in the UK.
For more information click here