Plans in for extension to historic Welsh castle
The Vale Resort has submitted a planning application to build a new restaurant and add rooms to the 400-year-old Hensol Castle.
The Grade I-listed building underwent its first phase of renovation in 2015. The £10m works saw the introduction of conference facilities in the purpose-built Courtyard Hall, which can host up to 320 delegates.
This was complemented by four smaller meeting rooms in the castle itself that can host between 60-120 delegates per room theatre-style.
Now the resort is ready to start phase two, which includes a new restaurant and 30 bedrooms.
Paul Beddoe, sales and marketing director at the Vale Resort, said: “The proposed planning application details the final phase in the refurbishment of the magnificent, Grade I-listed, 400-year-old Hensol Castle, bringing to fruition a labour of love that has taken more than 10 years to complete.
“The redevelopment includes a high-class 80-cover destination restaurant, which we hope will add to the thriving culinary scene in South Wales. We intend to use indigenous Welsh construction materials, such as slate, within the build and fabric of the restaurant and will use fresh, local produce and artisan suppliers to influence our menus, wherever possible.
“We’re confident that the addition of this top-end restaurant to Hensol Castle and the Vale Resort will bolster our offering as a luxury hotel and premiere wedding and conference destination to visitors in the UK, as well as internationally.”
The restoration of the 17th century castle – with its original architecture, turrets, gothic towers and feature staircases – was completed in close association with the Vale of Glamorgan council and Cadw.
The venue was used recently to unveil Ryan Giggs as the new manager of the Wales football team.
The former stately home, situated six miles from Cardiff city centre and three minutes off junction 34 of the M4, is set within landscaped gardens and has a 15-acre lake and serpentine pond.Previous owners of the Grade I-listed castle include Samuel Richardson, credited with introducing the threshing machine to the world of agriculture, and the Crawshays of Cyfarthfa. The estate was bought by the Leekes family, owners of the Vale Resort, in 2003.
Prior to the Vale Resort’s investment at Hensol Castle, the former stately home was used as an evocative backdrop to BBC dramas including Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Torchwood.