Hotel development for 'Welsh Versailles' and largest private residential property in Wales

11-Apr-2012 - Last updated on 26-Apr-2021 at 15:16 GMT

Kinmel Hall, modelled on the Palace of Versailles in France and the largest private residential property in Wales, has been sold to become a hotel

Kinmel Hall, a Welsh mansion modelled on the Palace of Versailles in France and the largest private residential property in Wales, has been sold for around £1.5m and is set to become a luxury hotel after a development is completed.

The mansion, set in 18 acres of land at Abergele, Conwy in North Wales, is said to have welcomed royal visitors such as Queen Victoria in the past but has now been sold to an, as yet, unnamed buyer who will welcome a whole range of guests when it opens as a luxury hotel.

The development will have to take account of various building restrictions on the site as the stable block is Grade 1 listed while the main hall and 13 mews houses on site are Grade 2 listed.

Spa?

The previous owner, Derbyshire Investments, had the property as part of a bigger portfolio for a number of years and decided to sell up after being unable to finance the size of the development project the venue requires.

It is thought Derbyshire Investments had been working to open the hall as a luxury hotel and spa complex but it is not yet known whether the new owners will stick to similar plans or announce something new.

Luxury hotel experience

The property reportedly attracted interest from India and Canada during the sale process but Tyrone Courtman, partner and head of business restructuring recovery and insolvency services at Cooper Parry, which led the search for a new owner, said the buyer had worked with similar venues in the past.

"We are delighted to have finally sold Kinmel Hall to a buyer who understands its heritage and is committed to the property. It is a unique property steeped in character and history and once it is renovated, it will look and feel beautiful. The new owner has experience of turning sites like Kinmel Hall into attractive luxury hotels so the site will get investment and the attention it deserves and we look forward to how it progresses," he said.

Welsh Versailles

Kinmel Hall has been dubbed the 'Welsh Versailles' after being modelled on the French palace when it was designed by W.E. Nesfield in the 1870s. The stable block is even older.

The site, which boasts a mile long private drive through parkland, also contains over 100,000sq.ft of residential and mixed use development space.