
Hotel in Powys town celebrates after owners win award
Team members at Welshpool's Royal Oak Hotel have celebrated a win for the hotel's owners as it was awarded a top industry accolade.
The parent company of the Royal Oak Hotel, located on The Cross in Welshpool, has been named the UK's Best Accommodation provider at The Morning Advertiser's Annual Pub Awards.
The Royal Oak team celebrated the win, with Esther Buckley on reception, Zac Salmon, Sue Ridgeway and Chris Ridgeway on housekeeping, Heidi Benbow and Neil Benbow on the front of house, and chefs Joy White and Ryan Desmier, marking the award.
Adam Charity, chief operating officer of the Coaching Inn group, which also has 34 other hotels and inns in market towns across the country, said he was delighted.
He said: 'We are poised to reopen the iconic Castle of Brecon Hotel after a £3 million refit and are continuously striving to improve our accommodation offering right across the group.
'It's all part of our ethos of providing the best facilities we can at the very heart of all the communities in which we serve.
'The coveted award was a well-deserved recognition of all the commitment and hard work put in by the whole coaching inn family, including our enthusiastic team at The Royal Oak.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
3 days ago
- Times
This Manchester club house is shaking up the luxury watch market
Want to buy a luxury watch, like a Rolex, Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet? You just walk into a shop and buy one, don't you? Actually, no. Not only are brands such as these producing models in such limited numbers that they inevitably struggle to keep up with demand, but Audemars Piguet has now made the decision to move away from the conventional store-based retail model. Enter an alternative: AP House, which is a private members' club-style hybrid — think luxurious interiors, chillout zones, hospitality that would rival any five-star hotel and a gentle, softly-softly selling approach. What's more, everyone's invited. It's a concept that the Swiss watchmaker rolled out in 2017 and now it has AP Houses around the world including in places as far-flung as St Barts, Seoul and Mexico City. London has one, although you may not know it, elevated as it is on the first floor above an unrelated store on New Bond Street. Now it's Manchester's turn. Hot on the heels of the city's cultural resurgence — it hosted the Chanel Métiers d'Art show in December 2023, and its own Soho House is opening in a few months — AP has settled on this northern metropolis to open the 23rd house in its roster. It is, of course, an area that attracts significant wealth (footballers being the obvious trope) and you'll need Premier League-level deep pockets to buy an AP — its most iconic model, the Royal Oak, has a starting price point of £22,700 and can easily soar into a six-figure sum. 'We've been looking for a suitable location for our clients outside London for a while,' says Daniel Compton, the brand's UK general manager. 'People tend to gravitate to Manchester when they're doing their luxury shopping — already we've had visitors from as far north as Glasgow [the House soft launched in May], while nearby we have Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and the Cheshire belt below us.' The House is exactly that — a double-fronted Georgian residence on King Street that dates from 1736. AP found the site in 2022 and instructed Johnson Pinney Architects to extensively remodel the 425 sq m interior while preserving its grand grade II listed exterior, structure and period features. As with all AP Houses, touches of the home city run through the design scheme. On entering the reception area an art installation by the artist Michelle McKinney echoes the leaves of the black poplar tree, aka the Manchester poplar, common in the city thanks to its ability to tolerate air pollution. The Manchester bee, a symbol of the city's industriousness since 1842, is alluded to in the honeycomb shape of the watch display cases, while fabric lines the walls in reference to its history of cotton production. On the first floor a music room pays homage to Manchester's music scene with artwork from Factory Records (the city's pioneering record label and founder of the Haçienda nightclub), a display of vinyl on the wall and turntables should any guest fancy a spin behind the decks. Across the landing is a dining room and bar serving, by the end of the year, AP's own draught beer made in collaboration with a local independent brewery, in a nod to northern pub culture. Up another flight of stairs to a games room and visitors will find a luxury version of shove ha'penny and a darts board. A roof terrace leads off it with views across the city's industrial-era red-brick buildings. But why bother with all of this? Surely a bricks-and-mortar conventional retail model would suffice. The luxury commentator and watch expert Ming Liu explains the rationale behind it. 'By having Houses around the globe, AP are able to provide a holistic 360 approach to their customers. They may be a watch brand but the product is only one side of it. They're also very aware that their customer travels and that they have different touch points in their lives — whether Manchester, Hong Kong or London. It makes sense to have somewhere they feel comfortable and can connect with other watch lovers, bring their friends, socialise and relax. The concept is about making clients feel at home, spending longer with them and educating them on watchmaking and AP in particular.' But is everyone invited, really? It sounds like a concept too good to be true. 'We welcome all, we encourage walk-ins,' Compton says, 'and we want newcomers.' As for the current AP clients — those who Compton describes as 'part of the AP family and a mix of old industrial families from the northwest and those who've made their success more recently, including from the media and sport' — they can expect an enhanced level of hospitality. Meanwhile in London plans are afoot for a new, bigger version of the House and an AP branded hoarding has been spotted outside a townhouse in Mayfair. Compton won't be drawn on exact timeframes, but it won't be long before the capital has a similar venue to rival that of Manchester. Watch this space. AP House Manchester, 35 King Street, M2 7AT, @thediamondedit


Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
The average price of a pint rises AGAIN across UK – how much more are Scots paying?
Scots will have to cough up more than a hangover for a trip to the pub as prices increase again. OH BEER The average price of a pint rises AGAIN across UK – how much more are Scots paying? A TRIP to the pub will cost Scots more than a just hangover as punters are being forced to cough up more than ever. The average price of a pint has now soared to £5.17 across the UK, leaving a bitter taste in punters' mouths. 1 Pint of beer next to a map of the UK highlighting a region. In February we reported how Scotland saw the biggest percentage price increase across the whole of Britain. Now it has gone up again with the cost increasing by 34p compared to figures reported by the Office for National Statistics at the start of the year. Beer prices have risen sharply as manufacturers and pubs grapple with higher alcohol taxes, soaring utility bills and increased staffing costs. Trade magazine The Morning Advertiser regularly examines the average cost of a pint across London, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, the South East, the South West, Scotland, and Wales. According to its latest research, London tops the list for the priciest pints, with pub owners charging an average of £6.10. On the more affordable end of the scale, Tennent's and Carlsberg emerged as the cheapest options, with drinkers paying an average of £4.23 per pint across England, Wales, and Scotland. UK pub numbers have now plunged by more than 2,000 since the start of 2020. A number of breweries are facing trouble too, including the Fourpure brewing company which appointed administrators in October and the Magic Rock Brewery which said it would bring in administrators at the start of the year. Meanwhile, Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) said in November it would stop making eight classic British cask beers following a review. A number of pubs also warned they would have to hike prices for customers this year after the Government's Autumn Budget. Stunning beer prices at Miami GP revealed as F1 fans face staggering cost for drinks, steak sandwiches and pizza Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage both rose in April. But businesses cautioned this would force them into upping the price of drinks as they try and absorb the extra costs.


Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
The average price of a pint rises AGAIN across UK – how much is booze in YOUR area?
Scroll down to see the most and least expensive pints PINT PINCH The average price of a pint rises AGAIN across UK – how much is booze in YOUR area? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE average price of a pint has soared to £5.17 across the UK, delivering a bitter blow to beer enthusiasts. The Morning Advertiser's latest pint price survey has revealed the cost of a jar across England, Wales and Scotland is now 34p higher than figures reported by the Office for National Statistics in February. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Beer prices have risen sharply as manufacturers and pubs grappple with higher alcohol taxes, soaring utility bills and increased staffing costs. The trade magazine's latest survey, regularly updated, examines the average cost of a pint across London, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, the South East, the South West, Scotland, and Wales. According to The Morning Advertiser, London tops the list for the priciest pints, with pub owners charging an average of £6.10. The cost of popular brands in the capital has also climbed, with a pint of Guinness reaching £6.45, Birra Moretti £7.17, and Camden Hells £7.05 since February. In contrast, the Midlands boasts the cheapest average pint in Great Britain, priced at £4.68. Tennent's lager is the most affordable option there at £3.50, followed by Carlsberg at £3.72. Meanwhile, Foster's and Greene King IPA are slightly pricier at £3.80 and £3.85, respectively. However, The Morning Advertiser's survey revealed that pint prices in the Midlands increased by 5.15% between January and April, while London bucked the trend with a 1.22% decrease during the same period. Meanwhile, beer prices in Wales rose by 3.87%, and the South East saw a more modest increase of 2.54%. The survey also examined the average prices of over 30 beer brands, covering categories including lager, craft beer, cask ale, and stout. Britain's best beer ranked It found that Camden Hells and BrewDog Punk IPA are now the most expensive pints in Great Britain, with an average price of £6.34. Following closely behind are Beavertown Neck Oil at £6.24, Peroni at £6.12, and Asahi at £6.11. On the more affordable end of the scale, Tennent's and Carlsberg emerged as the cheapest options, with drinkers paying an average of £4.23 per pint across England, Wales, and Scotland. Greene King IPA, Budweiser, and Foster's, come with an average price of £4.36, £4.38, and £4.47, respectively. List of most and least expensive pints Here are the most and least expensive pints across Great Britain, according to the Morning Advertiser: Camden Hells - £6.34 BrewDog Punk IPA - £6.34 Beavertown Neck Oil - £6.24 Peroni - £6.14 Asahi - £6.11 Birra Moretti - £6.04 Camden Pale Ale - £5.69 Guinness - £5.56 Estrella Damm - £5.56 Madri - £5.55 Staropramen - £5.53 Cruzcampo - £5.39 Heineken - £5.29 San Miguel - £5.28 Stella Artois - £5.27 Pravha - £5.19 Pedigree - £5.16 Amstel - £5.16 Timothy Taylor's Landlord - £5.12 London Pride - £4.82 Wainwright - £4.75 Coors Light - £4.74 Corona - £4.73 Abbot Ale - £4.70 Carling - £4.62 Tribute Pale Ale - £4.59 Doom Bar - £4.57 Hobgoblin - £4.57 Foster's - £4.47 Budweiser - £4.38 Greene King IPA - £4.36 Carlsberg - £4.23 Tennent's - £4.23 BREWERIES AND PUBS STRUGGLE Breweries and pubs across the UK have struggled in recent years as the high cost of living sees customers' budgets take a dent. The increased cost of brewing and beer prices, as well as rising energy bills have also had an impact. Figures analysed and published by the Altus Group earlier this year revealed over 400 pubs across England and Wales were demolished or converted for other uses in the year to December. This saw the number of pubs across the two countries dip below 39,000 for the first time. More than 34 pubs a month called last orders for the final time over the year - the sharpest fall in pub numbers since 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic. UK pub numbers have now plunged by more than 2,000 since the start of 2020. A number of breweries are facing trouble too, including the Fourpure brewing company which appointed administrators in October and the Magic Rock Brewery which said it would bring administrators at the start of the year. Meanwhile, Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) said in November it would stop making eight classic British cask beers following a review. A number of pubs also warned they would have to hike prices for customers this year after the Government's Autumn Budget. Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage both rose in April. But businesses cautioned this would force them into upping the price of drinks as they try and absorb the extra costs. Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young's, said the chain planned to hike its prices by between 2.5% and 3%. Wetherspoons also hiked the price of some of its drinks and meal deals by up to 30p in January. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories