Latest news with #TheTalbot
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Own a slice of pub and hotel history in the heart of a pretty village
Own a slice of pub and hotel history in the heart of a pretty village In the heart of a rural village an award-winning opportunity awaits The 'beating heart' of this pretty village is for sale (Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth) Nestled at the fringe of the Cambrian Mountains, where fog drifts through valleys and life moves at a more peaceful pace, sits a building that has silently observed the town of Tregaron for over four hundred years and probably will do for another four centuries. Wander into this Ceredigion village's pretty central square and there's a substantial property that instantly catches the eye, with its dominant position and visually pleasing architecture, a symmetrically perfect façade. The white-washed building is The Talbot Hotel and it is now on the market offering a new owner the chance to own a prestigious and award-winning hotel, restaurant and pub plus a home, wrapped in a sprawling property dating back to the 1600s. For more property stories and homes content sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here . READ MORE: Totally ordinary Welsh terrace looks like a royal palace inside and will blow your mind YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The man who lives in a £3m Welsh party pad you can only reach by boat or helicopter The Talbot hotel and pub in Tregaron has been welcoming guests for centuries (Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth) Recently honoured with The AA's 'Wales's Inn of the Year 2024' accolade and featured with pride in the Michelin Guide, this Grade II-listed former coaching house presents a unique proposition according to the selling agent - an exceptional fusion of history, hospitality and lifestyle, positioned within one of west Wales's most culturally abundant and scenically stunning areas. Constructed during the 1600s as a drovers' establishment along the pathway connecting Aberystwyth to London, The Talbot has hosted writers, politicians, travellers and social reformers. Comes with 13 ensuite guest bedrooms and owners accommodation too (Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth) Literally just a few steps from where Henry Richard MP was born - the Victorian era "Apostle of Peace" - this landmark property continues as Tregaron's pulse, a settlement deeply rooted in customs of tongue, territory and scholarship. The building was listed by Cadw in 1997 as 'a well-preserved coaching and drovers' inn of a scale rare in the region, and the focal building of the Square in Tregaron'. English author George Borrow stayed at The Talbot in 1854, describing it as 'a large house at the farther end of the market-place' and that prime position is one of its main selling points. Bursting with character inside (Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth) Presently, the establishment pays tribute to its distinguished heritage whilst providing visitors with an elegant and unforgettable stay. Behind its striking stone exterior, The Talbot is a boutique hotel that radiates warmth and subtle luxury. It boasts thirteen uniquely designed ensuite bedrooms, nine of which are premium rooms adorned with artisan finishes, exposed beams, bathrooms with underfloor heating, and timeless textures. Its restaurant, now nationally acclaimed for its excellence, offers a dining experience that is as soulful as it is sophisticated, celebrating Welsh ingredients and seasonal simplicity. There's a pub area that is popular with locals (Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth) The heart of the hotel is its original bar, a space brimming with character where flagstone floors, a roaring hearth, and centuries-old beams create a convivial and comforting atmosphere. A spacious function suite provides a versatile setting for weddings, events, and private gatherings, while a secluded courtyard garden offers an idyllic spot for al fresco dining or quiet contemplation beneath the region's clear, star-filled dark skies. Historic features are beautifully preserved throughout the property, from original sash windows and cellars to the rare Victorian bellboard that once summoned guests to service. The hotel also includes separate accommodation for owners and staff, making it ideally suited for either owner-occupiers or as a managed lifestyle investment. There's a restaurant as well as a bonus large events room (Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth) Nestled amidst natural splendour, The Talbot is situated at the base of the Elenydd hills and within strolling distance of the UNESCO-protected Cors Caron Nature Reserve - a haven of melodious bird calls, tranquil air and expansive skies. This timeless inn has become a destination in its own right, attracting walkers, cyclists, food tourists or those simply seeking serenity. Boasting a loyal clientele, an esteemed reputation, and a fully operational turnkey business model, The Talbot Hotel provides not just a home and income, but also the honour of preserving and enhancing a piece of Welsh heritage. The property also welcomes certain four-legged visitors, with a dog-friendly policy that includes three bedrooms and the bar area open to canine companions, creating a truly welcoming and homely atmosphere. For more information about the property, for sale for offers in excess of £950,000 with Fine & Country West Wales, call 01974 299055. Article continues below For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Scotsman
Countryside walks, fish & chips, visits to farm shops, oyster shacks, Sunday roasts in pubs and spotting cows in fields - the most nostalgic things about a British staycation
Eight in ten (77%) of Brits plan to enjoy a staycation this year, with over half (56%) admitting they want to relive the holidays of their youth with their own children. In fact, 87% have fond memories of UK holidays from their childhood, so much so that 78% agree that the UK has some wonderful places for a holiday and a WHOPPING 90% think that a staycation is one of the best holidays ever. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And it's not just children that will be enjoying a family staycation this year – multi-gen holidays are back on the table for millions of families, with 43% planning a trip this summer with their children and parents. The survey, commissioned by the award-winning Coaching Inn Group, also reveals the top 40 things we love about holidays in the UK, with walking through the countryside (52%), fish and chips (52%), marvelling at historic landmarks (48%) and enjoying the sun in a pub garden (46%) coming top. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Next up, was wandering around magnificent castles (34%), windy walks along the beach (32%), exploring market towns (30%), Sunday roasts in the pub (30%) and picnics (28%). One in four (25%) say nothing beats sipping tea in a tea shop, while 23% love trying out the amusement and adventure parks. The Talbot, Oundle When it comes to choosing where to stay, many of us are ditching tents and campervans, and opting for high-quality, affordable accommodation. For example, a monumental 91% of Brits would consider staying in either an historic coaching inn, or a pub with rooms. When choosing accommodation, our top priority is value for money, with two thirds (66%) of us marking this as our biggest consideration, followed by high quality food (65%), friendly and welcoming service (62%), and comfortable and clean rooms (53%). It's no surprise that half (49%) say they love exploring the British Isles with 44% liking the fact that it is cheaper than going abroad. Less stressful (40%), easier to get around (35%) and the ease of being able to jump in the car and drive (29%) are also reasons why Brits are choosing to holiday at home. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nine in ten (89%) simply think a staycation is easier than flying abroad and believe that moaning about the weather is all part of a Great British holiday (56%). The Forest Park Hotel, Brockenhurst In fact, 64% would like to explore the UK MORE, with Stonehenge (33%), Hadrian's Wall (32%), the Roman baths in Bath (26%), Yorkshire Moors (25%), Jurassic Coast in Dorset (24%) and the Peak District (24%) all on the to-do list, along with the Eden Project (22%), Blackpool Pier (20%), New Forest National Park (19%), and Wells Cathedral (19%). Adam Charity, Chief Operating Officer at Coaching Inn Group, commented: 'It's great to see so many Brits embracing a staycation this year. Holidaying in Britain isn't just a more convenient option than travelling abroad, it's also the best way to create memories that you'll cherish. 'We are proud to have a family of beautiful and historic coaching inns across some of the UK's best market towns and villages. From the Brecon Beacons to the Yorkshire Moors, we are thrilled to be able to curate Great British staycation experiences in stunning locations, where our amazing teams help guests to discover extraordinary history and hospitality from the heart.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For those lucky enough to have been on holiday both abroad and in the UK, more claim to have the most cherished memories from their trips in the UK (50%), compared to abroad (30%). Two thirds (63%) have such fond memories of childhood holidays that they hope their own children will do the same when they are older. The Castle of Brecon Cornwall (40%), Lake District (39%), Scotland (38%), Devon (29%) and Wales (28%) are all considered fantastic locations for a break. 40 BEST TINGS ABOUT HOLIDAYING IN THE UK: Walking through the countryside – 52% Fish and chips – 52% Historic landmarks – 48% Pub gardens – 46% Castles – 34% Windy beach walks – 32% British market towns – 30% Sunday roasts in the pub – 30% Picnics – 28% Ice cream vans – 27% Sunday morning walks – 26% Old fashioned B&Bs – 26% Tea shops – 25% The National Trust – 25% Sea views from your cottage – 24% Cream teas – 24% Amusement and adventure parks – 23% Farm shops – 21% Public footpaths – 20% Piers – 20% The smell of frshly cooked doughnuts – 18% Bird song – 18% Building sandcastles – 18% Crabbing – 15% Horse riding – 15% Menus based on locally sourced produce – 14% Buckets and spades – 14% Ploughman's lunches – 14% Discovering antique shops – 14% Wildflowers on country roads – 13% Stopping at the services for a rest and some food – 13% Second hand book stores – 13% Dogs swimming in the sea – 12% Cows in fields – 11% Seeing baby lambs – 11% Rock pooling – 11% Fishing – 11% Reading plaques in historic places – 10% Oyster shacks on the beach – 10% Bright yellow fields – 10%
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Scotsman
Countryside walks, fish & chips, visits to farm shops, oyster shacks, Sunday roasts in pubs and spotting cows in fields - the most nostalgic things about a British staycation
Eight in ten (77%) of Brits plan to enjoy a staycation this year, with over half (56%) admitting they want to relive the holidays of their youth with their own children. In fact, 87% have fond memories of UK holidays from their childhood, so much so that 78% agree that the UK has some wonderful places for a holiday and a WHOPPING 90% think that a staycation is one of the best holidays ever. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And it's not just children that will be enjoying a family staycation this year – multi-gen holidays are back on the table for millions of families, with 43% planning a trip this summer with their children and parents. The survey, commissioned by the award-winning Coaching Inn Group, also reveals the top 40 things we love about holidays in the UK, with walking through the countryside (52%), fish and chips (52%), marvelling at historic landmarks (48%) and enjoying the sun in a pub garden (46%) coming top. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Next up, was wandering around magnificent castles (34%), windy walks along the beach (32%), exploring market towns (30%), Sunday roasts in the pub (30%) and picnics (28%). One in four (25%) say nothing beats sipping tea in a tea shop, while 23% love trying out the amusement and adventure parks. The Talbot, Oundle When it comes to choosing where to stay, many of us are ditching tents and campervans, and opting for high-quality, affordable accommodation. For example, a monumental 91% of Brits would consider staying in either an historic coaching inn, or a pub with rooms. When choosing accommodation, our top priority is value for money, with two thirds (66%) of us marking this as our biggest consideration, followed by high quality food (65%), friendly and welcoming service (62%), and comfortable and clean rooms (53%). It's no surprise that half (49%) say they love exploring the British Isles with 44% liking the fact that it is cheaper than going abroad. Less stressful (40%), easier to get around (35%) and the ease of being able to jump in the car and drive (29%) are also reasons why Brits are choosing to holiday at home. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nine in ten (89%) simply think a staycation is easier than flying abroad and believe that moaning about the weather is all part of a Great British holiday (56%). The Forest Park Hotel, Brockenhurst In fact, 64% would like to explore the UK MORE, with Stonehenge (33%), Hadrian's Wall (32%), the Roman baths in Bath (26%), Yorkshire Moors (25%), Jurassic Coast in Dorset (24%) and the Peak District (24%) all on the to-do list, along with the Eden Project (22%), Blackpool Pier (20%), New Forest National Park (19%), and Wells Cathedral (19%). Adam Charity, Chief Operating Officer at Coaching Inn Group, commented: 'It's great to see so many Brits embracing a staycation this year. Holidaying in Britain isn't just a more convenient option than travelling abroad, it's also the best way to create memories that you'll cherish. 'We are proud to have a family of beautiful and historic coaching inns across some of the UK's best market towns and villages. From the Brecon Beacons to the Yorkshire Moors, we are thrilled to be able to curate Great British staycation experiences in stunning locations, where our amazing teams help guests to discover extraordinary history and hospitality from the heart.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For those lucky enough to have been on holiday both abroad and in the UK, more claim to have the most cherished memories from their trips in the UK (50%), compared to abroad (30%). Two thirds (63%) have such fond memories of childhood holidays that they hope their own children will do the same when they are older. The Castle of Brecon Cornwall (40%), Lake District (39%), Scotland (38%), Devon (29%) and Wales (28%) are all considered fantastic locations for a break. 40 BEST TINGS ABOUT HOLIDAYING IN THE UK:
New Statesman
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Reform UK's taproom revolutionaries
Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP From a corner table inside The Talbot, Mark Butcher is plotting political domination. 'Reform aren't happy with just going after the parliamentary seats, the council seats,' he says. 'I think the important thing is we are going after the grassroots. We're going after the social clubs, the pubs, the Conservative clubs, and the Labour pubs as well. That's where the grassroots voters are.' Butcher is wearing a matching pair of checked trousers and waistcoat with his sunglasses pushed up onto his head. Chairman of the Blackpool and Fleetwood branch of Reform UK, he is in an ebullient mood. His party are leading the national polls, tipping 30 per cent, and he senses blood in the water. For his day job, Butcher runs a local soup kitchen, but he plans to stand in the next general election in one of the city's two constituencies. He believes he will win either by a large margin: his Labour opponent will be 'annihilated'; the local Conservative party has already 'given up'. We are meeting at Britain's first Reform-branded pub, where we sit with its two owners, Nick Lowe and Peter Flynn, and several pints of Stella Artois. Outside, much of the façade has been repainted a bright turquoise. Reform election material is pasted over the bar. Only an engraved slab of brickwork above the front door reveals the venue's former name: The Talbot Conservative Club. Across the country, voters are pulling behind Nigel Farage. At last month's council elections his party took control of ten local authorities and two mayoralties, and won a Westminster by-election to boot. We cannot rule out the possibility, Professor John Curtice wrote afterwards, this could prove to be the end of a century of Conservative and Labour dominance. Reform's critics have long contended, however, that while the party has achieved a breadth of support it has little depth. Until February, it was owned by Farage as a private limited company. It has no tradition of mass mobilisation and owes its support largely to its leader's appearances on television, they argue. The renovation of establishments like The Talbot seems to suggest something different. Throughout the 20th century, parliamentary democracy rested on a foundation of mass participation. Working men and women joined unions and fought to shape the Labour party. Conservative clubs embedded their party in local communities via cheap alcohol and popular entertainment nights. But as traditional production lines shut down, the forward march of labour halted and society atomised, these institutions decayed. Now, Reform is reviving them. And, with union leaders drawing up a strategy to combat Reform's appeal among their members, it appears that both Farage is the only British political figure capable of winning support in both the working men's club and the Tory taproom. Lowe and Flynn were both members of the communally owned Talbot Conservative Club, founded in 1927, when they decided to buy it in 2009. 'The no smoking ban come in and that was the nail in the head,' says Lowe. 'It was literally going bankrupt. We proposed that we take over the club. 'We'll pay its debts off. We'll do it up.'' After 16 years of running the site as a regular pub, financial motivations also played a part in its Reform rebrand. With electricity costs spiking, Lowe hopes tying his business to the country's most popular political party will bring punters through the door. As we speak, the plan appears to be bearing fruit. Flynn pops out to talk to two men before paraphrasing their excited reaction: 'We've seen it on Facebook. We've come for a pint. Well done, well done!' While a few customers have said they will no longer use the pub, ten or 20 more have expressed support, Lowe claims. The few punters drinking on a sunny Tuesday afternoon have no issue with their local's political turn. Tony, 72, a former painter and decorator, says he voted Labour all his life because he was a working man. Now he backs Reform. 'They lie less,' he says. 'Starmer was elected on lies. Most people have had enough of the lies – he hasn't smashed the [people smuggling] gangs.' The only thing Starmer smashes is cocaine, adds his friend Dave, 57, who works in child safeguarding and believes claims he has seen online that the prime minister snorted drugs en route to Ukraine with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz (the cocaine in question was a tissue on their train table). Smoking in the pub garden in the sun, Michele, 57, and Amanda, 47, say they have barely seen Nigel Farage on television. Local support for Reform is an organic phenomenon, they insist. 'Everything's dying in Blackpool,' says Amanda. 'There's no tourist season anymore.' Neither of them have voted for years, but they say they will turn out for Reform – alongside Amanda's 23-year-old daughter, who discovered the party on TikTok and thinks they're more honest than other politicians. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe The Talbot's renewed politicisation began four years ago when then Conservative MP Scott Benson helped to organise a community meeting on anti-social behaviour that filled the 150-seat function room upstairs. 'People were saying what they felt and what was going on and what hadn't been done,' Lowe says. 'These people have lived here their whole life and they feel intimidated.' This isn't local paranoia. As tourism and local industries have declined, living standards in Blackpool have tumbled. On one notorious central street, says Flynn, 'even the dogs walk round in pairs'. His friends who run shops around the North Pier see marauding gangs of children steal brazenly. On almost every measure, Blackpool has become one of Britain's most deprived areas. In Flynn and Lowe's telling, support for Reform has grown naturally from local anger at the failure of the Conservative government and Labour council to deal with the city's decline. Both men defected from the Tory party within the last year without telling the other. 'We've got a lot of other people's problems,' says Butcher. 'Families who get forced out of certain towns for antisocial behaviour end up here. We're the dumping ground.' He offers a defence of legal migration as vital to Blackpool's economy – without it there would not be enough workers for the holiday season – but claims locals are angry at an influx of new arrivals and spiking crime rates in the last few years. In a city built on holidaymakers, the requisitioning of The Metropole, a prominent seafront hotel, to house asylum seekers has become a totemic issue. Over recent months, The Talbot has been hosting Reform meetings and will now function as the party's base for the South Blackpool constituency. Butcher thinks he is likely to secure a second pub to match it in Blackpool North and Fleetwood. He hopes they will help his party recreate the Tories' old ties to the community. At The Talbot Conservative Club, Flynn remembers, you would always see activists and councillors in their shirts and ties on a Sunday afternoon. Butcher, whose father was a member, has fond memories of its meat raffles. 'Every Christmas, we'd have parties upstairs,' he says. 'The Tories were very connected with their people… they did it very well, the social side of it.' Twenty minutes' walk from The Talbot stands The Imperial Hotel, a great Victorian edifice of red brick that would once play host to every major political figure in Britain during party conference season. I walk around its bar with Tony Williams as he points at photos of Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan and Tony Blair visiting the city. Once the bassist in Stealers Wheel and Jethro Tull, Williams, now in his late seventies, was driven to enter local politics when he moved back to Blackpool and saw how poorly his area was being run. For eight years, until he resigned acrimoniously in 2023, he led the Conservative group on Blackpool council and, in his own telling, helped to manage the area's slow decline. Now, he is a member of Reform and believes they will win both of the city's seats at the next election. 'In the late Sixties there was a culture in Blackpool of people who were proud to be Conservatives,' Williams says, 'who were proud to donate, who were proud to fundraise and be part of a Conservative community. That just eroded.' When I ask him about the city's remaining Conservative clubs, he can't remember all their names. 'The two main parties are so alike,' he adds. 'I've seen from the members of Reform now there's a very strong will to get things done. There is a definite will within the party to sort this mess out.' Willpower is not the only thing that's lacking among Reform's reeling opponents. A few streets away at the Claremont Conservative Club the mood is sleepy in the mid-afternoon heat. Pulling pints behind the bar, Henry, 24, says he has never voted and has no real desire to start. Smoking a cigarette next to the bowling green that dominates the club's garden, Eddie, 66, one of only two customers and a lifelong Conservative voter, tells me he likes what Reform are doing. 'The trust in the two main parties is gone,' he says. According to Peter Sykes, the chairman of the club committee, while the Claremont is still affiliated to the Conservative party, the vast majority of members are not. 'When I joined you had to meet the chair, have an interview and swear allegiance to the party,' he remembers. 'Ladies were not allowed in the games room.' He worries that being connected to the Tories now turns potential customers away, but the Association of Conservative Clubs helps the place keep its head above water financially. No national party representative has visited since 2007, when the Conservatives last held their autumn conference in Blackpool. And while Sykes is still a supporter of the Tories, he has heard his members 'gushing' about Farage's plans to slash immigration. 'I'm afraid the depth of support for the Conservative party in Blackpool is withering away,' he adds glumly. Around the town centre, even if they've not yet arrived at Reform, nobody is willing to defend mainstream politics. Denise, 70, says she loves Blackpool but has seen it changed by migration since she first visited as a child. A lifelong Labour voter, she believes Starmer is 'putting open borders before his own people'. At the last election she voted Reform. Former hospital porter Bob, also 70, will not stop railing against the elite when I ask him how he will vote. As he mentions former prime ministers, a passing man overhears and shouts: 'Tony Blair's a c**t.' At The Talbot, Butcher sketches out a grandiose vision of how Reform can win political power – and rescue Britain from atomisation. The party will found Sunday league football teams for children and adults, he says; it will run cricket and rugby clubs. His network of 200 active volunteers are already establishing a ground game to take on the Labour machine. If regular people were to start joining explicitly political sports clubs and pubs, it would represent a reversal of every hyper-individualising trend of the 21st century so far. But Butcher believes that latent patriotism, a desire to save the country, will drive locals into Reform's arms. 'We're all fed up – and it's not just fed up. It's gone beyond being frustrated. People are being forced into action,' he says. 'Normal, everyday people are becoming activists.' Darker currents are also brewing in Blackpool. David Shaw, a newly elected Reform county councillor in Lancashire, tells me a local anti-migrant 'vigilante group' recently tried to rent a room at his Fleetwood pub for a meeting. For now, they are said to only be planning to observe and photograph immigrants. What will come later is unclear. Shaw says he refused to accept their booking and told them he wanted no part of such action. Public rage at the establishment will see Britain transformed by the next election, Butcher insists. He foresees a Nigel Farage-led government with the Liberal Democrats as the official opposition. 'If we protest, we'll be arrested. We can't say anything online, we'll get arrested,' he says. 'So what are we supposed to do? Let's sign up to Reform. This is the only driving force that is available.' [See also: Farage rising] Related
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Former Conservative club rebranded as Reform UK's first pub
A former Conservative club in Blackpool has been rebranded as a Reform UK pub. Footage posted by Mark Butcher, who stood for the party in the Blackpool South by-election in 2024, shows The Talbot on Milbourne Street in the city centre after it was painted bright blue, displaying the political party's logo outside. Co-owner Pete Flynn told GB News that he and his business partner are both party members. "We wanted to be the first Reform club... We love Nigel Farage - so it's fantastic," he said. The rebrand comes after Reform UK made huge gains in this year's local elections across England.
