Latest news with #WynnstayHotel
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Hotel owners fight to silence 150-year-old town clock after barrage of 'negative reviews' from guests kept awake at night
Hotel owners are fighting to silence a 150-year-old town clock after a flood of 'negative reviews' from guests lying awake at night. The Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth, Powys, has been inundated with complaints from tourists kept awake by the clock's quarter-hourly bells, which ring every 15 minutes, even through the night. Bosses want the bells in the market town clock tower to be switched off between 11.30pm and 7am after guests raised concerns about the noise. After sitting silent for three years, the tower, which sits yards away from the business, was finally repaired in 2023 and now chimes every 15 minutes for 24 hours a day. Owners Huw Morgan and Gail Jenkins have written to local authorities urging them to pause the chimes, claiming to have received 'negative reviews' due to the clock. One frustrated visitor wrote on TripAdvisor review: 'Nothing wrong with the hotel. Stayed in the Lloyd George room £175 per night. Had an evening meal which we enjoyed. 'The problem is the clock, which has now been fixed, chimes every fifteen minutes and then chimes on the hour!!!! Kept us awake all night!! 'Staff were nice and we liked the hotel. Just relieved we didn't book two nights!' The hotel is asking the council for the chimes to be switched off between 11.30pm and 7am in a bid to keep their guests happy. In the letter to the council, the owners said: 'As owners of the Wynnstay, we are dependent on tourism for our business and we value the town clock and its central role in conveying the historic character of the town. 'We recognise and appreciate the effort and resources given to the town council to renovate and maintain the clock and its tower. 'Unfortunately, we are facing difficulties to our business due to the chiming of the clock throughout the night. We receive frequent complaints from guests, particularly those attempting to sleep in the front bedrooms. 'For some customers, it has spoiled their visit to Machynlleth and has led to negative reviews online. 'We ask that the council discuss the possibility of switching the chiming of the clock off during the night, e.g. from 11.30pm until 7am. This would resolve the noise issue. 'We are aware of other businesses who would appreciate this change, and also private residents who live near the clock. I am happy to coordinate a response from all if the council feels this is needed.' The clock tower was repaired in the summer of 2023 after a campaign was launched to get it working for the 150th anniversary celebrations. The repairs cost £55,000 before it was finally able to chime again in the 'ancient capital of Wales' market town. Mr Morgan said he was 'born and raised' in Machynlleth, and complaints were from tourists along with 'workers like railway engineers who need to sleep properly'. His 'for whom the bells toll' appeal is due to be considered by town councillors in Machynlleth - which describes itself as the 'ancient capital of Wales.' It was built by the residents of Machynlleth to celebrate the coming of age of the eldest son of the Fifth Marquess of Londonderry, who lived at Y Plas. Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest (Viscount Castlereagh) turned 21 on 16 July 1873.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Hotel owners' bid to silence 150-year-old clock keeping guests awake
The owners of a Welsh hotel want to silence a town clock after 152 years, to stop it keeping guests awake. They wants the clock's bells to be switched off between 11.30pm and 7am because of negative reviews from visitors. The clock tower in the market town of Machynlleth, Powys, sits just yards away from the Wynnstay Hotel. It was repaired in 2023 after sitting silent for three years – and was programmed to chime every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Huw Morgan and Gail Jenkins, who own the hotel, wrote to the council saying they had received 'negative reviews' due to the clock, and asking for the bells to be silenced at night. One TripAdvisor review said: 'Nothing wrong with the hotel. Stayed in the Lloyd George room £175 per night. Had an evening meal which we enjoyed. 'The problem is the clock which as now been fixed, chimes every 15 minutes and then chimes on the hour! Kept us awake all night!' The hotelier's letter has met with a backlash from Powys residents. Ann Jones wrote on Facebook: 'The clock has been there longer than you, leave it alone.' Other comments were aimed at the hotel owners, with Ellen Wyn Rogers posting on social media: 'Imagine that. Taking over ownership of a hotel less than 20m away from a clock tower and then moan when it does what clocks do?!' In response to the negative tourist reviews, Janet Humphryes wrote online: 'Buy ear plugs if you don't like it, cos it is not going to stop chiming.' 'Frequent complaints' In their letter, the hotel owners wrote: 'We are facing difficulties to our business due to the chiming of the clock throughout the night. We receive frequent complaints from guests, particularly those attempting to sleep in the front bedrooms. 'For some customers it has spoilt their visit to Machynlleth and has led to negative reviews online. 'We ask that the council discuss the possibility of switching the chiming of the clock off during the night, eg from 11.30pm until 7am. This would resolve the noise issue. 'We are aware of other businesses who would appreciate this change and also private residents who live near the clock. I am happy to co-ordinate a response from all if the council feels this is needed.' The clock in the 'ancient capital of Wales' market town was repaired after a campaign to have it working for its 150th anniversary, at a cost of £55,000. Mr Morgan said he was 'born and raised' in Machynlleth and complaints were from tourists along with 'workers like railway engineers who need to sleep properly'. In north Devon last year, a church clock was silenced after 150 years when a single resident complained of noise.
Powys County Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Organisers of Powys LGBT Pride event confirm return for 2025
Having successfully held the town's first ever LGBTQ+ Pride event in 2024, organisers of Machynlleth Pride say the event will be returning. As the inaugural Machynlleth Pride event welcomed hundreds of people last year, organisers say they are 'excited to bring it back again this year'. Sarah Archer, one of the organisers behind the first event, has launched a fundraiser to help raise money towards the event, adding that 'any amount' they are able to raise in preparation for the 2025 event would be 'hugely appreciated'. She said: 'After the roaring success of Machynlleth Pride 2024 we are excited to bring it back again this year. 'Within this wonderfully diverse and vibrant community of Machynlleth, we hope to bring together LGBTQIA+ people of all ages, families and allies to enjoy a day of fun, solidarity and creativity. Can you donate some money to help make this happen? 'We aim to make the day as inclusive as possible, but this comes at a cost- any amount you can donate will be hugely appreciated. 'With Big Gay Love from the Machynlleth Pride organisers.' The 2024 pride event was held on Y Plas grounds and saw performances by local musicians, drag artists, as well as workshops and informational sessions aimed at raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues. The event was supported from Machynlleth businesses as well, with many donning Pride flags, bunting and decorating their windows in celebration of the event. Local sponsors of the Pride Picnic included the Wynnstay Hotel, Machynlleth Town Council, Y Plas, Hilltop Tents, Gwen, Glamping Luxury Domes, Tal y Lyn, Magic Lantern, Hermit Crab, The Deco Shop, Dyfi Biomass and Mid Wales Storage. Machynlleth Mayor Jeremy Paige said: 'The town council is proud to host Mach Pride and it is a testament to our collective dedication towards improving inclusivity. 'Pride has a long history and is an important occasion to celebrate diversity and to stand together against discrimination. Everyone is welcome to join in this historic celebration and we wish the event every success.' Shortly after the event, organisers added that they were hoping to expand for 2025, forming a working group to hear feedback on how the event could be improved for next time. The fundraiser for Machynlleth Pride 2025 can be found here.
