MORE than 100 people enjoyed a three-course lunch at The Metropole Hotel & Spa in Llandrindod Wells, to celebrate 120 years of ownership by the same family.
Justin Baird-Murray, and his sister, Sarah Hill, are the fifth generation of their family to run the four-star Metropole Hotel & Spa, as managing diector and finance director respectively.
Their great, great grandmother, Elizabeth Miles, founded the hotel more than a century ago, when, way ahead of her time as a female entrepreneur, she saw the potential in opening a smart hotel in a spa town, just as fashionable Victorians began “taking the waters”. At that time The Metropole was the largest hotel in Wales, sporting 240 rooms.
At the lunch, the Hon. Robin Gibson-Watt, a family friend, gave an address, in which he paid tribute to Justin and Sarah’s hard work in keeping the grand old Victorian hotel thriving in the 21st century, and to Justin’s wife Judy, for her work in the hotel’s luxurious Rock Spa.
This was followed by a speech from Justin in which he paid tribute to the dedication and loyalty of the hotel’s staff.
Guests at the celebratory lunch included The Hon. Dame Shan Legge-Bourke, Lord Lieutenant of Powys; the county’s High Sheriff; the mayor of Llandrindod Wells; as well as staff members past and present, family, friends, local businesspeople and suppliers to the hotel.
Justin Baird-Murray said: “It was a wonderful occasion, it made me both proud and happy to see everyone enjoying themselves, and it’s very satisfying to know that The Metropole is in good shape to survive the next 120 years.”
As the most recent owners, Justin and Sarah have worked hard at modernising the hotel, while maintaining its character as a grand Victorian spa hotel. More than £5m has been spent in recent years, creating the state-of-the-art Rock Spa, upgrading wedding and conference facilities, revamping Spencer’s bar and brasserie and updating all the bedrooms.
“The upkeep on the hotel is immense,” says Justin. “ the moment you think you have finished, you need to start again. Keeping our grand old lady in good shape is a costly business, and, no doubt, I’ll be asking Sarah to open her purse once again.”