Friday 14 March 2014

Switching my blog to our new site

We are going to switch our Blog entries to our new site
www.bedandbreakfastconwy.co.uk/
On here you will be able to keep up to date with all at Gwynfryn and our progress with the Taberncal Chapel.
We would appreciate if you could follow us on Twitter & Facebook and also 'Like' our website.
The new site is slowly moving up the Google rankings and we hope to have it on page 1 in the next month or so.
Thanks

Monday 3 March 2014

Good news - Bad News

Good News: We have finally completed the Building Regulations for the Chapel and are in a position to start work.

Bad News: It has now been confirmed the Grant Funding we had hoped for is not going to be available.

So what now?

We are now going to look at just the renovation of the Vestry into the holiday-let. Hopefully starting work in he next week or so. Our plans will be to try and have this up and running for the summer.

We would like to try and make use of the Chapel. We have started looking into it being used for several events which could make use of the building in its current condition.
If you have any suggestions please contact us.

Please check out our new B&B website www.bedandbreakfastconwy.co.uk
We are still updating information and hope to have our online booking system up and running by the end of the week. We will also have a blog page on the site which will eventually replace this one.

Back soon to keep you updated.

Saturday 25 January 2014

2014 the start of a new year and the new Tabernacl Chapel in Conwy

Back in September 2013 after a long long process we finally got our Planning Approval passed.
The application went in front of the Planning Committe and with the help of our town councillor Sara Alladice, we received an unaminous vote.

The next stage was to put the project through Building Regulations. After another delay we started the process in December and are expecting this to be completed next week (fingers crossed).

Unfortunately the project was reliant on the grants which having been available last year, then not, then available maybe this year, then maybe not (I think you can see where this is going). It's looking more and more likely that these are not going to be available. Therefore we have had to re-look at the project and are now planning to do this in stages.
Our first stage will be to convert the Vestry into the holiday-let, followed by the rooms in the loft space of the Chapel and lastly the Chapel Hall.
IF (yes a big if) things go as planned we hope to tender the Vestry work over the next few weeks and look at starting the work towards the end of February. Not sure how long it will take but guess around 3 months. Maybe start renting out in June.

As it now looks like the work will not start in the Chapel, we are going to start trying to think of uses in its current condition. We may be able to remove some pews to create a useful space. We are open to suggestions and once we have a more defined plan of the initial work on the Vestry we can look more closely at this.

Well that's it for now I will be keeping this more updated now and will upload the plans next week.



Friday 26 July 2013

Hi folks just a quick update on how things are progressing!

We had been expecting planning application to passed a few weeks ago but unfortunately there has been a slight delay. Firstly we were required to do a Bat Survey, which has now been done (no furry creatures found!). Then we had people in various departments away on vacation. Now we have several points to clarify before we hope to get the big rubber stamp of approval.

Once the application is passed we will upload the full plans.

We are still awaiting to hear from the council if & when we are able to obtain grant funding to assist with the huge transformation. We still have our fingers crossed that this may be available in April 2014 allowing us to get started later this year.

I hope to be back posting on here very soon with the big news :-)

Saturday 9 March 2013

Tabernacl Conwy Photo's



update on Chapel plans

Sorry it's been so long since my first blog, one thing or another......

Things have been slowly progressing with the plans for the Chapel and after several meeting with the Planning Officer & Conservation Officer and we are almost at a stage to submit full planning applications.

Our plans consist of using the roof space and inserting another floor level in the Vestry and transforming it into a self-contained 2 bedroom holiday-let. The ajoining kitchen will be modified into a working commercial kitchen and customer toilets will go on the new floor above the kitchen and part of the holiday-let.
We will convert the current loft space above the Chapel into 4 spacious B&B rooms and these will be accessible via the existing left-hand stairway which will be extended from the first floor upto the loft area.
The Chapel will be transformed into a multi-functional hall allowing for numerous uses including medevial banquest, weddings, private hire, events/concerts & conferences. Conwy hosts numerous events throughout the year including the Conwy Feast & Bluegrass Festival, making this venue an unique place to be used.
Although we will need to remove the pews to the ground floor we plan to re-use these for the tables & seating for the various events. We intend to keep the pews in-situ on the 1st floor gallery and in addition we intend to keep the organ, pulpit and ornate balcony in situ. Whilst keeing the open nature of the Chapel along with these important features we feel this is going to add to the unique and wonderful character of the Chapel.
Although the ornate organ will stay in place we have come up with a great idea of removing the workings of the organ to allow us to open up the orignal Chapel entrance currently hidden behind the organ. The Organ casing will in fact become a new lobby and entrance.
Our last plan is for the current entrance gates, which are also Grade II listed. We hope to widen these why at the same time making the frontage to the Chapel & Gwynfryn look more original. We intend to remove a modern red brick gate pillar from the end of our original railings and replace it with one of the Chapel pillars. Then we will insert a third gate in the same style of the original ones. As the Gwynfryn & Chapel gates/railings are the same age removing the brick pillar will give an uniformed look.

We will upload some detailed plans shortly along with more pictures.

Back soon.....(I will be this time!)

Monday 19 November 2012

How we arrived here today

Having just purchased the Chapel located behind our B&B we thought it would be a good idea to start a blog which would allow folks to follow our restoration progress.
We have decided to start the blog for the B&B and whilst keeping you updated of things here we can also keep you posted as things progress with the Chapel.
So let's fill you in with things so far. In 2003 we bought Gwynfryn, a 6 bedroom Victorian house in need of restoration. We moved from our busy lives in Manchester and spent the next 2 years transforming it into a boutique B&B offering 4 Star accommodation. In 2008 we were awarded the prestigous 'Travelers 2008 Choice' award from the independent travelers review site 'Tripadvisor' after achieving 8th Best B&B in Euorpe. This was followed in the May by an invite from Her Majesty the Queen to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace for the British Hospitality Industry.
We have since established ourselves as a successful B&B providing a high standard of accommodation within the magical town of Conwy.
We have also added a lovely self-contained cottage offering comfortable self-catering accommodation also located within the town walls with stunning views of the town of Conwy including the Castle.
Now to the next adventure..........the purchase of Capel Tabernacl
Capel Tabernacl is the Welsh Methodist Chapel which is located directly behind Gwynfryn B&B.
(Gwynfryn was originally built as the rectory for the Chapel in 1883)
When we heard the Chapel was to close in August 2011 and be sold, we knew it was important to buy it and link the two buildings again thus beginning a new chapter of our lives in Conwy.
Over the last 12 months we have had a lot of ups and downs, worrying if we would be successful in our attempt to purchase the Chapel. After going to sealed bids in July 2012 we finally received the fantastic news  which we had been waiting for ........our bid was the highest and the Chapel would become ours.
Due to the usual drawn out procedures we eventually completed the purchase on November 6th 2012.
Now the hard work and plenty more stress begins!
During our next post we will give you a more detailed description of this beautiful building including our plans for the future.
Back soon....