Help Save the Queens Hotel - Blaenau Ffestiniog

24/08/2025

The Queens Hotel was sold from under us.

The Brewery lied to us.

We were told the Queens’ future hadn’t been decided, and yet, the very next day, we were alerted that someone had been seen breaking into the building in broad daylight.

That man is now the new owner. And here’s the truth: he’d been overheard in town as far back as 28th July openly boasting that he’d already bought the Queens. When I challenged Admiral back then, they categorically denied it. Weeks later, they finally claimed on 15th August that a decision had “just” been made, but records show the sale was actually completed on the 13th.

They looked us in the eye and lied. Not just to us, but to this entire community.

We were actioning plans to buy the Queens to create something incredible for the community. To finally move through the restrictions on improvements that the brewery bound us to.

Just the day before, we were blocked from accessing rooms full of personal belongings and bussiness assets, told it was “unsafe” even thought the new owners were seen inside the building freely the day after we’d been denied. Those rooms still hold iPads, watches, essential documentation, private staff resident and guest files, expensive equipment, and memories that can never be replaced. Ultimately, many thousands of pounds’ worth of our belongings were lost — buried somewhere in that rubble.

They’ve handed this over to strangers — belongings not just from my business and family, but also from former residents of the Queens.

We’ve lost our home, jobs, and possessions in one brutal blow and none of us were given a voice about OUR community.

And this isn’t just about me. It’s about Blaenau, our town and community.

For over 100 years, the Queens has been at the heart of our town:
• Funerals and wakes
• Weddings and celebrations
• Fundraisers and community meetings
• Emergency accommodation for locals when people needed it most.
• A place for our families to stay when they visit.
• As well as a social hub for so many.

Now, decisions about its future are in the hands of outsiders with no ties to Blaenau, no love for this community, and no reason to protect what matters to us.

If we don’t act, we risk losing the Queens to demolition, redevelopment, or a change of use that rips its heart out.

That’s why I’ve renamed our business page to Save the Queens. We’re gathering voices, memories, and stories to show the council that this building matters. If we come together, we can fight to block demolition, prevent a change of use, and protect its role as the hub of Blaenau and an important historic landmark.

Please:
• Follow and share this page Save the Queens page https://www.facebook.com/QueensHotelSnowdonia
• Share your memories
• Add your voice – I will be passing on everything you share.

They may have sold it from under us — but we don’t have to let them destroy it.

Hotel, bar and Restaurant with beer garden in the heart of Snowdonia.
Pool table, darts and BT Sports

20/08/2025

Letter to press and media

Six weeks ago, we lost everything in a fire — our home, our business, my cats barely made it out. What used to be the Queens Hotel in Blaenau Ffestiniog has been our life for the last few years. We didn’t just run it — we lived there, rebuilt it, and I invested over £50,000 of my own money into a dream I thought could be a legacy for my children and their children.

The brewery (Admiral Taverns) told me they didn’t know yet what was happening next, and they’d let me in to collect what I needed when it was safe. I trusted them. I signed away the lease in good faith, thinking it was the only way to stop legal action from piling up, as this is what they told me. But I was already in freefall.

It turns out — they’d already sold it. They met us at the building yesterday to “get the last of our stuff.” But the reality was, the buildings officer wouldn’t allow it, saying it wasn’t safe for us to enter and get a majority of our belongings.

I found out today. Not from them, but from a man on the street saying he bought it three weeks ago. In fact, he was witnessed in town saying he’d bought it on July 28th. I have proof. He was breaking into the property today. A member of my former team recorded him confirming it. And the police also confirmed they had already purchased it while my tenancy was in place. That’s way before they let me walk through the building, told me nothing had been decided, and blocked us from accessing rooms full of personal belongings — including iPads, watches, documentation, private staff files, and memories that will never be replaced.

They’ve handed everything over to strangers — belongings from not just my business and family, but former residents of the Queens. One of them was seen in the street, begging to be allowed in to get her possessions, and was turned away. Ultimately, thousands of pounds’ worth of our belongings were lost.

They knew. And they said nothing.
And now we’re homeless, and everything’s gone.

This isn’t just business and a balance sheet. This is a family being torn apart by a corporation that decided we didn’t matter anymore.

We’ve now been left homeless, without answers, and with the horrifying realisation that the company who promised transparency sold everything out from under us — while we were still grieving.

It’s not just my story. It’s a community one.

We’d just started fundraising to try to rebuild. Locals had offered help. People donated. One of my cats was even rescued from the wreckage after four weeks alone. And I’ve even written a book about his rescue as part of the mission to help us rebuild as a family and for our community. The people of Blaenau showed up — but the company that owned the building didn’t.

07/07/2025

To who ever looted queens last night, the CCTV is now with police, security in building tonight and not only is the building dangerous, as a family we’ve lost everything, do you really want to be the person that takes the last little bit we have.
Can people please let us know if there is anyone in there seen without a hard hat.

We will be pressing charges.

19/02/2025

🥇🥈

06/02/2025

Ar y 22ain a 23ain o Chwefror, rydym ni yn cynnal Twrnament Pwl i bobl o dan 18 oed i hel pres tuag at 14KarlEvs.
Bydd rhaid llenwi ffurflen gydsynio gan oedolyn cyfrifol erbyn 20ain Chwefror.
Galwch fewn am ffurflen, llefydd cyfyngedig ar gael,felly dewch yn fuan.

**** Iechyd Meddwl yn bwysig ****

On 22nd & 23rd of February we are hosting a Pool Tournament for under 18's to raise money for 14KarlEvs fund.
You will need a responsible adult to complete a consent form by 20th February.
Limited spaces available, so be quick!

**** Mental Health is Important ****

24/12/2024

Na fyddwch byth yn rhy hen i edrych i'r awyr ar noswyl nadolig

Nadolig Llawen i bawb gan tîm Queens a tîm GSD 🎄🎅🏻🌟❄️

22/12/2024

5 munud I fynd!

5 minutes to go!

22/12/2024

HENO!!!

TONIGHT!!!

Calling all Gavin & Stacey fans!

Galu pawb syn hoff o Gavin and Stacey!

20/12/2024

Well done dei carter, Steve tunnicliffe and Tash on your raffle wins. Your hampers are waiting for you when you’re ready!

16/12/2024

Calling all Gavin & Stacey fans!

Galu pawb syn hoff o Gavin and Stacey!