Wrapping up my series of photos from a short but enjoyable stay in the seaside town of Llandudno is this collection of 37 images taken around the north Wales resort.
Chimneys and nest.
Promenade at night.
The liveliest pub in town seemed to be the Fountains cafe/bar in Mostyn Street, LL30.
One night they had a hit-laden covers band, and the following was a much busier – and very drunken – karaoke night.
The former Palladium Theatre, now a Wetherspoons pub, was built in 1920.
It showed both live and film shows well into the late 1960s, before being converted into a combined bingo hall/cinema. The end came at the end of the 1999 season. [—]
The Great Orme looms behind the town.
The imposing sight of the Grand Hotel next to Llandudno Pier.
Wikipedia picks up the story of this iconic building:
The history of the Grand Hotel began with the construction of the bathhouse in 1855. In 1858 the Pier was opened below the bathhouse. However, this was severely damaged in the Royal Charter Storm of 25 October 1859, which caused the loss of 223 ships and 800 people in British coastal waters.
Although repaired and used for a further 16 years, the pier was eventually replaced in 1876. At that time the bathhouse complex was extended with the construction of the Bath’s Hotel, the forerunner of the Grand Hotel.
In 1886 the neighbouring Llandudno Pier Pavilion Theatre was opened. In 1901 the Hotel and Bathhouse underwent a substantial reconstruction to a design by James Francis Doyle it reopened as the Grand Hotel in 1902.
The new hotel was the largest in Wales in its day with 158 rooms. Today the hotel has 162 rooms, two restaurants, a bar and a ballroom.
In 1981 the hotel was acquired by Butlins who ran it in an “Adult Entertainment” style along with their other hotels. In 1998 Butlins sold off its hotels to Grand Hotels Ltd. and, in 2004, ownership transferred to Britannia Hotels when 3 former Butlins hotels were sold off by Grand.
The road up to Happy Valley.
A fine local lager.
Promenade panorama
Bizarre tourist tack.
There was some seafront relay race taking place when we arrived.
It is a strikingly beautiful town.
God squad band starts up on the promenade.
A spireless church.
Ghost sign.
Fridge magnets for tourists.
The fine Victorian exterior of the Kings Arms.
JC’s Discounts of Llandudno.
Despite Llandudno having a somewhat tenuous link with Lewis Carroll’s classic book, Alice in Wonderland, there’s loads of characters to be found around the town.
Walking the promenade.
Shelter along the promenade.
The curiously named Hydro Hotel on the sea front.
The former Savoy Cinema Theatre at 35, Mostyn Street. Opening in 1914, it soldiered on till its inevitable closure in 1987.
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