Our History

The Metropole Hotel has witnessed many changes in Llandrindod Wells during the last 150 years. Motor cars have become commonplace, guest eating habits have changed, health crazes have come and gone. One thing that HAS remained constant… The Metropole Hotel.

It will always remain very much a family affair and business as usual with its current owners Gurjinder and Parminder Singh who share a “passion for hospitality”.

15 November 2022 – A New Chapter with Business as Usual

Crest Hotels has secured 100% of the share capital of Hotel Metropole (Llandrindod) Limited. Directors, Gurjinder and Parminder Singh comment, “We are extremely proud to bring this iconic hotel into our existing portfolio and look forward to working with the team in situ to further build on its reputation and stature.  Justin and Sarah, including previous generations, have worked incredibly hard to create a fantastic legacy with The Metropole Hotel and we want to assure them, it is in safe hands with Crest Hotels.

“We look forward to working with the local community and fully embracing the business, its people, its suppliers and of course, its many guests from all walks of life to enjoy a wonderful customer experience with us.” Thank you… Diolch yn fawr. The Singh Family

Press release 15 Nov 2022

14 November 2022 – Iconic Welsh Hotel ‘The Metropole’ Sold to Crest Hotels

The Directors are delighted to announce the iconic Metropole Hotel & Spa in Powys, Wales has been sold to Crest Hotels. This highly successful Welsh hotel, set in the spa town of Llandrindod Wells, has been independently owned and operated by the same family since 1897 and has more recently been under the stewardship of the fifth generation of the family. Justin Baird-Murray and Sarah Hill have been responsible for substantially upgrading the Hotel’s facilities and expanding the range of services on offer to guests and have significantly widened the Hotel’s customer base.

The family feel the time is right as custodians of the hotel to step back and hand over to new owners to further develop and enhance this highly successful business for the future.

Featuring 109-bedrooms and extensive function facilities, The Metropole has built a renowned reputation as one of the pre-eminent hotels in Wales. The historic hotel is ideally located close to Brecon, the natural gateway to the Brecon Beacons National Park and the University town of Aberystwyth to the West.

Justin Baird-Murray and Sarah Hill comment, “Whilst it is of course sad to be selling a business with which we have been involved for our entire lives now is the right time. We wish the Singh family every success during their ownership of this wonderful hotel in a beautiful part of Wales. Most importantly we would like to thank the staff, with whom we have shared this memorable journey, for their hard work and dedication over the years”

Thank you… Diolch yn fawr

The Baird-Murray Family

1 August 1911 – A Frugal Name Change

On 1st August 1911, the name of the hotel was changed from The Bridge to The Metropole.

The story behind the change of name revolves around a sale of stock from a Metropole Hotel in Cromer, Norfolk. Only a black iron gate remains there today on Tucker Street.

Mrs Miles bought a large quantity of linen, cutlery and crockery as well as numerous carpets. The price must have been low enough for them to have borne the cost of the long journey back to Wales.

When her sons pointed out that to her that the monogram ‘M’ on her purchases was wrong for ‘The Bridge’, she quietly explained that in a month or so her hotel would be re-named ‘The Metropole’.

1 December 1897 – The Dawn of a New Era of Family Ownership

On the 1st December 1897, Elizabeth Miles bought The Bridge Hotel from James Lewis Wilding for the sum of £7,850. The Bridge Hotel, now known as The Metropole Hotel. Mrs Miles, born 1847 daughter of Pontypridd innkeepers, would become a prominent business woman to own or lease a small collection of hotels in South Wales, including the Angel in Cardiff.

Little did Mrs Miles know that buying the Metropole would lead to a long history of family ownership with fifth generations owners Justin and Sarah over a period of 125 years.

“We are privileged to be the custodians of a wonderful, historic building and are proud of the achievements of our family and staff in maintaining The Metropole for over a century and the part it has played in the history and growth of Llandrindod Wells.

We look forward to the future development of the hotel for decades to come and sincerely hope you will be a part of our continuing story…” Justin and Sarah

1872 – Birth of The Spa Rush

The hotel was first opened as Coleman’s Hotel in 1872 and later renamed as Bridge Hotel. At that time, there were very few buildings in Llandrindod Wells. The open common land would entice an influx of entrepreneurs to attract visitors seeking to rejuvenate and cure their ailments with the natural spring waters.