Register to get 3 free articles
Register to unlock the article and receive our free newsletter. Join 26,000 other hotel leaders and stay in the know.
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
Cardigan Castle in Wales has reopened to the public today after a £12m restoration which has included the addition of luxury accommodation.
The 900-year old site has now been transformed into a modern heritage attraction, complete with luxury accommodation, riverside restaurant and a summer events programme.
The restoration work of the Grade I-listed property, which took four years to complete, included the repair of its Georgian house’s decaying roof, relaying of Regency-style pathways and landscaping of its grounds, and the reconstruction of the castle’s crumbling medieval walls.
The work also included the opening of one self-catering cottage, two luxury B&B-style rooms, conference rooms and events spaces.
The campaign to save the site was led by the Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust (CBPT), which was formed in 1999 by local volunteers and now has more than 250 members.
The trust secured investment, including more than £6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and £4.3m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which the property says has helped create new, sustainable uses for the site.
Further funding for the site was received through a Communities Asset Transfer grant with support from the Welsh Government, Cadw, Big Lottery Fund, The UK Association of Preservation Trusts, The Architectural Heritage Fund, Ceredigion County Council, Cardigan Town Council and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust.
Meanwhile, local volunteers also raised £200,000 for the castle through fundraising.
Sue Lewis, a Cardigan Castle spokesperson, said: “After more than a decade of campaigning, the whole community is of course ecstatic to see Cardigan Castle returned to its former glory.”
The property is planning on opening more accommodation rooms throughout 2015.
