This week marks eight years since we became custodians of Min y Don Llandudno.
Looking back, it’s difficult to know where those eight years have gone.
When we first collected the keys, we had a vision for what Min y Don Llandudno could become. We saw a beautiful Victorian seafront property with incredible potential, a rich history, and more than a few challenges.
What we didn’t realise was just how many stories we’d collect along the way.
28th September 2018 – The Beginning
One of our earliest memories is standing outside Min y Don Llandudno on 7th October 2018 as WRC Wales Rally GB arrived in Llandudno for its spectacular finale..
It should have been a moment to sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
Instead, we were looking at each other wondering how on earth we were going to get everything finished.
We weren’t ready to open.
Not even close.
The weeks that followed seemed to involve an endless battle with decades of accumulated grease. Every wall, every corner and every room demanded attention.
We cleaned.
And cleaned.
And cleaned some more.
At times it felt as though the building was testing our commitment.
Then there were the surprises.
Receipts from 2012 appeared from beneath beds.
Long-forgotten items emerged from cupboards and hidden corners.
Every room seemed to reveal another piece of Min y Don’s history.
Looking back, we thought we were taking over a guest house.
In reality, we were adopting a Victorian building with a sense of humour.
The Great Furniture Hunt
From day one, we knew we wanted Min y Don Llandudno to feel different.
The existing divan beds and MDF furniture didn’t fit our vision for the future. We wanted solid oak furniture, proper wooden beds and rooms that reflected the character of the building.
That decision led to Rheinallt spending what felt like half his life travelling around Britain collecting furniture.
Thousands of miles were covered.
Countless motorway service stations were visited.
And more than one journey home involved a car packed to the roof with beds, wardrobes, bedside cabinets and assorted treasures.
One of our very first bookings was a couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.
We explained that their new oak bed wasn’t quite in place because Rheinallt was actually travelling to collect it.
There was a polite silence.
You could almost hear them wondering whether we’d completely lost the plot.
When they arrived and discovered that Rheinallt genuinely had spent the day travelling with their bed in the car, they realised we hadn’t been joking after all.
Thankfully the bed arrived.
The anniversary was saved.
Little did we know that this same couple would become part of another important chapter in the Min y Don story a few years later.
Easter 2019 – The Shower Rebellion
Our first full season was always going to be memorable.
Most of the major refurbishments were still ahead of us and we were still learning the many quirks of our Victorian seafront home.
Then came Easter 2019.
The showers decided it was time to introduce themselves.
One room enjoyed what could only be described as a luxury steam shower.
Another produced water at a temperature more suited to an Arctic expedition.
A third decided that water itself was entirely optional.
It felt as though every shower in the building had held a meeting and agreed to fail in completely different ways at exactly the same time.
As new custodians, we spent much of Easter dashing around with tools, towels and increasingly inventive solutions while trying to reassure guests that this wasn’t our normal operating procedure.
Thankfully our guests were wonderfully understanding.
The showers were eventually persuaded to cooperate.
And we learned one of our first important lessons:
Old buildings always get the last word.
2020 – When Everything Changed
Like everyone in hospitality, 2020 brought challenges none of us could have imagined.
The guest house fell silent.
Plans were paused.
Bookings disappeared overnight.
Like so many businesses, we found ourselves wondering what the future might look like.
But while many people were enjoying the unexpected sunshine in their gardens with a well-earned drink in hand, we took a different approach.
If Min y Don Llandudno had to close, then we would use the time wisely.
So the refurbishments began.
Rooms were redecorated.
Corridors were transformed.
Projects that had been on the wish list suddenly became possible.
If guests couldn’t come to Min y Don Llandudno, then we would make sure Min y Don Llandudno was ready for them when they returned.
The Friends Who Saved Reopening
As restrictions eased and reopening approached, we found ourselves racing against the clock.
Some planned work hadn’t quite gone according to schedule and there never seemed to be enough hours in the day.
That’s when something rather special happened.
The couple whose anniversary bed had once been travelling around Britain in Rheinallt’s car returned.
Only this time they didn’t just arrive with suitcases.
They arrived ready to help.
Along with other friends and guests, they rolled up their sleeves, picked up wallpaper brushes and helped us get ready for reopening.
What should have been a relaxing break by the sea became a decorating project.
The hallways were papered.
The jobs were finished.
The doors reopened.
And once again we were reminded that Min y Don Llandudno had become far more than a business.
Many of those people still visit us today.
You know who you are.
And every time we walk down those hallways, we’re reminded of your kindness.
The People Who Make Min y Don Llandudno Special
If the reopening after lockdown reminded us of anything, it was that Min y Don Llandudno has always been about people.
Over the years we’ve often said that Min y Don Llandudno is more than a guest house.
Nothing demonstrated that more than the times when a member of our security team was seriously unwell.
Like any family-run business, there were moments when we simply couldn’t be in two places at once. There were urgent journeys to Manchester, long hours away from the guest house and difficult days when our attention needed to be elsewhere.
That’s when our guests and friends stepped in once again.
Some helped clean rooms.
Some washed up after breakfast.
Some made tea and coffee for guests while waiting for us to return and cook breakfast.
Others simply offered support, encouragement and understanding when we needed it most.
These weren’t staff members.
They were guests.
People who had arrived as strangers and become friends.
Their kindness, generosity and willingness to help during a difficult time is something we will never forget.
Moments like these remind us that Min y Don Llandudno isn’t just a building, a business or a place to stay.
It’s a community.
And we are incredibly fortunate to be part of it.
Hidden Treasures
Not every surprise involved plumbing, decorating or furniture.
During one refurbishment project we discovered a well-worn child’s shoe hidden above what was then Room 101, now Room 103.
At first it seemed rather strange.
Then we discovered it was part of a centuries-old British tradition.
Across the country, builders and homeowners often concealed well-worn shoes, particularly children’s shoes, inside walls, roofs and chimneys. The shoes were believed to ward off evil, protect the household and bring good fortune to those living within. Many similar discoveries have been found in historic buildings throughout Britain.
Who placed the shoe there?
When?
And what stories could it tell?
We’ll probably never know.
But it was a wonderful reminder that Min y Don LLandudno’s story stretches back long before us.
Rather than hide it away in a drawer, we carefully placed the shoe back within the fabric of the building, where it remains today for guests to see.
Whether you believe in old traditions or not, it seemed only right that Min y Don Llandudno’s little guardian should continue watching over the house.
For nearly two centuries people have lived, worked, holidayed and created memories within these walls.
We are simply the latest custodians.
Lessons Learned
Over the years we have tried new ideas.
Some worked brilliantly.
Some taught us valuable lessons.
One of our biggest experiments was opening a restaurant.
We gave it our all.
But after a while we realised something important.
We missed the personal connection that comes from running a bed and breakfast.
We missed chatting with guests over breakfast.
We missed helping people plan their day.
We missed hearing about adventures, celebrations and family gatherings.
And with so many fantastic restaurants within walking distance of Min y Don Llandudno, we realised we didn’t need to be everything to everyone.
So we returned to what we love most.
Being hosts.
Sometimes the best decisions come from recognising what matters most.
What We Have Achieved Together
Somehow, amid the decorating, repairs, furniture hunting, leaks, refurbishments and unexpected adventures, a great deal has been achieved.
Over the last eight years we have transformed rooms, upgraded facilities, improved accessibility, expanded our website and blog, promoted North Wales through our tourism ambassador work and welcomed visitors from across the UK and around the world.
We have been humbled to receive more than 1,000 reviews across the major travel platforms and to be recognised by so many guests who have taken the time to share their experiences.
Those numbers mean a lot.
Not because of awards or rankings.
But because every review represents someone who chose to spend part of their holiday with us.
More Than a Guest House
The greatest achievement of all has been the people.
Many guests have returned year after year.
Some have followed every refurbishment.
Some have shared our successes.
Some have laughed with us when things didn’t quite go to plan.
Some have even helped us wallpaper the hallways.
Many arrived as guests.
Many left as friends.
And some became part of the Min y Don Llandudno family.
You know who you are.
Looking Back
When we stood outside watching the rally cars eight years ago, wondering how we would ever get the place ready, we could never have imagined what the next chapter would bring.
There have been long days.
Very long days.
Unexpected bills.
Unexpected leaks.
Unexpected discoveries.
Unexpected deliveries.
And more cups of tea than we could ever count.
We’ve learned that Victorian buildings always have one more surprise waiting.
We’ve learned that showers have a wicked sense of timing.
We’ve learned that if Rheinallt disappears for the day, he’ll probably return with another piece of oak furniture.
We’ve learned that not every idea works exactly as planned.
Most importantly, we’ve learned that Min y Don Llandudno is far more than a guest house.
It is a collection of stories, friendships, laughter, challenges and memories shared by everyone who has walked through its doors.
Thank You
To everyone who has stayed with us, supported us, recommended us, followed our journey and cheered us on over the last eight years, thank you.
Whether you’ve stayed once or twenty times, helped us hang wallpaper, tolerated a plumbing emergency, shared a laugh over breakfast or simply chosen Min y Don Llandudno as part of your North Wales adventure, you’ve become part of our story.
We may be the custodians, but Min y Don Llandudno’s story belongs to everyone who has helped shape it.
Eight years in, we’re still learning, still improving and still loving the adventure.
Here’s to the next chapter.
Teresa & Rheinallt
Proud custodians of Min y Don Llandudno since 28th September 2018
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