Picture archive
In the 19th century, the hotel stretched
further down the street (this picture_archive was reproduced for
our 1997 Christmas card, click here for the complete collection
of cards). is an inscription on one of our basement doors, by
Daisy Foot, probably a maid, dated 5th September 1875. An advert
from around this period, which we have on display in our sitting
room, declares that the hotel ‘Boots’ met all trains, and there
were 22 bedrooms, each with a coal fire. Each winter we write
personalised Christmas messages to regular and new guests, and
use the opportunity to send an update on Lloyds and the tariff
for the coming year. We respect requests not to be on this mailing
list.
In May 1999 we hosted our first ever group,
organised by Lyn Beattie a friend and ex-work colleague from
Roy's time with the then Hotel, Catering & Institutional Management
Association. Lyn brought over an Italian tutor (with her husband
and baby child) for the language lessons. We were full for a
week, providing three meals a day. On one day we offered to
organise a picnic lunch. Here is Tom doing the rounds at the
Wynford Vaughan Thomas memorial on the mountain road between
Llanidloes and Machynlleth. It was quite blustery.
After visiting the Italianate village
of Portmeiron, we had a picnic supper below the Precipice Walk,
where the site had tables and benches, a toilet and not too
many midgies!
The group at Portmerion.
Sipping Asti before dinner on the final
gala evening of the Italian group.
Here Tom is entertaining the Italian students!
The elephant picture in the background remains in more or less
the same position in what is now the restaurant.
This picnic supper was below the dam wall
of one of the Elan Valley reservoirs, when we had Tom's walking
friends with us for a few days, on a lovely autumn evening in
2005.
Our second Christmas at Lloyds, with Tom's
mother (on the right), and Roy's relatives. The restaurant was
then the sitting room.
The Dinner table in what is now our sitting
room. The door behind Roy led to the old kitchen. The silk curtains
were ex-Ritz hotel, thanks to our friend Malcolm. The sea scene
was also a gift of Malcolm's. The light fitting is original.
Another family Christmas in our third
year at Lloyds.
Tom at the grand piano (now at the restorers,
prior to moving to its new home at our cottage).
It was the early 2000 before the two single
rooms were en-suite. This is the bathroom of Rm 4 (previously
a shower room, with access from the first floor landing). The
curtains have since been replaced with horizontal blinds, and
the bath has a glass screen.
A table setting in the then restaurant.
The chairs did not survive many years of hotel-use.
Rm 2 was the second bedroom to have en-suite
facilities, and at that time with a bath.
After the dining room became the sitting
room. Note the well-loved rocker chair.
This was one of two bathrooms when we
bought the hotel (there was also a shower room off the first
floor landing). It has been remodelled twice since, and now
houses the walk-in shower for Rm 3.
All the rooms had a wash-basin, but no
en-suite facilities when we bought the hotel. This is Rm 1,
shortly after we refurnished it with the Edinburgh Sheraton
collection.
Rm 1 after an earlier redecoration, with
new bedspreads and curtains. The numbered print between the
beds is an Edinburgh scene, and also ex-Sheraton. It remains
on display.
Rm 1 was our first en-suite room. The
bath and other fittings gave good service until 2008, when we
completely refitted the room.
A view in the same direction once this
room became the sitting room. The distinguished portrait above
the fire place is not, alas, a relative, but an acquisition
from an antique shop in Torquay run by friends. It is of a Mr
Eames from Nottinghamshire.
What was Rm 12, a single room. It is now
the bedroom of Rm 7, with the doorway to the lobby where the
handbasin is. The door on the left is no longer.
This was Rm 11, a double. It is now the
bathroom of Rm 7, with the 'beam-me-up' shower and tartan carpet.
The light fittings await a new home.
Roy looking somewhat younger, at the dinner
table with guests (this is now the sitting room, and the payphone
was removed in 2008).
