Llangoed Hall has to one of the most beautiful hotels in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales. Dating from 1632, although it is thought a house has stood on the site since 560 AD. Rebuilt as an Edwardian country house, this luxury hotel is located in the scenic Wye valley between Hay-on-Wye and Brecon. Famously if was formerly owned by Laura Ashley co-founder Sir Bernard Ashley, and there are remnants of family life evident in photographs and artwork throughout the building. Sir Ashley opened the country home as a hotel in 1990, though following his death in 2009, its was sold to the Von Essen Hotel group. This was a difficult time in the hall’s history, although no fault of the hotel’s performance the Von Essen group unfortunately went into receivership not long afterwards. However, under new ownership, it has quickly res-established itself with complete renovations and excellent appointments, such as a new head chef. This has seen the hotels’s restaurant placed in the top 50 of the UK’s Good Food Guide. The hotel’s organic kitchen garden providing a fresh supply of inspiring and seasonal ingredients.
“Thank you for the incredible photos you took of our wedding! We were absolutely thrilled to receive them, and so promptly too….far earlier than we had hoped to see them!
Most importantly though we were amazed and delighted by the memories you’ve captured! We had no idea you were in most of those places/conversations etc so to see them in our album was a complete delight!”
I have not photographed a wedding here since the Ashley days, so it was lovely to be back and witness the changes for myself. Claire and Joe were married on the 31st March 2018. The day was understated elegance personified, with a late ceremony of 5pm, the celebrations blended in an evening soiree. They had also requested a very understated photographic approach, apart from literally one or two posed shots, they just wanted a natural record of the evening, which is kind of what I specialise in. Below are a few example of the images I produced.
