AN iconic Powys hotel has been sold, meaning it will leave the hands of the family that have owned it for 125 years.

The Metropole Hotel & Spa in Llandrindod Wells has been sold to Crest Hotels, having been in the arms of the same family for 5 generations.

The 109-bedroom hotel, which rose to prominence in the 19th Century as Llandrindod’s popularity accelerated as a spa town, was purchased by Elizabeth Miles almost 125 years ago exactly, on December 1, 1897. It has been in her family ever since and has most recently been run by brother and sister team Justin Baird-Murray and Sarah Hill.

The family say they feel the time is right to step back and hand over to new owners to further develop and enhance the hotel.

“While 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,” Justin and Sarah said in a joint statement released by Christie & Co, who arranged the sale.

“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.”

The new owners have secured 100 per cent of the share capital of Metropole. Crest directors Gurjinder and Parminder Singh said: “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.”

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The Metropole Hotel has witnessed many changes, having first been opened 150 years ago, in 1872, by Edwin Coleman, a shopkeeper and postmaster in the nearby village of Howey. It was known as Coleman’s Hotel before being sold to another Radnorshire family, the Wildings, in 1885, who changed its name to the Bridge Hotel.

After Elizabeth Miles purchased the venue for £7,850 in 1897, the hotel was renamed for the final time in August 1911

The Metropole name is said to have derived from a sale of hotel stock in Norfolk. Mrs Miles bought a large quantity of linen, cutlery and crockery as well as numerous carpets. When her sons pointed out 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.

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Justin and Sarah have been responsible for substantially upgrading the hotel’s facilities and expanding the range of services on offer to guests under their stewardship and have significantly widened the hotel’s customer base.

The ‘Met’, as it has affectionately become known, has built a renowned reputation as one of the pre-eminent hotels in Wales, and is ideally located close to both the Elan Valley and Brecon Beacons. It hosts many motoring events and in 2021 welcomed the Grand Tour stars and former Top Gear icons Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, who spent time on location in Powys.

Ed Bellfield, Christie & Co’s regional director, who brokered the deal, said: “The sale of the Metropole Hotel represented an exceptional opportunity to acquire a highly successful hotel business with significant repeat patronage, largely due to its continued ownership and continuity within the same family for over 120 years.

“The reputation and success of the business is testament to the continued reinvestment and family stewardship over recent decades, combined with its enviable location in picturesque Mid Wales.

“We wish Justin and Sarah well with their future plans and the closing of a long-established chapter and congratulate Gurjinder and Parminder on their purchase of an iconic hotel.”