Castle Hotel

The present day Castle Hotel is a very fine building, dating from 1730, with traces of fifteenth and sixteenth century timber work in the external outbuildings. The medieval borough town of Ruthin, its fortress and St. Peter's church was built by the De Gray family in 1282, following the death of Llywelyn, the last native Prince of Wales. The square was an integral part of the medieval town, and it is highly probable that an inn was built on this site as early as 1282.

The original name for this hotel is lost, but in 1595, it was bought by Sir Hugh Myddleton, and it became The White Lion, giving due recognition to the Myddleton coat of arms. It remained The White Lion until 1883, when it was changed to The Castle Hotel.

The last public execution occurred in the late seventeenth century, when a Jesuit priest was caught and tried here. He was hanged, drawn and quartered. The large stone - Maen Huail - located near Barclays Bank and connected with Arthurian legend - was reputed to have been used by the executioner, a local butcher, as a butcher's block on the which the unfortunate priest was hacked to pieces with a billhook and cleaver in front of a drunken howling mob.
Throughout the eighteenth century, The White Lion remained dominant amongst the thirty other inns and taverns listed in the 1773 first licensing session. Indeed, the nine council members responsible for the licensing held their meeting in the White Lion, and all nine ate a sumptuous feast at a princely sum of £4-0-1, including a generous tip of 2/- to Edward the Waiter.

The Castle has rightly and proudly kept its dominance on the town square. Survived wars and plague, and catered for the needs of Ruthinians and guests. Despite the intervening centuries, Ieuan Potel, the thirteenth century beer taster would be proud of The Castle Hotel's standards in the twenty-first century.

Our bedrooms are generally larger and have a lot more character than you will find in modern hotels retaining many of the original historic features.
Rooms are very reasonably priced and during the summer months every third night of your stay is completely free of charge.

Location Map

Ruthin, Denbighshire, North Wales, LL15 1AA

Telephone (International):- +44 1824 702479- Fax:- +44 1824 703488

Telephone (UK):- 01824 702479- Fax:- 01824 703488

Email:- reception@castle-hotel-ruthin.co.uk

Website:- http://www.castle-hotel-ruthin.co.uk/