When ex-chief executive Alan Harper and his former head teacher wife Angela set out to North Wales on the hunt for their next family home, they not only walked away the owners of a grand Grade II-listed Victorian mansion, but they signed themselves up to become first time hoteliers to boot.
Always on the lookout for an exciting project and never one to miss an opportunity, Mr Harper, who had just been approached by Michelin star chef Michael Caines to invest in his upcoming project in Devon, cooked up a plan to invite Caines to partner with them instead.
The result is a country house hotel that has hit the ground running thanks to Caines’ industry know-how, both inside and outside the kitchen; handpicked staff, many who have worked with the chef previously, are on the ball, the service is spot on and the atmosphere is inviting and intimate.
Tapping into her interior design skills, Mrs Harper has dressed the impressive original details of the building, such as the handsome wood panelling, ornate cornices and an exquisite stained glass ceiling, with a mishmash of antique furnishings and bold Zoffany wallpapers, that honour the grandeur of the house, while creating a sense of occasion.
The perfect background then, to savour the food which, overseen by Caines, has been expertly executed by head chef, Gareth Stevenson. Expect some of Caines’ greatest hits, from the delicious roast wood pigeon to the pan-fried scallops, interspersed with a series of offerings from Stevenson, that highlight the master chef’s reputation for modern European fare using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
End your evening with a postprandial cocktail in front of the roaring fire in the plush drawing room and shake off any after effects the next day with a brisk walk along the nearby River Dee.
ADDRESS
Palé Estate
Llandderfel
Bala
-
Martell’s high-tech new cognac bottle design takes cues from Swiss watch-making and high-end electronicsUnconventional inspirations for a heritage cognac, perhaps, but Martell is looking to the future with its sharp-edged, feather-light, crystal-clear new design
-
In 2025, fashion retail had a renaissance. Here’s our favourite store designs of the year2025 was the year that fashion stores ceased to be just about fashion. Through a series of meticulously designed – and innovative – boutiques, brands invited customers to immerse themselves in their aesthetic worlds. Here are some of the best
-
The Wallpaper* team’s travel highlights of the yearA year of travel distilled. Discover the destinations that inspired our editors on and off assignment
-
At last: a London hotel that’s great for groups and extended staysThe July London Victoria, a new aparthotel concept just steps away from one of the city's busiest rail stations, is perfect for weekends and long-term visits alike
-
French bistro restaurant Maset channels the ease of the Mediterranean in LondonThis Marylebone restaurant is shaped by the coastal flavours, materials and rhythms of southern France
-
Sir Devonshire Square is a new kind of hotel for the City of LondonA Dutch hospitality group makes its London debut with a design-forward hotel offering a lighter, more playful take on the City’s usual formality
-
This sculptural London seafood restaurant was shaped by ‘the emotions of the sea’In Hanover Square, Mazarine pairs a bold, pearlescent interior with modern coastal cuisine led by ‘bistronomy’ pioneer chef Thierry Laborde
-
Montcalm Mayfair opens a new chapter for a once-overlooked London hotelA thoughtful reinvention brings craftsmanship, character and an unexpected sense of warmth to a London hotel that was never previously on the radar
-
Follow the white rabbit to London’s first Korean matcha houseTokkia, which translates to ‘Hey bunny’ in Korean, was designed by Stephenson-Edwards studio to feel like a modern burrow. Take a look inside
-
Enjoy a Kyoto-inspired menu with London attitude at this new restaurantAki London offers a serene counterpoint to Oxford Circus, where stately interiors and elevated Japanese cooking cross paths
-
At this charming bolthole in The Cotswolds, doing nothing is an art formLeave your mobile on ‘do not disturb’, switch off and slow down at this 16th-century manor-turned-hotel
