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Wales Online
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I stayed overnight in a surreal Welsh Village with no residents and this is what happened after dark
I stayed overnight in a surreal Welsh Village with no residents and this is what happened after dark Want Wales without the crowds? Stay overnight in this eccentric, empty village by the sea Portmeirion is also well-known as the home of TV cult classic, The Prisoner (Image: Portia Jones ) I'll admit, I love quirky and off-beat places, especially if you can stay the night and explore long after the daytrippers have gone. So, imagine my delight when I discovered a colourful coastal attraction in Wales with no residents, cars, schools, or banks. I knew I had to visit at once and packed my finest attire (£3 dress from Vinted). Inspired by Portofino's multicoloured façades, Portmeirion is a uniquely constructed tourist village that offers a slice of Italy on the bracing Welsh coast. Named one of the UK's 'most beautiful' places by Time Out, the pretty village is one of Wales' most popular attractions and is normally full of visitors. By night, however, Portmeirion empties out, leaving just the overnight guests, staying in one of the quirky 'village rooms' or in one of two luxury 4-star hotels. If you want to experience one of the most enchanting places in Wales without the crowds, book an overnight stay and you'll practically have the place to yourself. Especially if you stay outside of the busy school holidays. I booked an off-season stay for my wedding anniversary and experienced Portmeirion's charm after hours. Here's why you should, too. Article continues below Why Portmeirion is unique This pretty village in Wales has been compared to Italy for its beautiful buildings and coast (Image: Getty Images ) Portmeirion isn't quite like the other villages in Wales. There are no permanent residents at Portmeirion as it's a uniquely constructed village designed specifically for tourists who pay an entrance fee to wander around colourful Italianate buildings. This whimsical village was born out of the long-held ambition of its founder, architect Clough Williams-Ellis. His creative vision for an Italianate-style, private peninsula village on the Welsh coast resulted in a charming tourist destination with a Mediterranean feel. While many think of the village as the indulgent whimsy of an eccentric architect, Clough recognised the value of tourism to the Welsh economy. He had a clear vision for managed tourism and sustainability, clearly hugely ahead of the curve. Clough acquired the wilderness site in 1925 and dedicated his life to developing this run-down peninsula into a popular coastal attraction. He drew heavily from the coloured façades of Portofino, resulting in dream-like, pastel-coloured buildings, ornamental gardens, and piazzas with fancy fountains and a giant chess set. Strolling around, it feels like each building has its own personality; some are playful, with bright facades and ornate details, while others are stately, exuding an old-world charm. This is honestly like nowhere you've ever seen before, it's weird and wonderful and is bound to captivate even the most cynical of souls. This is honestly like nowhere you've ever seen before, it's weird and wonderful and is bound to captivate even the most cynical of souls. (Image: Portia Jones ) Sir Clough's clever use of arches, slopes and window sizes also makes the village appear larger than it is, and many of the buildings have been 'upcycled' from former sites. Classical buildings were salvaged from demolition, giving rise to Clough's description of Portmeirion as "a home for fallen buildings." Construction of the site continued in stages until 1976, when Clough sadly passed away. Portmeirion is also well-known as the home of TV cult classic, The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. The series was filmed here in the 1960s, and the village provided a surreal backdrop to the off-beat series. Alongside its unique architectural heritage, the private, ticketed site features two swanky hotels, self-catering cottages, an indulgent spa, gift shops, cafés, restaurants and an authentic Italian-style gelateria. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Portmeirion was born out of the long-held ambition of its founder, architect Clough Williams-Ellis (Image: Portia Jones ) Walking into Portmeirion for the first time is undoubtedly an experience. The village rises like a painted mirage, with pastel-coloured buildings and whimsical towers that seem plucked from a fairytale. Here, clusters of lush and green trees frame the view while the estuary beyond glitters under the changing light of the Welsh sky. From the moment you cross the threshold, it's clear that this is not just any village; Portmeirion is a visual masterpiece, and it's worth exploring when dusk falls and the crowds clear out. Why you should stay overnight in Portmeirion Staying overnight in one of the 'village rooms' is like being let in on a secret (Image: Portia Jones ) Portmeirion is a wildly popular tourist attraction in Wales, with around 200,000 visitors annually. During the day, the site is packed with people who come for the colourful architecture, cafes and spa. The village empties as the day draws on and the shadows grow longer. The daytrippers, who fill the streets with chatter and snapping cameras, slowly disperse. It's in these quiet moments that Portmeirion reveals another side to its character, a serene, almost mystical atmosphere that envelops the village as the sun dips below the horizon. This is the best time to be in Portmeirion when day visitors have gone, and you can roam the surreal site with fewer crowds. Only overnight guests can be on site after the village has 'closed' for the day, so make the most of the near-empty streets. Portmeirion village rooms We stayed in one of the 'Village rooms' above the central piazza (Image: Portia Jones ) Stay overnight in one of the 'village rooms' and you'll be right in the centre of Portmeirion. When the crowds are gone, Portmeirion is yours alone to discover. Wandering through the quiet streets, with the village illuminated by the soft glow of the street lamps, you feel like you're in a Wes Anderson fever dream. We stayed in one of the swish 'Village rooms' above the central piazza, giving you a gorgeous panorama of the village as the sun sets and the last guests leave. Stepping out onto the balcony, you can look over the picturesque piazza and the village and get some gorgeous photos without hordes of visitors in your shot. Perfect if you love taking photos like me. Accommodation options The Hotel Portmeirion overlooks the Dwyryd Estuary (Image: Getty Images ) Portmeirion offers various accommodation options, each with its own unique charm. Choose between the sophisticated 4-star Hotel Portmeirion, the chic and modern 4-star Castell Deudraeth, the characterful Village Rooms, or an array of distinctive self-catering cottages. The flagship spot to stay is the 4-star Hotel Portmeirion, lovingly converted from an old Victorian villa. It was opened in 1926 by village creator Clough Williams-Ellis to much fanfare. The hotel has undergone refurbishments over the years to modernise its style while retaining some original features. The Grade II-listed hotel is also famous for being the place where English playwright Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in 1941. It feels very stately with its cosy sofas set around an Italian-style fireplace and Art Deco-inspired design in the bar and dining room. The other impressive accommodation, Castell Deudraeth, is a 4-star, Victorian castellated mansion built by David Williams with 11 modern and spacious rooms. In the heart of Portmeirion Village, you'll also find 32 individually designed rooms, each brimming with character. These charming accommodations combine the comforts of a traditional hotel with the added bonus of being located right inside the vibrant village. Dinner at Portmeirion The village has plenty of dining options (Image: Portia Jones ) The village has plenty of dining options for daytrippers, from cafés to a 1950s-style bar and even an Italian gelateria. Opening days and hours depend on the season, so it's always worth checking ahead first. The bonus of staying the night in Portmeirion, though, is having a fancy dinner at one of the village's two full-service restaurants without huge crowds. We had a romantic dinner at the Portmeirion Hotel Dining Room, the perfect end to a whimsical day. We chose dishes from the varied menu and feasted on Welsh beef filet and Welsh Pork tenderloin, which were utterly divine. With its elegant décor and sweeping views of the estuary, this award-winning Art Deco Restaurant offers a refined dining experience rooted in the local landscape. Executive head chef Mark Threadgill and his skilled team, led by head chef Daniel Griffiths, work their culinary magic in the kitchen. They source the finest local ingredients, some even foraged from within the village, to craft a distinctive modern Welsh cuisine. Their dishes blend traditional French techniques with Japanese flavours, offering a dynamic and ever-evolving menu that highlights the freshest seasonal produce. Celebrating? Splash out on the taster menu featuring six courses and an optional cheese course. Typical dishes include Wild sea bass with cep mushroom, Welsh black truffle and chicken sauce, Sand carrot with puy lentils and hazelnuts, and Banana with miso caramel. What to do in Portmeirion As the day rolls on, the crowds start to leave (Image: Portia Jones ) Whether you are a day visitor or staying the night, there are plenty of things to keep you entertained in Portmeirion Discover nature Despite its coastal location, Portmeirion is not just a summer destination. The 130-acre site, set amid woodlands and carefully manicured gardens, offers some of the most stunning scenery in Wales, magical for spring blooms or vibrant autumn colours. The microclimate of the peninsula also protects it from the worst of the winter frosts, although it has snowed here on occasion, much to the delight of photographers. Take the scenic, 40-minute walk through the Gwyllt woodland to explore a wild garden designed by the horticulturalist Caton Haigh, an authority on Himalayan trees and exotic plants. Two main paths lead into the pretty woodlands, and 19 miles (30.5km) of walking paths lead to highlights such as the Ghost Garden, Tangle Wood, and Chinese Lake. Each season brings new life to Portmeirion's manicured gardens with textures and colours anew as you wander through its cobbled streets and piazzas. For sweeping views of the estuary, head to Clifftop & Chantry Row or walk to the Mermaid Spa for superb coastal views. Nearby, you'll also find the Min y Don to Black Rock Sands section of the long-distance Wales Coast Path. After you visit the village, you can veer off for a longer walk on the Welsh coast to discover its impressive, rocky shorelines. Despite its coastal location, Portmeirion is not just a summer destination (Image: Portia Jones ) Shopping Portmeirion also has a range of well-heeled and bespoke shops, including the world's only Prisoner TV Show Shop. Here, you can buy memorabilia from the show, such as maps, badges, Village Foods tins and figures. Elsewhere, you'll find Welsh language and tourism books at the bookstore, a curated collection of gifts and local products at The Ship Shop, Welsh produce, and Portmeirion's very own wine and champagne at Pot Jam. Portmeirion Online also offers a range of Portmeirion-branded gifts and souvenirs to commemorate your visit. Browse printed mugs, tea towels, and chocolates alongside a small selection of discounted Portmeirion pottery. Portmeirion even has its own dedicated shop outside of the village in the harbour town of Porthmadog. Siop Fawr Portmeirion is a homeware store and café in the former three-storey Kerfoots, which is thought to be the oldest department store in North Wales, dating back to 1874. Have an indulgent spa The boutique Mermaid Spa offers a restorative experience by the sea and has a range of luxury and wellbeing treatments to help you unwind. Enjoy a re-energising facial, warming hot stone massage, or indulgent body wrap with views of the peaceful Dwyryd Estuary as you slip into quiet bliss. Expert therapists use high-quality and vegan-friendly products to deliver all-natural therapies that keep with the village's upmarket feel. Various spa packages, including bespoke options, are available, and you don't need to be an overnight guest to book. You can even indulge in a post-spa afternoon tea in Hotel Portmeirion for the perfect pamper day in North Wales. This is definitely not a budget stay in Wales, but if you want to splash out on a swanky stay, it's absolutely worth the money (Image: North Wales Live ) Verdict This is definitely not a budget stay in Wales, but if you want to splash out on a swanky trip, it's absolutely worth the money. My advice: go all in. Have a fancy dinner, book a spa treatment, splurge in the shop. This is a 'go big, or go home' type of staycation, so make the most of it. For more information and booking, click here. Article continues below
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New owner of Portsmouth events venue once went to school there
Giovanni Donatelli used to walk the halls of Portsmouth Catholic High School as a young boy. Now, almost four decades later, Donatelli is the new owner of the renovated and renamed building, Cambridge Hall. An entrepreneur who moved to the U.S. in 1982, Donatelli is the founder and CEO of The Language Group, a Virginia Beach-based translation service company established in 1999. His company employs 70 fulltime employees and 600 linguists skilled in 225 languages. The Language Group also has a secondary office in Hamburg, Germany. In early April, Donatelli purchased the building at auction for $660,000. There was also a separate transaction totaling $25,000 to buy the intellectual property rights for the business, including the event hall, website, furniture, artwork and baby grand piano. William J. 'Billy' Summs Sr., auctioneer with Atlantic Asset Management Group, said Donatelli was the perfect buyer. The Italianate-style building was transformed into a wedding and event venue in 2022 by Ed O'Neil, an insurance agent with New York Life in Norfolk. Donatelli plans to reopen it this summer as an event hall to host family and company functions. An immigrant from the east coast of Italy, he said he identifies as a local boy from Portsmouth and cherishes the building. 'I stood where my locker used to be and you can see where the desks used to sit,' he said. 'I can almost see myself sitting in the classrooms again.' Armed with ideas, Donatelli said he will continue to operate it as a rental event hall for now — including employee functions for his business — but he is also thinking about using part of the more than 6,000 square feet for nonprofits. Overjoyed with the amount of care the two most recent owners put into the building following years of neglect, Donatelli, a resident of Virginia Beach, said it's now up to him to be a proper steward of it. 'I would love to have a reunion to celebrate the different classes that graduated from there — back in their own building,' he said. 'And I'd like to make a wall to honor the school with a copy of all the yearbooks.' Situated at the corner of London and Washington streets in Old Towne Portsmouth since 1892, the structure was originally St. Paul's Academy for Boys, then St. Paul's Catholic High School before it became Portsmouth Catholic High School in 1964. The Donatelli family's journey to Hampton Roads began in the late 1970s when his father, Otero, a tailor in his native land, was recruited by Morris Rapoport, late patriarch and founder of The Quality Shops. 'They couldn't find anyone in the U.S. so they extended their search and found my father,' Donatelli said. Rapoport sponsored the family's visas and after 6 years they applied for their citizenship. Donatelli's mother, Grace is known throughout Hampton Roads for her seamstress skills. Donatelli and his younger brother, Sandro began their schooling at the now defunct Shea Terrace Elementary where he fondly remembers they learned to speak English. His love of languages only grew from that experience. When Donatelli was in seventh grade, he started his studies at Portsmouth Catholic. An altar boy in Italy, Donatelli said he continued his faithful service to the church every Sunday, serving mass at St. Paul's Catholic Church adjacent to the school. 'I used to play right there and fly my kite on North Street in the parking lot,' Donatelli said. 'It's my home; even though I'm an immigrant, I really grew up in Portsmouth.' Portsmouth Catholic shuttered in 1991 and Donatelli graduated from Churchland High School the following year. 'It feels right; the sentimental connection is there, and it's really special that I was able to do this,' he said. 'It's really nice to feel like I can offer something back to the community by buying my old schoolhouse.' Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836,
Chicago Tribune
02-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago sells Kenwood mansion to University of Chicago surgeon for $1.1M
A nine-bedroom vintage Renaissance Revival-style mansion in the South Side Kenwood neighborhood was sold in late March for $1.15 million by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago to a University of Chicago surgeon. Built in 1905 and designed by noted Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt, the mansion was built for Homer A. Stillwell, the general manager of the Butler Bros. catalog firm, at a cost of $35,000, according to a Tribune article from Feb. 26, 1905. The house broadly would be characterized as Renaissance Revival-style, but it employs a variety of other architectural styles, including a Colonial Revival-style front door, Italianate-style quoins, and even a Gothic Revival-style oriel window. Stillwell sold the mansion in 1914, and for close to 60 years, from 1966 until 2025, the home was owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, which used it as a residence for members of its Focolare movement. It's located across the street from former President Barack Obama's longtime home. The 12-room mansion largely has its original layout, along with 3-1/2 bathrooms, a primary bedroom suite with a library, original plaster, original millwork, original doors and a porte-cochere. The home sits on a 0.73-acre lot. The archdiocese first listed the mansion in October for $1.4 million and never budged on its asking price. It struck a deal with the buyer in February. Catherine Rosenberg of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices represented the buyer. She declined to comment on the transaction. Listing agent Pasquale Recchia also declined to comment, referring queries to the archdiocese.
Irish Examiner
17-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
€920k Rushbrooke period home was a heady mix of Fianna Fáil politics and pleasure
A SPRAWLING Italianate-style villa, The Grove in Rushbrooke was tailor-made for a Brady Bunch-size family who had a welcome on the mat for everyone, including visiting politicos. Joe Dowling, entrepreneur, lifelong Fianna Fáil devotee, and onetime chair of Cobh Urban District Council, was in the thick of political activism, while his wife, Ursula, managed their busy household. The couple had been living on Murmont Avenue, in the Cork city suburb of Montenotte, when an auctioneer took Joe to see the sprawling Italianate-style villa, west of the port of Cobh. 'I was smitten,' Joe says. Ursula, heavily pregnant with child No 5, took a while to warm to the notion of moving to Cobh. 'I saw the house shortly before having my fifth child, and at that stage, I wasn't in love with anything,' she laughs. Nonetheless, the contracts were signed on the day their baby was christened. 'By the time our sixth child came along four years later, I was well settled into the house,' Ursula says. Built c 1880, the villa's first occupant was a Church of England minister, followed by a medic, Dr Scully. Next up was the Ronan family, with ties to the legal profession. After the Dowlings pounced, The Grove was introduced to a mix of business, politics, and pleasure. In 1974, six months after the arrival of their fifth child, the Dowlings moved in. On a then five-acre site, and with 4,000sq ft to play around in, the kids had a ball. They could roam about the grounds or lose themselves around the house, avoiding detection for hours. With two staircases and a glut of rooms, it was tailor-made for hide-and-seek. One staircase — wide, brightly lit and elegant — served the main house. The second is a throwback to the days when service wings were bolted on to the main residence to house the servants. The service bells are still visible at The Grove. The difference in look between the main home and the service wing is marked: Expansive rooms, high ceilings and plentiful windows versus smaller, darker spaces. Living room Ursula liked to escape to one of the smaller attic-level rooms where she could indulge her passion for sewing and cross-stitch. She still has a Bernina sewing machine, 'the Cartier of sewing machines', she says, bought secondhand in Wales, originally registered to an owner in Zambia, as per the certificate of guarantee. In between cross-stitching, politicking, running a business and a household, the couple still managed to fit in entertainment. Family room They recall black-tie dinners at The Grove, 'everyone in dresses and dress suits and dickie-bows', segueing between three elegant ground-floor reception rooms, or out onto the delicate ironwork veranda and gardens, while the kids watched from the safety of the stairs. Aerial view of cast iron veranda 'You could hear them scattering when anyone approached,' Ursula says. They had political visitors too. Taoiseach Micheál Martin and EU Commissioner Michael McGrath would have paid a courtesy call on the campaign trail back in the day. There are photos of Joe with the late Jack Lynch and the late Charlie Haughey, who flew in by helicopter for a press conference outside The Commodore Hotel in Cobh, on the occasion of the general election in 1987 (see pic, below). Joe Dowling and the late Taoiseach Charlie Haughey outside the Commodore Hotel in Cobh in 1987. Joe was chair of Cobh UDC The house and grounds are too big for the couple now, even though the site is a more manageable 1.6 acres, as plots were sold off over the years. Johanna Murphy of Johanna Murphy & Sons is handling the sale and expects national and overseas interest. 'I expect queries from the UK, the USA, and Dublin. It's a versatile property and could suit residential or commercial use. 'It could make a great wedding venue or a corporate HQ, or continue as a wonderful home,' Ms Murphy says. While new owners will need to invest, The Grove has retained many of the components that make it a beautiful period home, including that exquisite ironwork veranda, definitely worth salvaging. The grounds, which face the harbour, are in good order. Outbuildings include an original coach house, stables with loft space, and a separate store house. Rushbrooke Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is just across the road from The Grove and Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh (primary) is at the top of the road. The train station, with regular commuter links to Cork City, is a 10 minute walk away. 'Houses like this only come on the market every 40 or 50 years (the Dowlings are a case in point) and people buy them to rear their family. When you buy a home like this, you are buying a piece of history,' says Ms Murphy, who is guiding The Grove at €920,000. VERDICT: A home of charm and character worthy of investment. Period elegance in spades
The Guardian
03-05-2025
- The Guardian
A legendary romantic retreat: explore Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's Osborne
When you're a queen – especially one with many children – finding time for romance is virtually impossible. With this end in mind, Queen Victoria, and her husband Prince Albert, started to build Osborne on the Isle of Wight in 1846, to be, in Victoria's words, a 'place of one's own – quiet and retired'. The house, its gardens and private beach were used by the family to escape, and to celebrate special occasions, particularly the royal couple's summer birthdays. Today, this royal retreat is managed by English Heritage, and it is every bit the romantic escape for thousands of visitors as it was for the queen and her consort. Filled with opulent furnishings and surrounded by splendid gardens – and even a private beach – it's a dreamy summer visit for couples and families alike. And the house's history as a private getaway for the two royals is every bit as charming as the place itself. After falling for the Isle of Wight and its mild climate, Victoria and Albert bought the Osborne estate in 1845. The existing house was too small for the entourage that comes with being a monarch, not to mention their growing family, so they knocked it down and built a new one. Working with master builder Thomas Cubitt, Albert designed an Italianate-style mansion with private rooms for him and Victoria, royal nurseries for their many children, a household wing for the queen's advisers, stables for their 50 horses and carriages, and even a landing house for the coastguard. If that wasn't enough, in 1854, Albert added the Swiss Cottage, an Alpine-style chalet, designed as a private world for the royal children. Here was a place that the young princes and princesses could play at being adults, away from the raised eyebrows of judgmental courtiers, and learn important life skills, such as housekeeping, cookery, and gardening. There was a kitchen with a real stove, a dairy to make cheese, a fruit and vegetable garden complete with monogrammed wheelbarrows and miniature tools, and a museum where they could house and display their natural history specimens, fossils and antiquities. And, very astutely, Albert designed everything at three-quarter scale, making them children-sized. With the children happily entertained, Osborne gave Victoria and Albert the opportunity to put their own spin on date night. One of their favourite activities was to sit out on the terrace on a summer's evening and listen to the nightingales, but they were also known to enjoy a walk in the colourful, Italian-style gardens, ride in the royal park and spend time at their own private beach – there was even a bathing hut for privacy. Birthdays were an important feature at Osborne, and Victoria and Albert, who celebrated theirs on 24 May and 26 August respectively, were usually there for them. As you'd expect, these were over-the-top, lavish affairs. Since childhood, Victoria had had a 'birthday table', covered in gifts and flowers. Often, these tables were an art form all of their own, with the queen even commissioning artists to paint them in watercolour and, later on, photograph them. At Osborne, birthday tables were initially placed in the 'horn room', named for its stag horn furniture, but, by the 1850s, the presents had become so large and numerous, that a spare bedroom was established as 'the present room'. The couple gave each other artwork, furniture and jewellery, much of which remains at Osborne today, providing a glimpse into Victoria and Albert's personal tastes and styles. The family's birthday traditions weren't limited to gift-giving though; forget a lie-in, Victoria's birthday always started loudly, with the Royal Marines band playing a hymn, or choral piece, sometimes composed by Albert, below her window. The children then brought in flowers and, after a family breakfast, performed music and recited poetry they'd composed themselves. The afternoon saw everyone go for a drive and perhaps take a photograph on the terrace, before settling down for a family dinner and more entertaining, whether dancing or a concert. The days of children reciting their own poetry may be in the past, but Osborne still offers a great family day out. A highlight, if the weather's playing ball, is the sandy and shingle beach, where the royal children learned to swim from a pontoon moored off the shore, as well as the Swiss Cottage with its outdoor play area and museum full of curiosities. Be sure to check out the five-legged deer! In the main house, take some time to browse the opulent state rooms, which entertained 19th-century heads of states, monarchs and inventors, and have all the pomp and ceremony you'd expect of the Victorian era. But Osborne was where the family enjoyed a life away from being royals. Here, you can see what Victoria's bathtub looked like, how the children were cared for in the nursery and Prince Albert's private suite, which the queen left untouched after he died, an indication of how much she loved and missed him. Visit Osborne to find out why Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had such happy times there – you can even rent a holiday cottage there. On an Isle of Wight stay, you can also visit Carisbrooke and Yarmouth castles
