Self-Contained Bed & Breakfast at The Old Workhouse, Bala
Welcome to the The Old Workhouse in Bala. Hopefully lockdowns are now a thing of the past and Snowdonia is now open for business, welcoming guests, to enjoy the lakes, mountains and scenery in this beautiful part of North Wales.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading about us on this website, about the beautiful local area, and a little bit of the history of the old workhouse – one of the town’s most historic buildings. Some parts of the workhouse complex are still being renovated so there may be some minor disruption from time to time.
Enjoy the fantastic countryside and activities available in and around the area – mountains, walking, sailing, zip wires…the list is endless.
Snowdonia has eclipsed The Lake District as a major activity centre, and led to a Lonely Planet Guide listing as the fourth best place in the world to visit, the only place in the UK to feature in the rankings that year.
The workhouse bed and breakfast is located in Bala town centre and we offer a warm welcome in comfortable surroundings that belie the history of the building, which has a Grade 11* listing to emphasise its importance on the local and national scene. Less than six percent of listed buildings in England and Wales enjoy the same high grading.
The workhouse has two spacious letting bedrooms, on the top floor of the building, with panoramic views over the rooftops to the surrounding hillsides. Both rooms are modern in style, have en-suite bathrooms and vaulted ceilings. The B&B accommodation can be used either as a double-bedroom or a twin room with two single beds and both are charged at the same rate of £85.00, including breakfast.
Unfortunately the rooms are not suitable for children under the age of five.
After each guest visit rooms are deep cleaned and sanitised. Our risk assessment details are available on request.
We spent over two years on the renovation of the building, trying hard to maintain its character, but at the same time bringing it up to date to offer a relaxed and friendly greeting in a comfortable setting. Like Ian and Georgina it’s a mix of ancient and modern.
The ground floor at the B&B retains its steel beams and slate-flagged floors, a relic from the industrial heritage of the building, but has been modernised with underfloor heating and new-fangled appliances like a gas stove – dishwasher and fridge even.
We are in the centre of bustling Bala with all it’s facilities. Yet Lyn Tegid – the largest natural lake in Wales – is only a five-minute stroll away and the mountains are all around us.
Welcome to Breakfast at
The Old Workhouse
Please tick your breakfast choices,
and let us know when you want breakfast, which is served between 8am and 9.30am
Time?
Menu
Orange juice
Freshly ground cafetiere of coffee
Pot of tea
Corn flakes or Berry Granola
Greek yoghourt with honey/or berry compote
Apple or banana
Cheese and pancetta lardons breakfast pastry.
Toast
Welsh cakes or Bara Brith
Home-made strawberry jam or marmalade
News from The Old Workhouse B&B Bala
Superhosts
Hi all. Just heard from that Georgina and I at The Old Workhouse have been named Superhosts by Airbnb on the basis of our excellent 100 per cent five-star reviews so far. All we need now are a few more … Read More
The Old Workhouse B&B features in Cheshire Life
Fame at last. The old workhouse b&b is featured in the September issue of Cheshire Life – and we haven’t even opened yet! No doubt it is partly due to the historic nature of the building, one of Bala’s most … Read More
Gruel – a staple of workhouse life
Oliver Twist famously asked for more when his bowl of gruel was empty, which is little wonder since inmates were routinely served a near starvation diet. Gruel was a staple of workhouse life – but what was it made of? … Read More