Wetherspoons has unveiled its fully restored ceiling at a pub in north Wales after a 15-month project. The Palladium, which is located in the Conwy seaside town of Llandudno, has undergone extensive refurbishment and restoration work, costing approximately £1 million North Wales Live reports.
The refurbishment project involved the full repair, restoration and redecoration of the historic fibrous decorative ceiling. The pub, which is a Grade II listed former theatre, picture house and music hall building in Gloddaeth Street, first opened as a Wetherspoon pub in August 2001 and remained open throughout the works.
In March 2022, a full crash deck/scaffold was erected, following concerns for the safety of a small section of the ceiling and after Wetherspoon’s commitment to carrying out ceiling inspections. The purpose of this guidance is to ensure all suspended fibrous plaster ceilings are inspected and certified to ensure their safety and conservation, according to North Wales Live.
Read more: One of Wales’ most unique homes goes on sale
Over the course of 15 months, the ceiling void was meticulously cleaned of all dust and debris to enable inspections by a structural engineer and fibrous plaster specialist. The timber ceiling support structure was then strengthened, whilst plaster specialists carried out hand repairs to restore the entire plaster ceiling. There were also repairs to the historical proscenium arch and to the decorative elements on the front of original balconies.
Inspections and repairs were also carried out to various other ceilings around the building. Upon completion of the repair works, the entire ceiling was redecorated in the existing heritage colours.
Pub manager Jason Connor said: “Wetherspoon has spent approximately £1 million on the pub, providing further substantial investment into the local area. The work has ensured that the pub is safe, whilst also ensuring the preservation and restoration of this beautiful heritage ceiling so that many people can appreciate it for years to come. Myself and my team will look forward to continuing to welcome customers into The Palladium and we are confident that they will be impressed by the fantastic restoration work."
The Palladium Theatre was designed by Arthur Hewitt and originally built in 1920, initially as an early picture house, theatre, music hall, opera house, and circus. The theatre had 1,500 seats in the stalls and two balconies. In 1972, the building was split, with a bingo hall occupying the stalls area and a 600-seat cinema above.
In 2001, the building was converted by Wetherspoon, into the pub it is today, but still retaining many of the original features of the theatre. It is Grade II listed and recognised as an impressive Baroque styled, entertainment building.
