Cabaret and quirks: My night at the Grand Hotel in Llandudno

Perched beside Llandudno Pier like a Victorian dowager keeping watch over the promenade, the building once matched its prestigious reputation: a golden‑era favourite of holidaymakers, prime ministers and the well‑heeled jet set.

The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

But over the decades, the shine dulled. Ageing décor, maintenance issues and a steady stream of dispiriting Tripadvisor reviews chipped away at confidence in the hotel’s future.

Locals worried that one of the town’s most visible buildings was slipping into decline with calls for action to safeguard its long‑term viability.

The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

Now, though, those anxieties sit alongside signs of a slow but meaningful turnaround. Britannia says it has already spent money to improve some of the rooms - and scaffolding and fresh paint has been spotted across several balconies.

Alongside this comes a £1m+ all‑inclusive entertainment programme at a number of Britannia hotels, that debuted at the Grand this season.

The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

The scheme blends daytime activities, social games and professionally produced live shows to revive the spirit of the classic British seaside break - the kind where entertainment is part of the rhythm of the stay.

A dedicated team of trained entertainers, new technology and refreshed lounges, event spaces and communal areas round out the investment.

General Manager Bob Down says the aim is simple: bring back the sociable, nostalgic atmosphere people associate with traditional seaside hotels, while keeping room prices unchanged.

Britannia now claims its total investment in the Grand stands at around £5m, signalling a shift in how the chain wants the property to be perceived: not as a fading landmark, but as a hotel attempting to reclaim its place in Llandudno’s visitor experience.

My return to the “queen of resorts”

Conwy and Llandudno were the destinations of choice for our family holidays when I was a child - just a drive down the A55 now, made almost weekly, but then it felt like crossing into another world entirely. A world of seaside novelties, American comics sold in clear plastic bags, and one unforgettable year when I posed with two real‑life monkeys: me grinning like I’d won the lottery, my sister screaming in her pushchair. Different times.

Llandudno. (Image: Matt Warner)

As a frequent visitor to Llandudno - the queen of resorts - the Grand was always part of the backdrop. We walked the pier on every visit, even at night to watch fireworks from Happy Valley, but the Grand itself remained a mystery. A building I’d admired, photographed, skirted around… but never stepped inside.

Inside The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

So when news broke of fresh investment and a new entertainment programme, I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. The Grand’s reputation in recent years has been, shall we say, character‑building - especially in the age of the social media reviewer who can turn a peeling skirting board into a three‑part exposé.

Still, my aim was to be open and fair, but not to shy away from criticism if warranted.

First impressions: grandeur, skips and sea views

By the time I checked in, I’d already had a taste of Llandudno 2026: lunch at The Goat, a walk along the prom, and a wander to the end of the pier. Approaching the Grand, I could see the newly renovated colonnade - a promising start - slightly undermined by a bright yellow skip full of mattresses parked just feet from the front door. Nothing says “heritage hotel” quite like industrial waste management.

Colonnade at Llandudno. (Image: Matt Warner)

Inside, though, the bones of grandeur are still there. A proper hotel lobby, the kind that makes you stand a little straighter. New vertical screens list the day’s entertainment - one of the reasons for my visit - and I mentally pencilled in the evening cabaret before heading to my room.

Inside The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

I’d booked a sea‑view room, and technically that’s what I got. I could see the Little Orme, the pier and Llandudno Bay… through windows that were, shall we say, lightly frosted by nature.

The window opened only a fraction, so the full sea‑air experience remained theoretical.

Seaview at The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

The room itself was small, clean, and undeniably tired. Décor, fixtures and fittings all showing their age; stains, unexplained holes, bubbling wallpaper. But somehow these felt like quirks of the Grand - imperfections you forgive because you’re here for the experience of staying in this grand old lady, not a sterile chain hotel.

The corridors: uncanny charm

Navigating the Grand’s narrow corridors is an experience in itself. Stepladders, vacuum cleaners and assorted hotel paraphernalia sit out in the open like part of an installation piece.

Inside The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

There’s an uncanny vibe - somewhere between The Shining and Backrooms - but almost everyone I passed smiled or said hello. In 2026, that alone feels like a luxury.

Inside The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

The cabaret: talent, nostalgia… and room for sparkle

The ballroom is of a bygone era but still beautiful. It was here, and the windowed walkway alongside the dining hall, that I caught site of the hotel's illustrious past - and perhaps its future.

Earlier in the day, the hotel runs child‑friendly activities and adult sessions, but I was here for the cabaret. I’ve become a regular patron of drag and burlesque in recent years, so while I wasn’t expecting glitter cannons and feather fans, I was hoping for a bit of spectacle.

Instead, the evening featured two cabaret singers - Scott and Carmen - taking turns with classic songs. I was easily ten or twenty years younger than the average age in the ballroom, and the setlist reflected that, though they did throw in curveballs: a number from the Paddington musical from Scott and a Lady Gaga anthem by Carmen.

Cabaret at the Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

Both performers were talented, the sound and lighting system good, but the show lacked that extra layer of glamour and sparkle.

Grand Ballroom. (Image: Matt Warner)

North Wales has a growing roster of drag and cabaret performers - acts like The Royal Serenity, The Iris Effect, and Han & Fran would be electric in that ballroom. It might alienate some of the existing clientele, but it could also breathe new life into the venue.

There are signs of the investment though, the bingo and quizzes are assisted by a large screen showing the numbers called and, for the latter, video clips preceding the questions.

Final thoughts

As someone drawn to the weird, the uncanny and the slightly off‑kilter, staying at the Grand was an experience I appreciated - and at times genuinely enjoyed.

Inside The Grand Hotel. (Image: Matt Warner)

Nearby, the St George’s Hotel has recently undergone a multi-million pound renovation, and I fear that even £5m may not be nearly enough to restore the Grand to its former status as the jewel of the North Wales Riviera.

But for now, there are still good times to be had with this grand old lady - as long as you can accept her imperfections.