Conwy Valley pub and hotel hosts episode of ‘Four in a Bed’

The Tal-y-Cafn, based on Llanrwst Road, is competing on the show against the Greenhills Hotel in Tenby, Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park in Swansea, and Cambrian House in Powys.

Dan Latham and Lucy Lonsdale, The Tal-y-Cafn’s then-managers, hosted their fellow competitors in last night’s episode, with two of the three other groups saying they would stay again.

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Filming at The Tal-y-Cafn for Four in a Bed (Image: Mike Hales)

A chef for more than 20 years, Dan said: “This place has got the ‘wow factor’ as soon as you walk through the doors – nice clean rooms, good food; what more do you want?”

Their guests occupied the hotel’s three rooms, which cost up to £275 per night (including breakfast).

Couple Jacqui and Ivan, from Powys, described their room, the Snowdon Suite as “absolutely gorgeous”, while aunt and niece Maxine and Tegan, from Tenby, hailed their “very nice” Tryfan Suite.

Though, Swansea-based Tom was less enthused with his room, the Cedar Suite, using a hairdryer at one point to clear hairs from his bed.

The teams then rode the waves at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, before reconvening in The Tal-y-Cafn’s bar for a drink together.

Dan’s culinary skills were put to the test the following morning as he served up cooked breakfasts, with Ivan praising his “perfectly cooked” poached eggs, and Maxine saying her meal was “really good quality”.

But Tom was critical of the time it took for his breakfast to arrive, adding: “Dan and Lucy talked a real big game in terms of breakfast; it was no big game today.”

The Tal-y-Cafn’s three competitors then filled out anonymous feedback forms, scoring the hotel out of 10 in hosting, cleanliness, facilities, sleep, and breakfast, before saying if they would stay again.

Inside The Tal-y-Cafn (Image: Mike Hales)

Jacqui and Ivan, and Maxine and Tegan, both said they would return, and scored The Tal-y-Cafn 49 and 41 out of 50 respectively.

Tom, though, said he would not stay again, and only scored the Conwy venue 33.

Guests then pay what they think their stay was worth, with the cash amount kept secret until the end of the competition.

The winner will be revealed on Friday (September 29)’s show.

You can watch The Tal-y-Cafn compete on Four in a Bed every night at 6pm on Channel 4.

Current owner Mike Hales told the Pioneer last week: “It’s got to be one of the most popular programmes people watch. It was a great day, so it should be a good watch.

“Channel 4 just got in touch with us, and asked if we were interested – they filmed at the hotel for two days. I was there for the filming, which was quite intense!”

Mike purchased The Tal-y-Cafn and restored it to the community in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its food menu combines produce sourced from near and far, recipes developed by Mike, and an array of drinks championing some of North Wales’ finest brewers and distillers.