Plas Dinas Country House, a 17th-century mansion in Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon, North Wales, which was once the residence of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon), has been sold. The property, initially listed for £375,000 for a 23-year leasehold, was later sold for an asking price of £295,000. This price reflected the short remaining period on the lease, understood to be just over 20 years.
The mansion holds significant historical value, having been in the Armstrong-Jones family for approximately 200 years. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon spent a considerable part of their early marriage at the 15-acre estate, where Lord Snowdon was designing the setting for Prince Charles’ investiture ceremony at Caernarfon Castle. Locals affectionately knew Princess Margaret as "Maggie Bont." Lord Snowdon, a commoner, married Princess Margaret in 1960 and became the first commoner in centuries to marry into the royal family.
After their time there, the property transitioned from a family estate to a nursing home, and subsequently a hotel. Commercial agent Christie & Co marketed the 10-bedroom property. The previous operators, Neil Baines and Marco Soares, ran the hotel for five years, building a strong reputation. The most recent available trading information (year ending December 2017) showed the property generated £433,484 in revenue, with a gross profit of £332,118 and an operating profit of £46,560.
The new owners are Daniel Perks, with 20 years of hospitality experience, and Annie Bickerton, a professional in bespoke weddings, events, and marketing. They were drawn to the property's rich history and plan to develop its wedding and events business, capitalizing on its royal connections. Tom O’Malley, Senior Business Agent at Christie & Co, noted significant market interest for such a high-profile property, especially for country house hotels in North Wales.
