As a young boy one of the delights in returning home from our summer holidays was the sight of the spectacular curve of the bay and sweep of the beach and sea below the headland of Penmaenrhos. To many people it was a great sadness that this lovely view was obscured for ever when in 1972 the hotel was built.
The builder was Gwynedd Caradog Jones from Llysfaen and the architect was Stewart Powell Bowen who was in partnership with Gwilym Parry Davies at the time. Mr Edmund Hall was also associated with the two men.
Mr Bowen was born in Colwyn Bay and before he went to school he could only speak Welsh. He always used to say he was lucky not to be called Val as he was born on February 14. Stewart Powell Bowen was an early and highly respected member of the Civic Society; his name is recalled in the firm he founded, Bowen Dann Knox.
Mr Bowen had expressed a wish that when he died his body was to be buried in a country churchyard; and so it is that he is buried in the churchyard of The Cathedral In The Hills, Christ Church, Bryn-y-Maen. The simple Welsh slate headstone reads: 'Stewart Powell Bowen. Pensaer. 1918-1982.
Mr Jones, the builder, owned the land beside the layby at Penmaenrhos and it was his intention to build a small wayside restaurant, more or less where the hotel is today, and bungalows or houses on the rest of the land, where the hotel bedrooms are.
However Mr Bowen persuaded him that a grand hotel would be better suited to this premier and spectacular position overlooking Colwyn Bay. After all, at the time, this land was beside the main road into Colwyn Bay. Mr Bowen took his plans to Cardiff where he secured grants for the realisation of his idea. He estimated the cost of the building to be in the region of £110,000, an estimate that proved to be highly inaccurate.
The Seventy Degrees Hotel was so named because of the angles used in its construction. It made for an unusual concept, but from the builder's point of view, proved a terrible waste of material. The carpets had to be cut at 70 degrees; even the stairs are constructed at 70 degrees so wasting wood after it was cut to this particular design. The whole building is based on a steel frame erected on rock. The rock had to be drilled energetically before the steel stanchions would hold. It was just as difficult to excavate the drains which eventually led down into Tan Lan at the bottom of Tan-y-Wal.
Oddly enough, although the roof looks flat, it was constructed in the shape of a low angled V with the valley running along the centre of the roof, which was covered in three layers of felt and mastic, with a grill in the middle of the roof to collect the water. The water then ran down pipes hidden inside the steel supports inside the hotel. This arrangement has since caused some problems. The whole effect, especially in 1973, especially in Colwyn, was spectacular and the hotel became a popular venue for evening functions for many local societies and clubs.
The name of the hotel was eventually changed from Seventy Degrees to the Colwyn Bay Hotel, but to local people this name conjured up an entirely different bygone building. The Colwyn Bay Hotel which we recall, those of us who have lived here more or less all our lives, stood where Princes Court now stands overlooking the promenade; for us the hotel at Penmaenhead was always the Seventy Degrees Hotel and with good reason.
We romanticise the past; we think we are dealing with history. We are not. We are in fact, mythmakers. We must always be wary not to imbue nostalgia with an importance it does not deserve and if the Seventy Degrees Hotel is demolished, let us not be sorry, for the future holds endless intriguing possibilities."
But what was there before the Hotel 70?
your comments
Wendy from Colwyn Bay
Before we were married about twenty five years ago my now husband took me to the hotel 70 for a meal, as it was the best restaurant at that time for a romantic dinner. I remember that the view was spectacular and the meal expensive! I cannot believe that it is going to be more expensive homes that the locals cannot afford.
Mon Aug 7 10:12:07 2006
steve amery, heswall, wirral
I went past here on 17/06/06 and saw how sad the building looked. I had to find out if there were any websites dedicated to it and was amazed to find this and several others on google including interior dereliction photos.
Went here as a family with my parents and brothers and sisters. It was fantastic and holds brilliant memories of when we were all living at home. Excellent restaurant, Manuel the waiter, Roy Schneider look-alike wine waiter, Mr and Mrs Sexton the glamorous managers, American porter, display cabinet where my brother spent about an hour looking up a female manequin's dress, space invader tables in top lounge, platters of sandwiches, smart clothes in the restaurant, coloured sugar, never forget it nor the amazing views. Would love to get inside and would love to do a scheme for a refurbishment.
Fri Jun 23 09:45:17 2006
John Burgess from Colwyn Bay
As a resident of Colwyn Bay I am constantly astounded by the lack of vision of certain individuals within our community who are more interested in clinging onto remnants of the past without any consideration of the future of the town. While surrounding towns continue to prosper and attract the best shops, leisure, housing and job opportunities our community is being left further and further behind. The 70 Degrees Hotel has served its purpose and run its course. Surely it is now time to put that behind us and create something special on this landmark site that flies the flag for our town. We don't need more hotel! accommodation but we do need a landmark development to put Colwyn Bay back on the map.
Wed May 24 11:11:12 2006
Dawn Glindon
I have many treasured memories of this outstanding hotel. My family and I used to travel here on an occasional Sunday from where we lived near Birmingham just to have Sunday Lunch with my Grandad (may he rest in peace). I remember Albert carving the beef, I remember the Bavarian night they held and I remember the rabbits. I loved that place, please don't destroy a wonderful piece of history.
Sun Mar 5 12:04:14 2006
Ste Dexter from Manchester
I had a part time job at the Hotel 70 back in 1975, I used to wash dishes in the kitchen. I was 15 years old. I was paid thirty pence an hour, I later left to work at the National Milk Bar in Colwyn Bay for thirty five pence an hour - sad really, but those were the days!
Fri Mar 3 11:13:54 2006
Barbara Stokes from Bilston
I had a free weekend at the 70 Degrees in April 1992. I used it for my honeymoon with my husband David and my little boy Daniel who was 4 at the time. I hold memories of the rabbets running by the cliff and the food was great and the staff were very helpful and the rooms were tidy. I hope they don't Demolish the Hotel - it was a very nice place.
Sat Sep 17 15:32:58 2005
Marilyn Hopkins Manchester
I used to love to see the rabbits hopping across the grass outside the bedroom windows. The restaurant food was very good and the views from the lounge spectacular! There was also a 70s-style disco dance floor which was glass cubes lit up with multi-coloured lights from underneath. Along with many other stays, we spent a great Christmas and New Year there! What a pity it wasn't bought by someone with the vision (and funds), to renovate it. I'm sure it must have been a successful venture. I would have certainly been a regular customer, (and paid more).
Fri Jul 29 16:27:28 2005
Bryan Owen, now exiled to Haverfordwest
I must say that I am saddened by the slow demise of the 70 Degrees. It has been a part of my memories of home since I was a lad. It should have been refurbished when the expressway was being built and touted as a main stopping point with those 'tourist brown signs'. But that is now in the past, and I'm glad to hear that it will be remembered by so many people.
Wed Mar 2 19:04:41 2005
David Hughes (AKA Rusty) From Colwyn Bay
I was born in Tan-y-lan, and lived there until I was 16 and left to join the Army, now I am retired and have returned to the Bay to live. I remember the Hotel being built and thinking at such a young age how grand it looked. How naive I must have been, it is a typical 1970s eyesore and I will be glad to see the monstrosity reduced to rubble. The area has the best view of Colwyn Bay and it would be great if it were turned into a viewing platform/relaxation area, for all the people of Colwyn Bay and its surrounding area to enjoy. Big Hi to "Flapper", best regards to you all.
Mon Feb 14 10:48:43 2005
Catrin Dempsey, Redditch
I have some fond memories of the Colwyn Bay Hotel (70 degrees). The fact they would never have rabbit on the menu as they used to have a rabbit warren on the cliff. We used to watch them from our bedroom window. The meals used to be excellent with the resident Albert carving the roast beef with pride.
Tue Feb 8 13:31:48 2005
M Brazendale, Middlewich, Cheshire.
We stayed there following our wedding and prior to flying to the Maldives for our honey moon in 1987. We also revisited on our tenth wedding anniversary. Fond memories and excelent views from the restaurant - a shame this hotel has been let go.
Sat Oct 30 23:20:51 2004
