THE demise of the Grange Hotel has touched a nerve, not just with me, but with many Visitor readers.
Like my colleague Andy Davies, I too have so many great memories of the venue.
It was Rhyl’s landmark hotel, the scene of so many great events.
I’ll bet that if you’re aged 18 or above and reading this now, you enjoyed some celebration or other at the East Parade building.
I must have attended a hundred birthdays, christenings, wedding receptions and parties there.
I remember sitting on the wooden bench outside the front entrance, looking out at the calm water and remembering my late grandfather, whose life we celebrated that day. The day of his funeral.
I remember playing cowboys and Indians with my younger brother in the downstairs lounge as our mum worked on reception (which she did for eight years).
And do you remember the reception area? Awash with wood and glass, a room no bigger than a wardrobe, tattooed with paper clips and A4 paper.
We had Christmas dinner there, my school’s ROA (Record of Achievement) presentation was held in the main hall, as was my Nanny and Grandad’s ruby wedding anniversary.
One of my aunties worked there for years. Another held her wedding reception there. So many great times.
I held an auction at the Grange in 2001, in aid of St Kentigern’s Hospice. We raised thousands and it was one of the best nights of my life.
The hotel was a maze of oak, so many little rooms and cubby holes. The Tudor Bar, red carpets, that grandfather clock and beautiful flowers in hanging baskets.
Like many of you reading this, I was angry and upset when they closed it.
To watch it burn, fall to pieces and disappear is an absolute tragedy for Rhyl.
You must have a memory of The Grange Hotel? You may have even captured it on camera?
A party, an event that matters to you, a birthday or even a night within its once-majestic black and white towers. Let’s keep the memory alive.
Send your memories and photographs to Martin Williams, Visitor Newspaper, 84 High Street, Rhyl, LL18 1UB. Alternatively, e-mail them to martin.williams@northwalesnews.co.uk.

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