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Description
Lede
The Boathouse Hotel - a lively community hub providing eco-tourism in Holyhead.
Story
The newly-created Boathouse Hotel is the first social enterprise Eco-Hotel in North Wales with a social and environmental mission. Nestled in a dip on Newry Beach Promenade, the Boathouse Hotel boasts a perfect location on the Anglesey Coastal Path overlooking Holyhead Harbour, Holyhead Breakwater, the Irish Sea and the ferries sailing in all weathers. Furthermore, the hotel is situated within a recommended Star Gazing location due to the low light pollution and is minutes from stunning coastal walks, a SSSI, and the wild nature of Wales.
As a social enterprise, in addition to traditional tourism and hospitality, the Boathouse is committed to contributing to the local community and the environment. The organisational mission is to develop the hotel into a lively community hub that fosters community cohesion as well as provide tourists with an eco-choice for locally sourced food and beverages and comfortable accommodation. Since taking over management of the Boathouse Hotel in 2021, Wild Hospitality has cultivated a space of belonging, warmth and well-being for the local community and implemented a series of green initiatives to ensure the hotel is as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. The Boathouse has already attracted recognition for its innovation and social initiatives. Within the first year they were named as Finalists in the Social Business Awards Wales in 2022 in the ‘Ones to Watch’ category.
Wild Elements has been involved in Holyhead for a number of years, delivering outdoor education sessions to local schools, training programmes to adults, and allotment development, and wanted to further their community support, leading to the creation of Wild Hospitality and the Boathouse. Since taking over the Boathouse, they have initiated a number of community-based activities to foster belonging and well-being, to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in Holyhead, and to promote community spirit, Welsh culture and equality and diversity.
In true community spirit, over the past year the Boathouse Hotel has supported local organisations and charities with fundraising and events, including 3D kids (an organisation for children with additional needs), Anglesey Foster Carer Association, Digartref Ltd, and Anglesey Writing Festival. Christmas 2022 saw them launch their 1st Community Christmas to provide a Christmas Celebration and support those who are homeless, lonely or socially isolated. The Boathouse is also dedicated to improving the lives and aspirations of the community and supporting staff members and volunteers in professional development - encouraged with eight staff members gaining qualifications that increase their job skills and employability.
In developing a social enterprise at the heart of the community, the Boathouse is aiming to pave the way for other hotels in North Wales, showing that there is a different way to do hospitality with a heart. The Boathouse is a not-for-profit hotel, with all profits going back into the community of Holyhead and its surroundings. In conserving the environment and fostering the local community, the Boathouse Hotel hopes to play a central role in Holyhead’s social, cultural and heritage life for many years to come.
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