An iconic building in Oswestry which has been visited by the likes of Hugh Grant, Liz Hurley, Richard Branson, Robert Hardy and Jimmy Carr is up for grabs – and you could be living where these famous people once ate.
The building in The Walls was built as a school in 1841 and has most recently been home to The Dining Rooms restaurant.
Geoff and Kate Hughes have run it for 24 years but have now decided it is time to hang up the oven gloves and give someone the chance to sleep where Robert Plant performed his first live performance after the break up of Led Zeppelin.
Mr Hughes said: “The building closed as a school in 1982 and stood empty for 10 years until we had a viewing.
“We fell in love with it – mullioned sandstone windows, dressed stone corners, pitch pine queen trusses and a sense of scale that has scared designers and architects since the second world war are here in every vista.
“We have had the very great good fortune to own this special collection of building materials and this passion for the building is matched by layer upon layer of real good times that we’d been fortunate to be a part of for our loyal customers.”
The owners have been working with heritage architects Arrol & Snell to draft a plan for the conversion of the building into houses and already has a list of prospective clients who want to purchase the houses as soon as they are completed.
The building was originally designed by architect Thomas Penson and since Mr and Mrs Hughes opened on December 20 1992, originally as a restaurant called The Walls, other celebrity visitors have been through the doors.
The included George Melly, Humphrey Lyttleton, Fairport Convention, Marillion, Squeeze, Fay Presto, Ruby Turner, Reginald D Hunter, Willy Russell, Tim Roth and The Temperance Seven.
The building is now up for sale with Halls Commercial and James Evans, from the company, said it really is a unique property.
He said: “This is clearly a building that is steeped in history and has had a lot of care and attention over the years.
“It is easily recognisable to the people of Oswestry and beyond and could become a great home for someone who can appreciate the architecture – but it is a versatile building with potential for alternative commercial and leisure based uses too.
“We have had plenty of interest in it already.”
For more information about available commercial properties, contact James Evans on 01743 450700 or email james.evans@hallsgb.com
