Hotel owners are fighting to silence a 150-year-old town clock after a flood of ‘negative reviews’ from guests lying awake at night.
The Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth, Powys, has been inundated with complaints from tourists kept awake by the clock’s quarter-hourly bells, which ring every 15 minutes, even through the night.
Bosses want the bells in the market town clock tower to be switched off between 11.30pm and 7am after guests raised concerns about the noise.
After sitting silent for three years, the tower, which sits yards away from the business, was finally repaired in 2023 and now chimes every 15 minutes for 24 hours a day.
Owners Huw Morgan and Gail Jenkins have written to local authorities urging them to pause the chimes, claiming to have received ‘negative reviews’ due to the clock.
One frustrated visitor wrote on TripAdvisor review: ‘Nothing wrong with the hotel. Stayed in the Lloyd George room £175 per night. Had an evening meal which we enjoyed.
‘The problem is the clock, which has now been fixed, chimes every fifteen minutes and then chimes on the hour!!!! Kept us awake all night!!
‘Staff were nice and we liked the hotel. Just relieved we didn’t book two nights!’
The hotel is asking the council for the chimes to be switched off between 11.30pm and 7am in a bid to keep their guests happy.
In the letter to the council, the owners said: ‘As owners of the Wynnstay, we are dependent on tourism for our business and we value the town clock and its central role in conveying the historic character of the town.
‘We recognise and appreciate the effort and resources given to the town council to renovate and maintain the clock and its tower.
‘Unfortunately, we are facing difficulties to our business due to the chiming of the clock throughout the night. We receive frequent complaints from guests, particularly those attempting to sleep in the front bedrooms.
‘For some customers, it has spoiled their visit to Machynlleth and has led to negative reviews online.
‘We ask that the council discuss the possibility of switching the chiming of the clock off during the night, e.g. from 11.30pm until 7am. This would resolve the noise issue.
‘We are aware of other businesses who would appreciate this change, and also private residents who live near the clock. I am happy to coordinate a response from all if the council feels this is needed.’
The clock tower was repaired in the summer of 2023 after a campaign was launched to get it working for the 150th anniversary celebrations.
The repairs cost £55,000 before it was finally able to chime again in the ‘ancient capital of Wales’ market town.
Mr Morgan said he was ‘born and raised’ in Machynlleth, and complaints were from tourists along with ‘workers like railway engineers who need to sleep properly’.
His ‘for whom the bells toll’ appeal is due to be considered by town councillors in Machynlleth – which describes itself as the ‘ancient capital of Wales.’
It was built by the residents of Machynlleth to celebrate the coming of age of the eldest son of the Fifth Marquess of Londonderry, who lived at Y Plas.
Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest (Viscount Castlereagh) turned 21 on 16 July 1873.
