OAP hospitalised after Llandudno hotel wouldn't let her in from the cold

Jan 15 2009 by Michelle Coyle, North Wales Weekly News

Kensington Hotel

A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who turns 90 today was admitted to hospital after allegedly being left out in the cold by a Llandudno hotel.

Louise Squires claims she was left to freeze in Llandudno after being refused a warming cuppa and a sit down by staff at the Kensington Hotel. Louise, who was on her way home after spending Christmas in North Wales, was hospitalised for four days over New Year.

Maureen Lawrenson from Abbey Road, Llandudno, is furious about how Mrs Squires, mother-in-law to her daughter Nicola, was treated.

“On December 27 en route to Preston, the coach driver decided to surprise the guests and drop them in Llandudno for four hours. Not wanting to cause a fuss, Louise didn’t like to say she could only walk a short distance without her wheelie-frame.

“Louise struggled alone across the road and into Debenhams to find a chair. Thinking she had outstayed her welcome there after an hour, she decided to see if there was anywhere else she could shelter. She saw the Kensington Hotel and, explaining her situation, asked the young lady at reception if she could get a cup of tea and wait until it was time to return to the coach, this being one of the coldest days of the winter. The curt reply was ‘certainly not, we only serve residents’.

“Louise was a well-dressed, 89-year-old ex-teacher. She did not cause any fuss but went and sat in the bitter cold for over an hour in the bus shelter. It was little surprise she was admitted to hospital the next day with breathing difficulties and suspected pneumonia.”

When the Weekly News approached the Kensington Hotel, they declined to comment.

michelle.coyle