Llandudno Wonderland’s future may be secured for town

Aug 7 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

THE future of Llandudno’s Alice in Wonderland centre could be secured if plans to relocate it to the Tabernacl Chapel on Upper Mostyn Street are agreed.

As reported in the Weekly News the historic interior of Tabernacl Chapel was in danger of being ripped out to make way for a cafe.

Christian shop and cafe Kingdom Krafts in Madoc Street were initially looking at the premises as they need to expand. However, Pam Kirkham of Kingdom Krafts has since ruled it out as a suitable venue.

The Llandudno Trust and the trustees of the Grade II listed chapel desperately want to keep the pews intact, as it’s where Baptist pastor Lewis Valentine, one of the founders of Plaid Cymru, preached between 1921-47.

The chapel is usually empty as its dwindling congregation has moved elsewhere. A few concerts are held there, and the Llandudno Trust uses the school room for heritage exhibitions. Trustees are looking for someone who would take on the 90-year lease and leave the chapel as it is.

Stuart Rivers, trust chairman, has come up with the idea of buying the grotto from the Alice in Wonderland Centre, which is due to close next month, and transferring it into the chapel room.

Stuart said: “We are holding a public meeting on Tuesday, August 12, at 7pm to discuss the situation and would like as many people who are genuinely interested or could help financially to attend.

“If the Alice centre was to go there we’d have to sort out quite a few logistical problems, not least that the lease runs out on the attraction at the end of September, so it means we’ve only got a few weeks to raise enough money to buy it.

“We’ll need to set up a group of trustees and an appeal has to be launched otherwise the attraction could leave the town, which would be a shame.”

The owner of the Alice in Wonderland centre, Muriel Ratcliffe, said: “I’ve met with members of the Llandudno Trust who are interested in transferring the attraction to Tabernacl Chapel, and they seem very keen.

“I can only say that I have received a lot of interest from people wanting to buy the attraction and I’m glad to say there has been some local interest. However, time is pressing as my lease runs out in September.

mari.jones