AN “ICONIC” north Ceredigion hotel must be brought back to life, a councillor has said, as owners look to sell after a planned renovation was halted.

Owners of Dyffryn Castell Hotel, a familiar sight off the A44 road in Ponterwyd, have put the building and land up for sale after abandoning attempts to renovate the building which closed a decade ago.

Permission was granted in 2015 to renovate the inside of the building and to build extensions, but those plans never fully came to fruition.

Owners have now put the building on the market, as local Melindwr ward councillor Rhodri Davies calls for the hotel to be restored to its former glory.

“As most hospitality businesses are opening throughout Ceredigion to public after months of being closed due to the pandemic, it’s so sad to see this iconic building has still not opened its doors and is in such a poor state,” Cllr Davies told the Cambrian News.

“When travelling and entering Ceredigion on the A44, Dyffryn Castell Hotel is one of the first building that you see. Dyffryn was the main venue to hold meetings and catch-up and put world to rights. It was an amazing place. It’s time that something is done to bring it back to life.

“Years ago the owner had big plans with this building and started work, but never completed the renovation.

“This is happening too often around Ceredigion and something urgent needs to be done to address this important issue.”

The building and surrounding land, which includes a three-bedroom cottage, a five-bedroom house, a plot to build a two-bedroom cottage as well as plans to redevelop the hotel to host 15 bedrooms and a 200-seat restaurant, has been put up for sale through Morgan and Davies estates agents.

No price has been listed.

The hotel closed its doors in 2010, and has since been the subject of various redevelopment attempts including extensions.

The inside rooms are currently stripped back to brick inside as work on the renovation halted, with windows on both sides of the main building boarded up.