A COUPLE who bought a former hotel near to Kington have applied to build eight holiday lets and a shop and cafe.

Mark Bentham and Laura Lane bought Penrhos Court in Lyonshall in January and have now applied for planning permission to Herefordshire Council.

They have applied for a change of use to create a shop for their online interiors boutique business, House Junkie, and a cafe in the barn and a seating area in the cartshed.

They have also applied to change the long barn into eight self-contained holiday lets and also for a change of use of land to keep recreation horses and build stables.

Penrhos Court was bought by businessman Martin Griffiths and his partner Daphne Lambert in 1972 and they restored it and made it into a 15-bedroom hotel, which became known for drawing celebrities who used to appear at the Hay-on-Wye literary festival.

In its heyday it became known as the “Le Manoir au Quat’ Saisons” of The Marches because of its pioneering restaurant and cookery school.

It was sold to new owners in 2012 but although planning permission was given to develop the site into four dwellings it did not go ahead and Mr Bentham and Miss Lane from Suckley in Worcestershire bought the property at the start of this year.

Penrhos Court is a group of grade 2* listed buildings dating from the 15th century, with 16th and 17th century additions, and later alterations and restoration.

Internally the two-storey section (previously used as reception and offices) will be used as the public face of the owners’ internet shop to display and sell their products.

Mr Bentham and Miss Lane propose to live in the main house after a suitable kitchen and new bathroom have been installed.

In their masterplan they hope to turn the rear wing of the court, now a commercial kitchen and ancillary spaces, into a pool and sauna, with laundry room, for use by holiday guests and the owners’ family.