AN internationally-acclaimed wedding venue is targeting further expansion and job creation.

Tyn Dwr Hall, near Llangollen and in the shadow of the Berwyn Mountains, wants to add more accommodation space, which will lead to a new wave of recruitment at the Grade II-listed mansion.

The historic site was built for ironmaster John Dickin in 1866 and more recently was used as a youth hostel and educational facility.

But in 2014 it was sold by the University of Central Lancashire for £1m to Matt Jones, managing director of Wrexham-based Knights Construction, which currently employs more than 70 staff on construction and demolition contracts.

Mr Jones has converted the mansion into an exclusive boutique wedding venue following a £750,000 eight month refurbishment scheme, including landscaping.

The hall can now cater for up to 150 guests, offering accommodation for around 65 people in 27 bedrooms, including three wedding suites, guest rooms, as well as a coach house, a game keeper’s cottage in the grounds, and four luxury yurts.

Mr Jones, who grew up in the area, said Tyn Dwr Hall has rapidly established a reputation in its own right as far afield as Dubai and America, with bookings stretching into 2019.

So far the development has created 60 jobs, but Mr Jones said more are in the pipeline with his plans to create an accommodation annexe.

He said: “We are now one of the top exclusive wedding destinations in the UK and we are looking to extend our accommodation opportunities in a new spin-off venture which will create more employment opportunities.

"We have helped Llangollen’s image and brought interest from all over the country.”

Mr Jones was introduced by his accountants RSM to West Kirby-based financial specialist Bathgate Business Finance who provided finance options for the construction firm, which was experiencing significant growth, and also helped bridge a funding gap in the purchase of Tyn Dwr Hall.

He said Bathgate offered an appealing alternative to conventional funding streams and confirmed they will work together again to deliver his latest expansion plans for the hall.

“Our bank was fantastic but, to take it to another level was where Bathgate came in.”

He said their expertise provided an added dimension to the procedure, particularly “out of the box thinking, creativity and seeing a bigger picture.”

Mr Jones added: “It’s good to see there’s private funding out there which can be accessible with the right scheme.

“We will definitely be doing business with Bathgate again on the exciting opportunities we have got. I would 100% recommend this to other business owners.”

Bathgate business development manager Ian Adams said: “It was great to have the opportunity to work with Matt, helping with the finance for both Knights Construction and Tyn Dwr Hall and experiencing the transformation of the hall from the original purchase to the exceptional refurbished venue seen today."