THERE was a big turn-out last Sunday as the Castle Hotel at Bishops Castle celebrated its 300th anniversary with a garden party.

“It was raining right up to the start and then the sun came out and we had a fantastic day and it all went really well,” said hotel owner Henry Hudson.

“There was a really good attendance and we raised just under £400 for the MIND charity and Bishops Castle Firefighters.

“A few people had come great distances and had ancestors who had owned or worked at the hotel in the past and were interested in being there for the 300th anniversary,” said Mr Hunter.

As one of the oldest continually operating hotels in the country, a book on the hotel’s history has been commissioned from the local heritage resource centre history society.

“The book is not quite ready yet but the heritage centre had an impressive display on the history of the hotel which was fantastic,” added Mr Hunter.

The afternoon included live entertainment from Zoe Hedge who competed in TV’s The Voice in 2017, and from the Jonny Keeley Band.

There was also a special occasion real ale commissioned and brewed by the nearby Three Tuns Brewery, as well as children’s games and other entertainment.