A storied hotel where history meets distinctive hospitality

The Wynnstay Hotel in Oswestry, a magnificent slice of Georgian heritage nestled in the heart of the Welsh borderlands. Established in 1727, this handsome inn began life as the Cross Foxes, a vital staging post on the old coaching routes between Holyhead and London. Its creation was commissioned by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, a powerful local landowner and politician, whose influence stretched across Shropshire and into Wales. The building’s refined symmetry, grand façade and stately interiors speak of a time when travel was slow, conversation was rich, and comfort was a rare and valued luxury.

Renamed the Wynnstay Arms and eventually the Wynnstay Hotel, it soon became the social heart of Oswestry. Tales abound of high-society gatherings, balls in the drawing rooms, and lavish dinners by roaring hearths. It is even said that a young Queen Victoria once stayed within these walls during her formative years, an honour not bestowed lightly. The Crown Bowling Green, still tucked behind the hotel, has hosted bowlers for generations and remains a testament to enduring local traditions.

In more recent times, the Coaching Inn Group undertook a sensitive and thorough restoration. The original charm remains, solid beams, sash windows, and the hushed grace of the past but now paired with modern refinements, luxurious bedrooms, a polished restaurant, and a vibrant coffee shop that is the hub of the town. Today, the Wynnstay stands not only as a hotel, but as a living storybook of Oswestry’s rich and regal past.