Client Stories: Mansion House Llansteffan
Interview with Wendy Beaney, Co-owner of Mansion House Llansteffan
We caught up with Wendy Beaney, co-owner of the delightful Mansion House Llansteffan, overlooking sandy Tywi estuary, with a view of the castle on the hill. The mansion is set in five acres of gardens with an AA Rosette restaurant. It’s a popular wedding and holiday venue plus eatery with local seasonal food.
How did Mansion House come about for you?
We were married here at Mansion House in 1996 and then shortly after left Wales to travel the world. A quirk of fate brought us back here, to run the restaurant and rooms we began our married life in. My husband David and I bought Mansion House over a decade ago and did a full refurbishment to restore its original architecture, but with a modern twist. For David and I and our four children – plus the wider team, Mansion House is all about creating a family atmosphere and a warm welcome in its perfect setting.
The house’s origins are Georgian, I believe around 1820. But much of what you see today is the work of Victorian owner John Richards, a local dairy farmer who made his fortune taking milk from West Wales to England. Many ornate features were installed under his ownership and remain intact today. Like the impressive stained-glass window over the staircase. Since the Seventies, the house has been run successfully as a hotel and events venue.
What challenges did you face when you first approached LHP?
We joined LHP back in 2012, when we were starting out. One of our advisors recommended LHP and we took the plunge and never looked back. There were so many challenges at the time! From getting finances in place and structuring the company, to compliance we’d not come across before in our previous roles. Plus, all the usual financial requirements of a growing business.
How did LHP help?
One of the LHP directors Janet Collins handles our account. She’s been great, as have the wider team. They set us up with cloud accounting software, and supported us with all aspects of our finances, from minimum wage and VAT inspections to wider business and tax advice. What we love is the fact that they’re our shoulder to lean on, with sound advice whenever we need it.
There are still significant projects we want to undertake in coming years. But the current climate and rising costs of produce, workforce, energy, and reduced business levels, have had a knock on effect on customers who are now not keen to spend on non-essentials. So we’ve put everything on the back burner to revisit when things do start to improve!
How would you sum up LHP?
Friendly, professional, and reliable.
Let’s Talk
For help with your business finances including accessing business advisory services, get in touch with our team on Let’s Talk.
