Llanasa Life December 2024 LLANASA CONSERVATION SOCIETY NEWSLETTER The Red Lion, Llanasa As you may have heard, the Red Lion finally has new owners! It sat, unloved by Star Pubs and empty for over four years, and now it has a family who want to bring it back to life. The owners are a team with local roots. Jimmy Platt, his wife Frances, his sister Melanie, and her husband Doug have taken on this exciting venture. Some of us had the pleasure of meeting Melanie at our recent Carol Service celebrations and hearing more about their plans. Jimmy & Melanie’s mum has lived in Prestatyn since 1941 and three of their sisters work at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Their grandmother’s maiden name was Munnerly, and they can trace their ancestry in the local area back 500 years. “Everybody told me to run like the wind from the Grade II listed building!” Jimmy said. “The restoration, even for repairs and ‘like for like’ replacements, requires the submission of plans to obtain planning permission. We are not looking to change the appearance in any way.” There is lots to do and we all recognise that these things take time. “We will work hard to get the pub open as quickly as possible. Maintaining the beauty of the village is paramount.” Jimmy went on to say that they have many ideas for attracting people to the pub and will share those nearer the time they come to open. “The bedrock will be an excellent farm-to-table, from scratch restaurant, with a professionally run, drama-free Inn, comfortable accommodation, and a convenient and attractive venue for special events.” Jimmy and his family have a longstanding love of Llanasa. “We passed through the village with my mother and sisters as a child, as we walked the hills. I remember the little post office and camping with 3rd Prestatyn Scouts several Spring times in the fields belonging to Golden Grove” Jimmy & the team will look to play an active and positive role in the everyday life of the village and I’m sure you will join us in welcoming them with open arms. If you’d like to contact the pub team please email info@redlion.cymru
Jimmy, Frances, Melanie and Doug share their background & experience Doug Frances Jimmy’s wife, Frances, has worked for 29 years in customer service and safety for United Airlines as a Flight Attendant. She brings a wealth of talent in front line management covering all manner of customer requests, complaints, and also medical emergencies. Doug & Fergie Originally from West Virginia, with a last name like Evans, there is some Welsh there somewhere! Doug has 40 years of culinary and managerial expertise and is particularly experienced in French, Italian, Asian, British and American Regional cuisines. Currently Executive Chef at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas in Page, Arizona, Doug oversees four restaurants and employee dining. During his career Doug has owned and managed a number of restaurants as well as cheffed at many more in New York, Maui, Las Vegas, and now Llanasa. On Maui, he oversaw catering for high-end weddings and corporate events. Doug has been trained under the renowned Japanese Maui Sushi chef Kojima. Melanie Melanie & Duncan Doug’s wife, and Jimmy’s sister, Melanie, is currently a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in Flagstaff, Arizona. Melanie lived for many years in Las Vegas. Assisting Doug, she has a lot of experience catering for special events. She is also a keen rock climber. Unlike her husband who has worked back of house, Melanie worked front of the house for over a decade in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas. She has broad experience in Italian, fine dining Indian and high-end Steak restaurants where much of her work involved helping patrons pair their dishes with award winning wines, and she has completed sommelier training. She has worked under one of the best Italian chefs in Las Vegas, Piero Broglia. While working with the Indian chefs she was taught about the mother sauces, from which an Indian chef builds their different curries. She also became familiar with many tasty vegan main dish options and can make a mean mango lassi! Jimmy & Frances Jimmy & Frances Jimmy During his time in the UK, Jimmy rose through the ranks, and was assistant General Manager at Pontins in Prestatyn, when it was owned by Scottish and Newcastle. He was promoted to the Jersey Holiday Village, on Jersey, where he was the deputy General Manager to Prestatyn resident George Edwards. Following that he was Complex Manager at Greenacres in Porthmadog for Bourne Leisure (who purchased Haven the year after he left). Here he oversaw the running of the three busy bars, restaurants, amusements, fast-food facilities and sports complex as well as hiring and managing the entertainment including cabaret. In the USA, his original intention was to utilize his hospitality experience in the casinos. However a different opportunity presented itself and he passed the necessary exams and jumped through the many regulatory hoops to be a Nevada State Contractor in landscape construction. In the crash of 2008 he diversified into two businesses and set up a laboratory providing drug and alcohol testing for casinos, and airlines at Harry Reid international. The business received awards for their excellent customer service, no mean feat in a city such as Las Vegas. Jimmy sold his business of 15 years on October 1st and he is looking forward to coming home and bringing his entrepreneurial and hospitality skills to make the Red Lion a success.
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