Diary marker – Famous coaching inn, 'The Grapes' turns clock back 200 years in Wales

One of the oldest and most famous coaching inns in Wales will be turning the clock back 200 years next week to mark the grand arrival of two large stagecoaches. The 17th century Grade II listed inn, The Grapes in the picturesque village of Maentwrog, in the Vale of Ffestiniog, will be marking the arrival of a coaching party engaged in a fund-raising tour in aid of injured servicemen and servicewomen. The Grapes has been a ‘must stop’ inn for centuries, but hasn’t hosted teams of coaches and horses since the first half of the 19th century. “This event will see us literally turning the clock back 200 years. We’ll see The Grapes as it was in its coaching heyday,” said Andrew Roberts Evans, manager of hotel. The coaching party will include representatives of The Household Cavalry Charitable Fund. The party of drivers, assistants and passengers will be up to 26-strong. The Grapes will be an overnight stop en-route between Bala and Portmeirion. “We intend making sure that the occasion will be as historically accurate as possible,” said Mr Evans. “All our staff will be in period costume and the food on offer will hark back to 1809, marking 200 years of coaching at The Grapes. “The money raised by this charitable event will go towards the Help The Heroes Fund and the Household Cavalry Charitable Fund. “In addition to the coaching visit, we have regular fund-raising events at the pub which annually raise £2,000 for various charities. “During the month of October the services charities will be our nominated causes and we aim to give them the very best of support.” Mr Evans added: “This promises to be a memorable occasion at The Grapes, a piece of living history. For many, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a famous coaching inn doing the job it was built to do.”