The Seabank Hotel is an historic hotel located in
Porthcawl, southern
Wales. The hotel is located on the corner of the front Esplanade and Picton Avenue overlooking the sea. The current building is dated to the mid-1930s. The distinctive white building with its red tiled roof, along with the
Grand Pavilion several metres to the east, is one of the town's most prominent landmarks. The hotel has 89 rooms.
History

The hotel originally began around 1860 as a smaller building named the New House and was built by
George Derent, an architect who designed John Street in Porthcawl.
Around 1870, a larger house was built on the site and was named "The Seaview Bank". It was bought by the prominent Brogden family and
John Brogden, an important figure in the town's development in the late 19th century (who gave his name to John Street) simplified the name to "Sea Bank House".
This building was built with grey stonework and over time the building developed ivy on the walls around the French windows. It had a prominent Italianate style tower at the front and a quaint little garden was once located at the front side of the hotel.
Around 1890, the family fell into financial difficulties and it became
Porthcawl College
Porthcawl (, ) is a town and community on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, west of the capital city, Cardiff and southeast of Swansea. Historically part of Glamorgan and situated on a low limestone headland on the S ...
and was run by Reverend
E.J. Newell EJ may refer to:
Businesses and brands
* EJ (company), formerly East Jordan Iron Works
* eJay, a music software program
* New England Airlines (IATA code EJ)
* E & J Gallo Winery
* Holden EJ, an early Holden car
* Subaru EJ engine series, manufact ...
of
Oxford University until 1907 when it was purchased as a private residence by John Elias.

In the 1930s a new structure and modern concrete facade was built to and it was renamed the "Seabank Hydro" hotel.
During
World War II the hotel was used as a base by the military and the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment was formed at the hotel in 1942.
In 1943, US troops of the 107 Field Artillery Battalion of the
28th Infantry Division were stationed at the hotel, followed by the
75th Infantry Division in 1944 to train before the
Battle of the Bulge.
In 1945 the hotel underwent major refurbishment and again in the 1990s.
Interior
The hotel has 89 rooms and is listed by the
AA as a 3-star hotel.
The rooms range from single to twin and double rooms. All are en-suite and include breakfast.
Historically the hotel has been used extensively for conferences and important business meetings but is now primarily a coaching hotel being part of the Leisureplex Hotels Ltd.
The "Smuggler's Bar" is open to the public and seats up to 96 people overlooking the
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel ( cy, Môr Hafren, literal translation: "Severn Sea") is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Seve ...
with views towards
Somerset and
Devon. Lunch is served every day between 12.00 and 15.00.
References
External links
{{commons category
Official site
Hotel buildings completed in 1860
Porthcawl
Hotels in Wales
Hotels established in 1860