riverbanc llangollenFAQs

About Riverbanc

What is Riverbanc? Riverbanc is a café, 7-room boutique hotel and outdoor activity centre in the heart of Llangollen, North Wales. All three sit inside one Grade II listed former Midland Bank building on Bridge Street, directly above the River Dee.

Where exactly is Riverbanc? Bridge Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8PF — in the centre of Llangollen, with the River Dee at the back of the building.

When did Riverbanc open? The café opened in 2018, with the hotel above and the Whitewater Active activity centre downstairs. The building itself is a Grade II listed Victorian former Midland Bank.

Are the café, hotel and activity centre all the same business? Yes — all three are part of Safe and Sound Outdoors, the family-run outdoor activity company that has operated on the River Dee since 2011.

Is Riverbanc the same as Whitewater Active? We share a building and a parent company. Riverbanc is the café and hotel brand; Whitewater Active is the outdoor activity brand. You book activities through whitewateractive.co.uk and accommodation through riverbanc.co.uk.

The Café

Is the café open to non-guests? Yes. Anyone can walk in. You don't need to be staying at the hotel or doing an activity.

What are the café's opening hours? Open 8am to 4pm, seven days a week.

Do you serve breakfast, brunch and lunch? All three. Breakfast from 8am, brunch through to early afternoon, and a lunch menu that changes seasonally.

What kind of coffee do you serve? Single-origin specialty coffee, freshly roasted. We're featured in the Indy Coffee Guide. We also serve loose-leaf tea, hot chocolate, and a selection of cold drinks.

Do you do vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free? Yes — every menu has clearly marked vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Tell the team if you have any other dietary requirements.

Can I sit outside? Yes — we have a wooden deck directly above the River Dee. You'll often see rafters going past below. Outdoor seating is first come, first served.

Do I need to book a table? We don’t take bookings just turn up and we’ll find something for you.

Do you do takeaway? Yes, coffee and most food items are available to take away.

Are you dog-friendly in the café? Yes

Is there a kids' menu? Yes we have child specific items on the menu

The Hotel — Rooms & Booking

How many rooms do you have? Seven en-suite bedrooms. Three doubles, one superior triple, two family rooms, plus the option to hire the whole building.

What's the difference between the rooms?

- Double with River View — King-sized bed, en-suite, River Dee view
- Double with Town View — Double or king bed, en-suite, looks over Llangollen town square
- Superior Triple with River View — King bed with built-in single bunk above, sleeps 2 adults + 1 child
- Family Room with River View — Super king + built-in bunks, sleeps 4, River Dee view
- Family Room with Town View — Super king + handmade bunks, sleeps 4, town square view
- Whole Building Hire — all 7 bedrooms exclusively for your group

How much do rooms cost? Rates vary by season and night of the week. See live availability via our booking page.

Is breakfast included? Yes — breakfast in the café (served 8am–10:00am) is included in every room rate.

How do I book? Through book.riverbanc.co.uk, via Booking.com, or by calling 01978 799 903.

Can I cancel a booking? Cancellation policy depends on the rate you booked. Free cancellation rates can be cancelled up to5 days before; non-refundable rates can't. Details are shown at checkout.

The Hotel — Your Stay

What time is check-in? From 3pm. We can't offer earlier check-in — we need the time to clean rooms thoroughly.

What time is check-out? 10am.

How do I get into my room? We use a keyless PIN entry system. Your PIN is emailed to you on the day of arrival. Come and go as you please — no need to queue at reception.

Is the building staffed 24 hours? The café reception is staffed during café hours (8am–4pm). Outside those hours we operate a keyless entry system with an emergency on-call number provided at check-in.

Are quiet hours observed? Yes — 11pm to 7am. We often have families and children staying, so we ask guests to respect quiet hours.

Is there CCTV? Yes — in communal areas only (not in rooms or bathrooms), for guest safety.

Is there parking? No on-site parking. Llangollen is a listed conservation area. Several pay-and-display public car parks are within a 2-minute walk.

Is there Wi-Fi? Yes, free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

Are you accessible? We don’t have specific accesible rooms as all the rooms are on there first floor or higher.

Are you dog-friendly in the rooms? We aren’t dog friendly in the rooms.

Is there a lift? No

Can I store luggage before check-in or after check-out? Yes — drop bags at the café and we'll keep them safely during opening hours.

Do you have a hairdryer / iron / kettle in the room? Hairdryers and tea/coffee facilities are in every room. Iron and ironing board available on request.

Groups & Whole Building Hire

Can I hire the whole building? Yes — all seven bedrooms can be booked exclusively for a group of up to 16. Ideal for family gatherings, work away-days, stag and hen weekends.

Can I combine a whole building hire with activities? Absolutely. Whitewater Active operates from the same building, so you can run a weekend of activities and have everyone in one place. Call us to put a package together.

Do you do weddings or large events? We don't host weddings, but we're often booked as accommodation for guests attending weddings at nearby venues like Tyn Dwr Hall, Plassey Brewery, or Wild Pheasant Hotel.

Is the building suitable for hen and stag groups? Yes — we host them regularly. Quiet hours apply, so it's a venue for hen/stag accommodation paired with activities, rather than a late-night party space.

Food, Drink & Local Recommendations

Can I get dinner at Riverbanc? The café closes at 4pm. For dinner, Llangollen has plenty of options within a 2-minute walk — The Corn Mill (gastropub with river views), Bridge End Hotel, Gales of Llangollen wine bar, Cottage Tea Rooms, and several restaurants along Castle Street and Bridge Street.

What's the best pub nearby? The Corn Mill (on Dee Lane, 5 minutes' walk) has the best view — a deck directly above the River Dee rapids, in a restored 18th-century mill.

Where can I buy groceries? There's a Co-op and a Spar within 5 minutes' walk in Llangollen town centre.

Activities & Things To Do

Can I go rafting from the hotel? Yes — Whitewater Active operates from the same building. Walk through reception to the activity centre. They run rafting, canoeing, gorge walking, canyoning, climbing and more, from £50 per person, age 8 and up. See activities at whitewateractive.co.uk.

Do guests get a discount on activities? Definitely. All guests are eligible for discount on the activities.

What else is there to do in Llangollen?

- Castell Dinas Brân - ruined hilltop castle, 40-minute hike
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - UNESCO World Heritage canal aqueduct, 10 minutes by car or canoe with Whitewater Active
- Llangollen Steam Railway - heritage railway along the Dee valley
- Horseshoe Falls - Thomas Telford-designed weir on the canal
- Llangollen Canal - walk, narrowboat or paddle
- Snowdonia (Eryri) - 40 minutes' drive to Bala Lake, 1 hour to Snowdon
- Wrexham FC - Home of Wrexham Football Club - As seen on Welcome to Wrexham.

How far is Snowdonia from Riverbanc? About 40 minutes by car to the eastern edge of Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park and Bala Lake; an hour or so to the Snowdon massif itself.

Travel & Location

What's the nearest train station? Ruabon (5 miles), on the Chester to Shrewsbury mainline. Llangollen also has its own heritage steam railway running into the town but it's not part of the national network.

How do I get from Ruabon station to Riverbanc? About 5 minutes by taxi, or take the X94 bus. Some guests walk it (1 hour, scenic).

How far is Riverbanc from major cities? Wrexham - 20 minutes drive or half an hour bus ride on regular bus routes. Chester — 30 minutes by car Liverpool — 1 hour Manchester — 1 hour Birmingham — 2 hours London — 4 hours by car or train (via Ruabon)

Is there a bus stop nearby? Yes — Llangollen bus station is a 2-minute walk.

What's the nearest airport? Manchester Airport (1 hour) and Liverpool John Lennon Airport (1 hour) are roughly equidistant.