ON FRIDAY evening I got invited to the official launch of Wrexham's newest hotel and here's how it went. 

As reported by the Leader last month, the Holt Lodge has been taken on by new owners, who have huge plans for the site just outside Wrexham city centre. 

First things first was the name change, with it being rebranded to 'Hotel Wrexham'

The night was laid out as a networking evening, with a discussion into plans for the site as well as an official opening with food and drink on offer. 

There was also a chance to get a sneak look into some of the newly refurbished rooms at the hotel, which hold a Wrexham theme. 

Upon arrival, I was greeted by kind staff members who showed me where everything was in the main reception area and offered me a complimentary drink... nice touch. 

Then it was a case of waiting for guests to arrive, with a host of Wrexham business owners, community organisations and members of the council present to celebrate the occasion. 

Two of the owners, Steven Hesketh and Peter Schriewersmann then spoke to those in attendance, outlining who they were and what their plans were for their new hotel and Wrexham as a whole. 

The pair spoke very well about wanting to connect with Wrexham and the community, with a large emphasis on family and friendships coming through in their speeches. 

They briefly discussed plans for a pub on site caled the Savvy Fox, which could be coming as soon as September. 

Then there was the ongoing development and refurbishment of the hotel, which we were told would take time and wouldn't be an instant thing. 

The pair also mentioned plans to turn the Old Registry Office in the city centre into 13 new apartments in a bid to boost tourism in Wrexham. 

Peter said: "We want to take Wrexham to the next level and we're really excited about being here."

Everything they said came across really well and it seems that they have more than just their own interests at heart with this development, which looks like it will benefit Wrexham hugely in the long term. 

Once the pair had finished their speeches, Mayor of Wrexham Beryl Blackmore officially cut the ribbon, announcing Hotel Wrexham officially open. 

Then came the tours of the refurbished rooms that have been done out really nicely. The two show rooms were both spacious, and had a clean look about them, with a nod to Wrexham and it's history too. 

All in all, Hotel Wrexham seems to be a really exciting project, with several jobs set to be created as development's go on. It has an awful lot of potential, that the new owners are invested into unleashing. 

The finer details are yet to be released about the plans and what the redevelopment will look like, but once they are, the excitement should only increase further.