Imminent threat of demolition lifted from John & Yoko hotel

Welsh heritage chiefs step in after SAVE raises alarm

SAVE has helped secure a stay of execution for the grade II-listed Corbett Arms Hotel on the edge of Snowdonia, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono once stayed with their children.

Welsh heritage chiefs intervened after SAVE raised the alarm over the historic former seaside hotel which was facing demolition on Friday.

Gwynedd Council was seeking to demolish it under dangerous building powers due to concerns that two areas at the back of the 1833 building had collapsed after years of neglect. 

But SAVE commissioned Jon Avent, a specialist conservation engineer, to review its condition. He concluded: “There is simply no justification for demolition.”

We also rallied supporters to write to the chief executive of Gwynedd Council. In response the council confirmed demolition would not go ahead on Friday.

Now Cadw, the Welsh government’s official heritage advisor, has taken action that lifts the threat of imminent demolition. It confirmed that a listed building consent (LBC) application will be submitted by the council prior to any work being undertaken. 

This means the risk of hasty demolition under dangerous building powers has been averted for now. 

Under the official process, there is a statutory period of consultation and review of supporting evidence. This gives a chance for wider scrutiny and potentially a “call-in” for determination by Welsh ministers who could choose to overrule any decision to demolish since the building is an important national landmark and largely in sound condition. 

While it has fallen into disrepair in recent years, a buyer is reportedly interested in reviving it. The local chamber of tourism and commerce says this could create dozens of jobs – which would be a huge boost for this small town. 

Under S.117 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 it is an offence to carry out unauthorised works to a listed building unless it can be shown that the works were urgently necessary in the interests of safety or health, or that the works carried out were limited to the minimum measures immediately necessary. 

Background

The handsome four-storey hotel is one of the most prominent buildings in the heart of Tywyn, on the edge of Snowdonia (Eryri). It’s been “the star” of its North Wales community for nearly 200 years and hosted the likes of the Beatles legend John Lennon and his family. 

It was under threat of imminent demolition following a Gwynedd Council engineer’s report that recommended large areas of demolition. SAVE, which added the hotel to its Buildings at Risk register a year ago, questioned the need for demolition. We appointed Jon Avent, a conservation-accredited engineer and director at national firm Mann Williams, to review the building at the end of April. 

He concluded: “There is simply no justification for demolition.” 

Following repeated requests by SAVE, the council shared their engineer’s report, dated 8 April 2025. Jon Avent reviewed this report for SAVE and expressed strong concern over the methodology and justification for demolition. 

He told us: “I am deeply concerned at the extent of demolition proposed, which I consider unjustified. I have not seen evidence that repair options have been considered, and where demolition is proposed I have also not seen evidence that it is necessary or justified. 

“Having been involved with many buildings at risk and many in significantly worse condition, none have been demolished to the extent proposed on this building. I am also seriously concerned that the extent of demolition proposed as the starting point is excessive and will create instability in the building where previously none existed.”

Read our previous news stories here and here.