📣 End Of An Era For The Three Counties Hotel. Founding Stone Gifted To Family Friend Of Original Owners

[Hereford Voice]

The demolition of the Three Counties Hotel marks the end of an era in Hereford's history. The founding stone plaque from the hotel, built and financed in partnership between Alfons Sikora and a prominent local landlord, has been gifted to a family friend by Wye Valley Demolition.

The site on Belmont Road (A465) is being prepared for the construction of a Lidl discount supermarket, scheduled to begin in early 2025. Wye Valley Demolition has nearly completed levelling the former hotel, which was granted approval for demolition in April.

Alfons Sikora’s family friend shared insights into the hotel’s history while collecting the stone from Stuart Crowe, a supervisor at Wye Valley Demolition. He recounted that the hotel was established in the late 1970s by two Polish émigrés, Alfons Sikora and Frank Taday. Both men came to Herefordshire after World War II, drawn by the county’s existing Polish community and opportunities for a fresh start.

Sikora, who had built a successful business producing computer flooring and suspended ceilings under the company Sikora Ltd (later Intek Flooring), financed much of the hotel’s construction.

Taday, a well-known publican and former operator of the Spread Eagle Hotel in King Street, intended to manage the new venture, originally named the White Eagle Motel. Despite its modern design and comprehensive facilities, financial difficulties forced the pair to sell the hotel to Queen’s Moat Houses PLC, then one of the UK’s leading hotel chains.

Over the years, the hotel underwent several ownership changes, becoming the Three Counties Hotel and later operated by the Price family, who expanded and modernised the facility. In its prime, the hotel boasted Hereford's largest conference room and hosted numerous events. However, it ultimately struggled under its final owners, leading to its closure and sale.

In March 2023, the hotel temporarily served as accommodation for asylum seekers under a contract with the Home Office, managed by Serco in collaboration with Herefordshire Council and local partners. By February 2024, the asylum seekers had been relocated to alternative housing, paving the way for the site’s sale to Lidl. Despite concerns over the notorious traffic on the busy Belmont Road, Herefordshire Council approved the new development.

Reflecting on the hotel’s legacy, the family friend expressed disappointment at its demolition, noting the absence of comparable venues in Belmont for events or social gatherings. Nevertheless, he praised Wye Valley Demolition for their professionalism and care during the project.

“I was deeply impressed with the team’s responsiveness and attention to detail, particularly supervisors Ashley Davies and Stuart Crowe,” he said. “The founding stone, weighing a tonne and made of slate, was handled with exceptional care. Their efforts demonstrate the high standards of the Wye Valley Group, a family-run company that combines personalised service with operational expertise.”

The Three Counties Hotel will be remembered as a significant chapter in Hereford’s history, symbolising the ambition and contributions of its founders.

By C. James (Hereford Voice)