There has always been a degree of good living to be found in this part of South Wales. Back in the 15th century, the Vale Resort was known as the Hensol Estate and, for several centuries, Hensol Castle was home to prominent Vale of Glamorgan families. Judges, bankers and members of parliament all once called this land home, sharing our love of the local landscape, known affectionately by many as ‘the garden of Cardiff’.
In 1926, the land was sold to the local council and the castle became a hospital. But, in the early 1990s, the seed was sown for a new chapter in the estate’s history when the Leeke family, of the JH Leeke and Sons group, took an interest in the estate.
With a group of local entrepreneurs and golf enthusiasts, Gerald Leeke and his son Stephen breathed new life and love into the area, developing what ‘s now the Vale Resort’s 18-hole Lake Course, from a small cabin on site. It was completed in October 1994 and by 1997 was staging the PGA Wales and the West Championship, as well as hosting visiting celebrity golf fans.
Recognising the potential for a world-class leisure facility and hotel on the grounds, the Leeke family went on to drive the build of what is now the Vale Resort. Our leisure club opened in October 1998 and the hotel followed a year later, just as the Rugby World Cup rolled into Cardiff. Despite two decades of award-winning success, our resort remains a family business at heart – with Gerald as group chairman and Stephen as the Vale Resort’s managing director.
We’re proud to be one of the most cherished hotels and leisure destinations in South Wales - renowned for our luxurious touches, world-class facilities and warm Welsh welcome. But don’t take our word for it; come and see for yourself.
