Dyfed-Powys Police have issued a warning after several groups entered the closed Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli and filmed inside, finding the landmark venue apparently left fully operational.
The force said it had received a rise in reports of trespassing at the Furnace site over the late May bank holiday weekend, with people accessing the building to create social media content.
Officers confirmed that no arrests have been made, and that they are in contact with those involved. Enquiries are being carried out into potential criminal damage and burglary offences.
In a statement, the force urged people not to enter the building, warning of the risks of going into a closed and unsecured property.
One of the groups, B&R Urban Explorers UK, told Swansea Bay News it had heard from another group that the hotel was open, and arrived to find a door wide open.
The group said the electricity was still on, with the lifts in working order, two bars fully stocked, and beds still made — in its words, “as if waiting for guests that never arrived.”
The group said it understood the concerns raised by police about people entering the building, acknowledging that the risks inside any such property are unknown.
It said its approach was to “document things and leave,” and suggested that if access was not wanted, the building should be properly secured.
The footage and photographs, shared widely on social media, show corridors with the lights on, function rooms with chandeliers still hanging, and a kitchen left with crockery and supplies in place.
The scenes are the latest twist in the long-running story of the four-star hotel, which closed with immediate effect earlier this year.
The closure left staff facing redundancy and threw the future of one of Llanelli’s best-known venues into doubt.
The hotel’s operating company, Gryphon Leisure Limited, remains the subject of a High Court winding-up petition brought by HM Revenue and Customs, with other creditors also backing the action, listed under case number CR-2026-000901.
Companies House records show the company is still listed as active, but now also faces a proposed strike-off from the register. No liquidation order or receivership appointment is recorded on the public register.
(Image: B&R Urban Explorers)
Local representatives have been working to address concerns about the site. Hengoed councillors Martyn Palfreman and Ed Skinner, working with Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith and Elli ward councillor Steve Williams, said they had arranged fencing through the county council and approached the site’s receiver to improve security.
They said they had received an assurance from the UK Border Security and Asylum Minister that the hotel would not be used to house asylum seekers — a reference to the controversial 2023 plan that was eventually withdrawn.
The representatives said their priority was to see the hotel sold as a going concern, and urged people to stay away from the site for their own safety.
Police said work was continuing with partners and the owners to resolve the situation, and that community engagement was ongoing to reassure people living nearby.
Anyone who witnesses trespassing or antisocial behaviour at the site is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police on 101, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
The hotel’s owner, Ahsan Ullah, was approached for comment.
