One of the oldest municipal buildings in Wales, Raglan Lodge, situated on Bank Street, just off the High Street, has been almost completely renovated into a backpackers hostel.

The building is Grade II*, which indicates particularly important buildings of more than special interest; only 5.5 per cent of listed buildings throughout the UK are Grade II*, making Raglan Lodge a very special place.

Mike Lewis, bought the building six years ago with a plan to transform the historic building into an upmarket hostel.

"I have put my heart and soul (and a considerable amount of cash) into this project," said Mike.

"When I bought the building at auction I was bidding against two other developers who wanted to turn it into flats. When I was the winning bidder a cheer went up in the room: I think most locals were relieved that someone was going to use the building for the good of the community.

"I believe this project is pivotal to the tourist trade: people using the hostel will spend their money in the town and will also be a shining example of this kind of restored historic building."

Mike is hands-on with the renovation, doing a lot of the woodwork himself.

"The sash windows at the front are Georgian and irreplaceable. I took them out one by one and restored them individually. The whole place has had this degree of attention to detail."

The Moot Hall, which is just off the street, will be a reception area with steps carved out of the rock, taking you up to the first floor which is a fine example of Georgian architecture.

Visitors will be able to admire the vaulted ceiling with a 900-year-old stone carving of a Green Man in the eaves.

"The planning took two years to come through," said Mike. "Because it is a graded building and Cadw are involved in the overseeing, there are serious financial implications and things take ages to be approved.

"Adventa, Monmouthshire County Council and Chepstow Council have all been very helpful throughout."

"Although there is no practical support for people restoring a graded building there are a lot of dictates about what you have to do. Planning permissions were very difficult to obtain.

"By the end of the project I'll have spent in excess of £1.2 million.

"I had to spend an extra £4,000 to rehome two pipistrelle bats who were living in the roof. It's been an expensive business."

The planned opening date is April next year, but the restoration of the building will be finished by October.

"I will run the hostel with my partner, Vanessa, for the first year," said Mick, "and then put in place a strong management team.

"It is really important to me to deliver an extraordinary service and unusually good quality backpacker's hostel."

The hostel will be able to sleep about 60 people with accommodation ranging from en-suite rooms to a bunk house.

There are a host of activities planned for visitors such as guided walks, history tours, mushroom foraging and canoeing.

For further information about the hostel email [email protected]">[email protected]