Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Denbighshire developer Mike Hall owns a French wine bar, an Italian-style coffee shop and a British à la carte restaurant. Next in line is an American Diner, which somehow seems entirely appropriate when you consider the ambitious vision he has for his home town. "Donald Trump beat me to it!" he said, speaking of his "rejuvenation" plans.
"It's basically, Make Ruthin Great Again. It's as simple as that. I want Ruthin to be put back on the map, and for there to be a reason for people to come here and enjoy our beautiful town.
" Like many towns and villages, he said, Ruthin has been caught in a spiral of High Street closures and the loss of banks and services. Small independent shops have struggled as town centre footfall declines, in turn adding to pressures on pubs and restaurants. Yet few places have so much potential.
Only last year Ruthin was named the "best place to live in Wales" by the Sunday Times. Ruthin, said the newspaper, was a "small town with big ambitions and an even bigger heart". Mike is certainly dreaming big.
"We need to make Ruthin a vibrant town, with lots going on and lots to offer, so others start to invest in the town's shops and facilities," said the 50-year-old father-of-two. "I would like to see Ruthin thriving with visitors, and bouncing with locals, everyone enjoying.
