Set in 170 acres of mature parklands on the outskirts of Kilkenny city this modern hotel has a 17th century house at its centre, now extended to become a large hotel with a state-of-the-art conference centre and a spa.
It is an unusual hotel and has character; a huge marbled foyer joins the old house and the new extension, and public areas include the comfortable Tupper’s Bar and an adjacent conservatory, which offer informal food and open on to a sheltered terrace and interesting gardens at the back.
The large first floor restaurant La Perla, where breakfast and dinner are served, overlooks the same area and has picture windows running the length of the room; the old Wine Cellar is open to diners to browse or have an aperitif but it is awkwardly positioned (you have to go through the restaurant and downstairs again) and it is used mainly for functions and groups.
Most people opt for a drink in Tupper’s or the X Bar, which is on the first floor between La Perla and the hotel’s popular ethnic restaurant, Yindees, which offers a cross-section of Asian dishes.
Accommodation is spacious and well appointed in a modern classic style; there are several grades of rooms, soothingly decorated in tones of brown and cream - this could be a pleasant place to stay.
There are extensive conference and banqueting facilites, also a spa & leisure centre.
Conferences/Banqueting (1,500/1,000); business centre; video conferencing; laptop sized safes in bedrooms, free broadband wi/fi. Rooms 137 (1 penthouse suite, 9 suites, 29 executive, 19 family, 4 disabled, all no smoking). Room rate from €120-260 low-high season. Children welcome (under 4s free in parents room, cots available free of charge, baby sitting arranged, creche, playground). 24 hr room service; Lift. Leisure centre (fitness room, swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room); Spa (treatments, massage). Walking, garden. Equestrian, golf & garden visits all nearby. Closed 20-26 Dec. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
