You can't beat the Sunny South East for a traditional family break and this sister property to the more businesslike Ashdown Park Hotel (see entry), on the other side of Gorey town, is one of the most focused hotels in Ireland when it comes to thinking about everything that's needed to make a successful family holiday.
Not far from the train station and within walking distance of the town centre, it's also close to sandy beaches - but there's so much to do on site that there's a good chance you'll never want to budge at all if you have the kids in tow.
'Relax, revive and restore' is the motto and, with an unrivalled range of outdoor activities for children - including mini-golf, a playground, and go-karting - as well as excellent indoor facilities, the little ones will certainly be very happy bunnies. And, as every parent knows, once the children are happy....
The hotel's leisure centre has a dedicated pool for kids and there's an excellent kids' club, indoor playzone and teens' games room with Xboxes and air hockey too.
But it's not all about the kids - Mum and Dad should be pretty happy too as there's an 18-metre swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, and a fitness studio - and beauty treatments as well, in the Club Amber Springs Leisure Centre.
When it comes to accommodation, there's a choice of Standard Rooms, Family Rooms (sleeping five) and Suites, and families can have interconnecting rooms, additional beds and/or cots - and, a very sensible idea to make sure that guests travelling without children will also enjoy their stay, there's an adult only third floor, well away from the sound of kids having fun.
Food-wise there's a lot of good stuff going on here too, as the hotel offers a range of dining options and the Redmond family's own farm, just a few kilometres away, supplies beef and much of the fresh produce daily for use in its restaurants - which include Farina pizzeria and, more recently, the aptly name FARM Steakhouse (over 16s only).
Having an adults-only destination restaurant in a family focused hotel is a really smart move and it's a great opportunity for Executive Chef William Millar and FARM Steakhouse chef Tamas Varga to showcase the farm produce - beef from the grass fed Angus cattle and vegetables grown just minutes away - in dishes that are seasonal, inventive and very tasty.
And, while the South-East is synonymous with sunny summer holidys, there's plenty going on here off season too, including an annual Easter Festival, Hallowe'en specials, Kids Party events and a Santa Special.
