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This famous hotel has an attractive exterior, with its name emblazoned in blue and white stained glass above the entrance and flags fluttering on poles, giving it a cosmopolitan look. Since 2004 this landmark hotel has been in the caring ownership of the proprietor, Ciaran Fitzgerald, who continues to do everything possible to build on and develop its reputation as a premier destination in this historic town.
Due to the nature of the building, public areas are quite compact, but regular refurbishment - and reinvention - ensure best use of space and there is always a fresh feeling to the design and decor. The reception and bar areas have a pleasantly open and contemporary feeling, and there's the Newport Lounge which is an ideal setting for an intimate dining experience, perfect for smaller groups..
All the bedrooms have double glazing to offset the street noise that is inevitable in a central location and, although not large, both the rooms and their neat bathrooms make up in thoughtful planning anything they lack in spaciousness and they are refurbished regularly. Cookies and an iPad for your use on arrival, King Koil pocket sprung beds, Dyson Air Purifiers and Supersonic Hair Dryers, Nespresso machines in each room are among the details that make guests feel pampered here, and there are plenty more.
Although Kinsale is mainly seen as a tourist destination, the hotel provides excellent corporate accommodation rates. *There is extra accommodation available a few doors away at The Old Bank House (see entry), which is in common ownership and offers many of the same quality details.
Restaurants & Bars
The Blue Haven aims to offer a lot more than the usual hotel dining experience and, whether in one of the bars or The Fish Market, which offers a wide range of classic and contemporary seafood dishes. A meal here, or in the fine dining restaurant, whiskey and cocktail venue, Rare, is ideal for an intimate dining experience, perfect for smaller groups.
Head Chef Meeran Gani Manzoor and his team showcase the best of seasonal local produce in a wide range of classic and contemporary dishes. It's good to see the (sophisticated) house version of a traditional favourite such as Bacon & Cabbage leading off the main courses on the Rare menu - and to see some of the hotel's excellent suppliers profiled on the website.
Guests also enjoy the atmosphere of The Bar & Bistro, which offers cocktail and gin menus and an appealing choice of food, also based mainly on local ingredients.
And, when it comes to outdoor dining The Blue Haven has a secret weapon in the form of Hamlets Street Food & Gastro Garden which includes an outdoor kitchen and garden area. It worked especially well during the pandemic as it is a very large, heated outdoor area with casual dining and cocktails in a fun environment - but also with a serious food offering. Although developed to provide an imaginative outdoor dining solution under challenging circumstances, it will continue to be an especially attractive venue long into the future.
