Having been closed for some years, the grandest old hotel in Dun Laoghaire the Royal Marine was purchased in 2004 by Irish hoteliers William Neville & Sons (Neville Hotel Group) and - having restored the original Victorian building to its former glory - it re-opened to some acclaim in 2007. Even The Dun Laoghaire Historical Society were very happy with all the refurbishments at the time, and it has since been an ongoing success story for the town.
Newer buildings on each side of the original hotel house conference facilities and very comfortable accommodation. About a third of the guest rooms are in the original building and many - including executive suites with balconies - have wonderful views over the harbour and Dublin Bay. All are air conditioned, spacious and well appointed, with double quilted mattress and flat screen tv among the features. Family rooms include some with connecting doors and Executive rooms, which have sofa beds suitable for two small children (under 8s only), and a number of accessible rooms have wet room showers, a fold down chair and grab rails.
Now styled as a conference, destination and leisure spa, it boasts some welcome facilities, combining well with the traditional warmth and friendliness that has always been present in this landmark hotel. The Pier Health Club features state-of-the-art cardio & resistance equipment, an18 metre pool, steam room, sauna and a Hydro Pool. And the destination sansanaSPA is a big attraction, offering six treatment rooms and boasting a number of must-try features, including a unique waterbed relaxation, ‘float’ and ‘relax’ room; Rock sauna and aroma therapy room; a Mud chamber and Tropical experience showers, as well as more familiar treatments including a Manicure and pedicure suite, a Hydrotherapy chamber, Thermal suites and relaxation beds & lounge area.
The Royal Marine is a popular meeting place locally as well as a haven for resident guests, and the range of dining and socialising experiences offered reflects that, with something provided for every mood and occasion by Head Chef Karl Smith and his team. The Dún Restaurant is the place for a relatively formal occasion, for example, with views over the bay enhancing the experience, while the contemporary Hardy’s Bar & Bistro offers a vibrant atmosphere and cocktails, along with bar menu dishes to suit both traditional and contemporary tastes. Alternatively the well-named Bay Lounge is just the spot to enjoy lunch or Traditional Afternoon Tea and the buzzy Atrium Lounge is a socialising space offeriing meals and snacks throughout the day.
This impressive hotel also provides a meeting place on a grand scale for family and corporate events of all sizes - and, with 14 meeting spaces catering for anything up to 500 guests in the Carlilse Suite, it's not hard to see why it is the centre of the community.
***The Royal Marine Hotel is a member of the Irish family-owned company Neville Hotels. Sister properties are Druids Glen Resort, Co Wicklow; Kilkenny River Court; Tower Hotel Waterford; Ravenport Resort, Co Wexford.
