This Cork hotels got a fine country house at its heart and is set in its own garden and is quietly situated on the south of the city and very convenient to Cork airport and the Jack Lynch Tunnel, .
The main entrance is via the original flight of steps up to the old front door and guests are welcomed at a the reception desk in the beautifully proportioned entrance hall.
The original house has many fine features and is furnished in period style with antiques; spacious public areas now extend from it, right across to the new accommodation wing through the Garden Room, a spacious contemporary lounge furnished with smart leather sofas.
The new section of the hotel - which is modern and blends comfortably with the trees and gardens surrounding it - includes excellent leisure facilities, the main bar and restaurant, and guest accommodation.
Guest rooms and suites are exceptionally attractive in terms of design - simple, modern, bright, utilising Irish crafts: rooms are generously-sized, with a pleasantly leafy outlook and good amenities; compact, well-lit bathrooms have plenty of marbled shelf space, environmentally friendly toiletries, very small baths and towels, and suggestions on saving water by avoiding unnecessary laundry (the hotel's positive environmental policy has achieved recognition with a Green Failte Gold Award / Best in County).
The hotel has adopted a very family-friendly policy, with on-site pet farm with a swing and slide (children can play or help to feed and tend the animals), tailored half day and full day family itineraries for outings and other services including picnic baskets made up to order.
Conference/banqueting (500/400); business centre, secretarial services, video conferencing, free broadband wi/fi, laptop-sized safes in bedrooms. Leisure centre (swimming pool, children's pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room); beauty salon; Spa. Children welcome (under 2s free in parents room, cots available without charge, baby sitting arranged, unsupervised playroom in school holidays, children's DVDs). No pets.
Rooms 93 (2 suites, 3 junior suites, 88 executive rooms, 37 no-smoking, 8 for disabled). Lift. 24 hour room service.
B&B €75 pps, ss €25. Closed 24-26 Dec.
Zings:
Creative use of lighting separates areas within this design-led dining area without physical divisions - and the tables are considerately spot lit (ideal for lone diners who wish to read). Gerry Allen, who has been head chef since the hotel opened in 1997 and has earned a local following, offers European cuisine with Mediterranean flavours on quite extensive menus.
Although international influences dominate, local produce is used - pretty desserts that are worth leaving room for include a commendable number of choices using seasonal fruits, for example, and local farmhouse cheeses are also a strong option.
A good selection of house wines is offered, also an unusually wide choice of half bottles, all moderately priced.
Zings : Seats 120; not suitable for children after 7pm; air conditioning. L daily 12.30-2.30, D 6.30-9.30. Set L €30, D à la carte. House wines from €25. SC discretionary. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
