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Portaferry Hotel

This 18th-century waterfront terrace presents a neat, traditional exterior overlooking the lough towards the attractive village of Strangford and the National Trust property, Castleward, home to an opera festival each June. The inn is now one of the most popular destinations in Northern Ireland - not least for its reputation for good food, including their excellent lunchtime bar meals: an extensive menu is offered, everything is freshly-prepared and attractively presented and it is good value.

The ground floor the bar, a comfortable sitting room, and the restaurant has a cosy, well-kept old-fashioned feeling to it and, whiule not luxurious, accommodation is comfortable and most of the individually decorated en-suite bedrooms have views of the water - those on the front attract a small supplement.

The hotel is beautifully kept and maintained, a lovely place with personality, and friendly, helpful staff.

Small conference/private parties (35/80); parking. Children (Under 16s free in parents' room; cots available at no charge). No pets.

Rooms 14 (all en-suite, 2 shower only, 4 family rooms, all no-smoking) B&B £65 pps, ss £20.

Restaurant:

A slightly cottagey style provides the perfect background for good unpretentious food. Local produce features prominently in prime Ulster beef, Mourne lamb and game from neighbouring estates but it is, of course, the seafood from daily landings at the nearby fishing villages of Ardglass and Portavogie that take pride of place.

Well-balanced table d'hôte lunch and dinner menus are offered, plus a short carte, providing plenty of choice although majoring on local seafood.

Excellent breakfasts are served in the restaurant a particularly good menu is offered, giving plenty of choice including fresh and smoked fish as a feature. This may not be the gargantuan spread that some country houses lay on for guests, but it is all freshly cooked to order and really delicious - and efficiently served by friendly staff: exactly what the perfect hotel breakfast should be.

Seats 65. Children welcome. L daily, 12.30-2.30; D daily 5.30-9 (to 8.30 Sun). D Value Menu nightly 5.30-6.30. Set menu; Sun L about £18.50. Á la carte and childrens menu also available; house wine from about £10.50; sc discretionary. Toilets wheelchair accessible. Open all year except Christmas. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa.

Directions:

On Portaferry seafront.