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The origins of Straffan House go back a long way - the history is known as far back as 550 AD - but it was the arrival of the Barton wine family in 1831 that established the tone of today’s magnificent building, by giving it a distinctively French elegance.
Set in lush countryside overlooking formal gardens and its two championship golf courses, the estate boasts unrivalled opulence. Originally opened as a hotel by the Smurfit Group in 1991, the property was acquired by Dublin-based businessman, Michael Fetherston, in 2020. Since then, an investment programme has taken place to transform the property, in particular the lobby and lounge areas, bar and restaurant and in 2022, a refurbishment of the guest rooms and suites began.
The hotel and two clubhouses offer a range of dining experiences: The K Club’s premier restaurant, The Barton Restaurant (see below) offers fine dining based on local and estate-grown seasonal produce, and a signature list of 250 wines. Recent dining additions include The Palmer, a casual all-day dining venue with a covered terrace and seating for 120, and the stylish South Bar and Restaurant with its statement bar, open plan seating and great views across the golf course.
Golfers have welcomed with open arms the addition of the new K Golf World, a separate venue on the resort which offers 8 state-of-the-art golf simulators. It has a dedicated sports bar with multiple TV screens and a small-bites offering.
Although most famous for its golf, The K Club also offers many other estate activities including river fishing for salmon and trout and coarse fishing with a choice of five stocked lakes (equipment bait and tackle provided; tuition available). Other on-site amenities include a swimming pool; spa; tennis; walking; cycling; equestrian, archery, falconry, kayaking and Segway tours. For guests interested in horticulture there is a mapped garden walk, with planting details. Tours of the wine cellar are led by the hotel’s highly respected sommelier, Lisa O’Doherty.
The Barton Restaurant
This is the K Club’s premier restaurant and, beside it, a pleasantly clubby bar opens onto an elegant terrace with a distinctly French tone - here, on fine summer evenings, guests can consider menus over an aperitif and admire the golf course across the river before heading in to the restaurant, where tall, dramatically draped windows, marble columns, paintings of racehorses, tables laden with crested china, monogrammed white linen, gleaming crystal and silver are all designed to impress.
Leading chef Philip Brazil took over as Executive Chef in late 2020 and he continues a longstanding commitment to using the best of local and estate-grown produce, and all the little touches - a complimentary amuse-bouche, home-made petits fours with the coffee - that make a special dining experience memorable may be expected.
Service is professional and friendly - and, given the intertwined history of Straffan House and the Barton family, it is appropriate that the Bordeaux Reserve from Barton and Guestier should be the label chosen for the hotel’s house wine, heading up a signature list of 250 wines.
