If you meet the gorgeous 'welcoming committee' Cockapoo, Florence, when checking in, you're sure to be smitten by this unusual hotel. Friendly greetings don't get any warmer - and she has the cheerful reception staff well trained too.
Formerly the Templeton, this buzzy boutique hotel near Belfast International Airport is now part of the Galgorm Collection and, following a multi-million pound refurbishment, it re-opened in its quirky new guise as The Rabbit in 2021.
It's a sister property to the magnificent Galgorm near Ballymena and, more recently, The Old Inn at Crawfordsburn, but first time visitors familiar with the sister properties will find a very different vibe at The Rabbit. The 'Retreat' in the name here references the spa rather than the ambience of the hotel itself, which attracts a youthful clientèle who come here to relax and have fun. Not that you have to be any particular age to enjoy visiting The Rabbit, which is a multi-generational destination and popular with local families who enjoy the casual dining style.
But one thing the Galgorm Collection hotels have in common is outstanding spa amenities - which is something of a miracle at The Old Inn (a Blue Book property) considering its age and the challenges of the site, and has been taken to exceptional heights at the spacious Galgorm Resort's Thermal Village. Each spa has its particular character and - alongside many other attractions including fully body and facial treatments, a Swedish sauna, steam room and salt chamber, lakeview hot tubs and the impressive Roman bath - the trump card at The Rabbit is the heated lakeside pebble beach where you can chill out in a deck chair, or cosy up on the heated marble loungers beside the Beach Bar.
The four room types - Snug, Attic, Comfy and Luxe - may vary in size and special features (the two Luxe rooms have separate bath and shower, and some Comfy rooms have their own little courtyard with a wood-burning stove and outdoor bath tub (and are dog friendly), but all have seriously comfortable king size beds and all the bells and whistles, including signature robes and slippers, Dyson hairdryers, Nespresso coffee machines, safes and a fridge, along with WiFi, LCD TV and Marshall amp for in-room entertainment.
Informal dining at The Rabbit Restaurant or Hunter’s Bar offers menus with plenty of tasty crowd-pleasers - and the Palm House is available for Spa lunch, for day spa guests and residents.
While the vibe varies according to the day and time, it's easy to see why this fun and quirky place is such a popular destination for locals as well as resident guests.
