Fancy staying at Northern Ireland’s Hotel of the Year? Check out which place topped the list.
A hotel in Northern Ireland has made an appearance in a list of awards touted as being some of the best places to stay in the UK this year.
Each year, experts at The Times collate a selection of hotels and guesthouses entitled “100 Best Places to Stay in the UK” for that year. This list includes venues all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
And this year, one hotel in County Antrim has taken the top prize.
The Rabbit Hotel in Templepatrick, just a ten-minute drive from the Belfast International Airport, has gained quite a reputation in recent years and has become a hugely popular choice for weddings and staycations.
And it seems The Times have cottoned on to its appeal.
The list – how to become ‘hotel of the year’
So what goes into crowning an establishment ‘Northern Ireland’s Hotel of the Year’ anyway?
Well, the rankings are established by journalists at The Times who personally spend time in each property, in order to get a feel for what each place has to offer.
There are certain criteria that a place is measured against. For one, the interiors, whatever the style, need to be tasteful. The team also ranks based on the quality of food and whether or not marketing promises are fulfilled.
They also take inclusivity into account, looking out for features such as accessible toilets, clear signage for people who are partially sighted, and entrances that are well lit and fitted with ramps.
Interiors – designed with taste
The interiors of a hotel are one of the key factors that go into deciding which hotel is the best of the year.
As one of the best spa hotels in Northern Ireland, The Rabbit Hotel certainly came up top for interior design.
The Times mention the William Morris wallpaper and neon signs in the bedrooms, which they point out will be ideal for Instagramming millennials.
They also highlight the huge disco ball hanging above the heated Roman bath. This is quite the feature and one that is often depicted in visitors’ photos on social media when they stay at The Rabbit.
Facilities – second to none
The facilities at the 33-room boutique hotel are also highlighted. They describe the impressive spa which includes a heated pebble “beach”, not to mention a tiki bar serving rum spritz.
The hotel’s proximity to convenient spots was also mentioned in the write-up. They note the fact that you can get to the Belfast City Airport in ten minutes, while you can reach Belfast city centre in twenty minutes.
In reality, we would wager it may take a little longer than that to get right into town. But there is no doubt that The Rabbit is conveniently located.
It is clear that the journalists at The Times have taken their time to do their research here.
Whether it is for a quality meal out, a relaxing spa afternoon, or a wedding, there appears to be something for everyone at The Rabbit. And we can certainly see why it won the prize for ‘Northern Ireland’s Hotel of the Year’.
Compared to many other boutique hotels on the list, it doesn’t break the bank either. Just in case you were thinking of planning that weekend away sometime soon.
