This place blew my mind! The decoration and atmosphere was of the most extravagancy. It felt like a…read more5 star hotel. The workers are really fast and hardworking and friendly! The food and drink service was overwhelmingly better! The food was spot on and cooked to the absolute perfection. I 100% recommend this place if you are looking for a nice Sunday dinner!

The food is amazing the customer service is good. It's very clean and comfortable. A very good…read moreplace to go.

Having been passed Ballyrobin so many times on our way to and from the airport over the years it…read morewas finally give it a go before flying out recently. The eateries at the airport are (as with many airports) comfortable above average pricing for the what they offer and equally as comfortably below average in terms of quality, so a change of plan was long overdue. I phoned ahead that morning just to make sure there was a table and there was no issue securing a table over the phone, although this wasn't surprising as we were eating at a pretty early tea time as dictated by the time of our flight. From the get go the young lady on the phone was great and I got a good vibe from that point. So we arrived (a full half an hour before the time I'd booked as we're a nervous lot when it comes to airport punctuality) and found there was ample car parking right next to the door. In reception I quickly apologised as I was worried our being there 30 mins ahead of schedule would be a problem but it absolutely wasn't. We were shown through to an area around the back that was just inside the conservatory area, which was good as it was a pretty warm day by N.Ireland standards and the conservatory was pretty warm. The whole place is a series of smaller rooms which all seem pretty cosy and some would lend themselves quite well to a summer day like on our visit, and equally some would be cosy on a winters night. On arrival there was only ourselves and one other party there. We were waited on very proficiently by 2 or 3 staff members who were all lovely and very personable. So the food.... Very happy with it. I got the fish and chips and after a small amount of initial worry when it came out due to the size of the portion (I thought they were going for quantity over quality) I was pleasantly surprised with a lovely creamy fish texture and light crispy batter with well-cooked chips and mushy peas. I had a little of the lasagna that my wife ordered and it was top notch too, as was my mums chicken dish with peppered sauce. It probably helps that the 3 dishes ordered were pretty much my top 3 favorites found on most menus. So all in all this was top notch across the board, service, food and environment. We were there early as I said so kitchen and service staff were not under pressure in any way which may have helped the quality of the food and service, but I get the impression they would try to keep that standard up during busy times too, I'd be more than happy to go back as a busier time and see for myself...... not least of all because if I'm there again it would probably be because I'm off on my holidays again!

I have to say our experience wasn't overly impressive…read more We arrived and we're told the restaurant was full but we could eat in the bar which were fine with. We were told it would take a little while to take our order which was fine, again, we were ok with this. A little over 20 minutes after we were seated we asked if we were able to order and we were advised "I told you it would be a while, I'll take your order but it won't get your food out any faster" That aside, when the food came it was nice and no real complaints from anyone in our party - aside from receiving plain chips instead of chilli fries (we didn't bother to raise it as we weren't expecting a good response) All things considered I'm sure on a less busy day this might not have happened...

We turned up here last Sunday evening as they had live music starting at 6pm…read more We've been here quite often in the last few months with family so we knew it was worth going along hungry. I ordered an 8oz fillet steak which came with French fried and tobacco onions, yummy pepper sauce, parsnips roasted to perfection and buttery delicious champ, all in all about £25. The chef here can cook and knows how to season. My wife opted for salmon with a buttery sauce. Light and delicious. Good coffees to finish, terrific staff great live music and no downsides. As we drive home it was kinda spooky to seen Venus and Saturn so close, bright and aligned in the night sky. Some days are diamond. M

Pretty basic pub food in my opinion. I got the carbonara (wrong spelling in the menu) and it was…read moreneither american nor italian carbonara. It was british which a very interesting flavour i would say but yeah its pretty basic. Pretty nice and upscale pub in my opinion. The downside is that i have to use cash to pay so frustating gotta take out money from spar. Cheers!

Having used the Park Avenue recently as a venue for a conference, I must say I was pleasantly…read moresurprised. I was a little apprehensive about the service we would get as in the past it was never known as an upmarket hotel, but everything was spot on and indeed it now has 4 stars. The staff went out of their way to help us set up our conference rooms, ran and got anything we needed and made sure that all the catering was exactly on time. I stayed the night before the conference and my room was really nice - plenty of room, TV and better than average furniture, bathroom and bedding. Much better than I was expecting. Breakfast the next morning was tasty and nicely presented and the Ulster Fry was grease free. Morning and afternoon breaks and lunches were good too. - freshly cooked tasty food, and lots of it. Afternoon break included fresh cream pastries which went down very well too. The Park Avenue is a lovely hotel where the staff deliver excellent service. The weekend break at £90 per person for 2 nights, breakfast and 1 dinner is outstanding value so give it a go.

The long awaited Ulster Fry. The potato bread and Soda bread was just as good as it can get . I…read morereally enjoyed it and would recommend it . Just the right amount .

From the moment we arrived we were greeted by friendly and accommodating staff. We arrived late due…read moreto flight delays but they were willing to help us with a bite to eat and an evening cap before heading to our room. The room was clean and cozy & just what we needed after 18 hours of traveling. The rooms aren't very warm (but we're from Phoenix so our idea may be jaded) and the water pressure leaves a little to be desired but overall we were pleased with our stay. The close proximity to the GOT parking and the fact that we got to sleep where some the actual crew did was amazing!

hey Yelpers.....came here last week into Banbridge, N.I. and stayed here at the Belmont and I do…read morehave to say honestly that this hotel was one of the best I have ever stayed in.....The staff was great and went over and beyond....The room was clean and tidy.....The breakfasts I had were very good and plentiful ......The hotel, bar, restaurant and other dining rooms are all very classy ........ .I will be definitely will coming back here the next visit to Banbridge....Thanx again for the great stay......

Everything about the cocktail bar at the Merchant's Hotel drips elegance, from the grand old…read moreentrance with a snappily dressed porter to the sweeping ceilings bearing ancient Ulster Bank emblems adorning its corners. Upon presenting ourselves in the bar area, we were promptly greeted and shown to some ornate seats, then presented with a tray of assorted snack crackers while we perused the menu. Shortly thereafter, we were also delivered a refreshing welcome libation. Totally unexpected, and a gracious touch of hospitality. Cocktail offerings span the gamut of base spirits and flavor combinations. Each drink was cleverly appellated with a mononym that captured its essence. After some consultation with our server, Conor, I opted to start with the Chocolate, while my sister ordered a Rhubarb. As one might expect of an establishment that's earned two pins from the Pinnacle Guide, service was blazingly prompt (I'm always surprised when I don't have to wait a good ten minutes between ordering a craft cocktail and having it show up at my table), the drinks themselves were flawlessly balanced, and I do -so- love when bars have both proper ice and glassware that shows off its contents. The Merchant's Hotel bar (over)delivers on absolutely every aspect of the tippling experience. Our first round was so delightful, I was loath to leave before sampling their other offerings. I was torn between the Ginger (because, poitín) and the Orange (because, local whiskey), but Conor surprised me with an invitation to going off-menu. Hey, if it's an adventure involving alcohol, I'm there! He suggested a Vieux Carré. Okay. Total sidebar: I'd just recently learned from my sister that one of my absolute favorite bars in Chicago -- The Violet Hour -- had closed. It was one of the earliest craft cocktail establishments I'd ever patronized, and it was also the first place I'd ever been served a Vieux Carré. The unlikely confluence of my learning of Violet Hour's demise, its association with this particular cocktail, and being offered one halfway across the globe screams a little too much of cosmic syzygy to write off as pure happenstance. Aaaaaaaanyway, obviously, I immediately said yes. To which Conor then followed up with a, "How much Bailey's would you like in that?" It took me half a beat before I was like, "Wait a minute..." I think his cheeky grin was evidence that he was either joking, testing me, or some combination of both. Fortunately, I caught the game. And, friends, I can heartily confirm that this Vieux Carré was arguably better than any I've had in NOLA. Seriously, the folks behind the bar know their craft. In case it hasn't already been abundantly clear that I'm enamored with this venue, I'll close with this: during my 14-day tour around the island, drinks at the cocktail bar at the Merchant's Hotel stands out at the single most delightful experience of my entire trip. If I'm ever back on the Emerald Isle, you can expect I'll be making a return visit.

The building is absolutely stunning from the outside and when you go inside it is even more…read moreincredible. We decided to come here for tea time. The service was impeccable and the tea and treats were incredible. It is not inexpensive though in comparisons to other tea times I have experienced but if you settle in and enjoy the experience for what it is and where you are at, it is all worth it.

Yesterday was a sad, sad day. A milestone in my dining…read moreexperiences. I still have not gotten over the shock of the whole thing.... ????? I WAS UNABLE TO FINISH MY MEAL HERE. Why, I hear you cry, poor food? Nope. Cold dinner? Nope. A bug in my spuds? Nope. You will never guess.... The portions were just too enormous even for a large bellied hippopotamus like me, actually I think the whole thing was a trick of some kind, conjuring gone haywire?? Maybe a fairytale like the magic porridge pot that kept overflowing with porridge...well the spuds just kept on coming, never in my greedy piggy wiggy life did I leave such a size of spuds left on my plate. Sob. Is it all over for me? Have I turned into one of those people who say 'Oh I just eat 2 squares of chocolate at a time'......2 SQUARES?? Feckin lunatics. This was a great dining experience, you had to wait just the right amount of time so you know the food if cooked fresh and it arrived in all its humongous glory well presented, hot and delicious. I had the salmon with champ, carrot and parsnip mash with garlic buttered prawns, very tasty indeed. The boss opted for the Downshire burger (half a cow) and chips with a massive pile of salad on the side. Phew! It was well worth the visit. The other BIG plus in my book is a clean bathroom, and this place had the wonderful aroma of mild bleach as soon as you open the bathroom door, this cannot be beaten in my book in public restrooms, cleanliness is next to Godliness my mum used to say (usually when scrubbing my two dirty paws with carbolic soap) A great spot for a meal, centrally located on the main Street in Banbridge and free parking behind.

I have both stayed in this hotel and socialised here as well. The hotel is well decorated and the…read morebreakfast was lovely - a proper ulster fry!! The room rates were reasonable - i think it was about £80 per room. The bar and night club part of this hotel are very popular with the older 20 -30 year olds in this area. The nightclub is free entry before 11. The bar prices are reasonable and not really too different from anywhere else in the town. There are rarely special offers on alcohol. The food is also lovely, however the last time i had food here was about 2 years ago. Would recommend for a night out.

Great experience with our stay. Service was friendly and welcoming. When we checked into our first…read moreroom it was right above the bar and there was a musician and it was suuuuper loud (literally felt like the music was being played in our room) so we went downstairs to see if we could have another one. The only other room they had was a junior suite (literally the room was named Goliath, my first stay in a room with a name instead of a number) and they upgraded us. It was SOOOOO nice and massive and beautiful. Only complaint is the room was dark AF with terrible lighting but it added to the medieval vibe I guess. Breakfast was fairly limited in options but good since we were in a rush.

It was £175 for an ok room for one night for 2: yip £175 yet breakfast was not included…read more There was a bit of irritation as check-in only began beyond 4pm, rather than 3pm when it should have commenced. Mal-administration perhaps? It came over as amateur but at £175 for an ok room for a night, amateur, delay and ineptitude have no place at this price. When we got to the room it was also irritating that the electronic access card didn't work. The dimly lit room was cosy warm with a comfy bed. In - room tea/coffee/kettle and a well stocked fridge were tucked into the wardrobe. Our room had one of the smallest showers I've ever been in, at about an ungenerous two feet wide. Having overcome check - in and delayed room entry malfunctions we headed down to a cramped bar area for wedding related refreshments. The coffee was lukewarm and watery. The tea was also poor tasting as the water wasn't hot enough. Tea leaves need fresh water just off the boil to maximise flavours. The tea and coffee were good quality but quality alone sometimes isn't enough. If you don't do it right then quality is wasted as was the case here. Not upscale more amateurism or laziness or perhaps the daft excuse: health & safety? The amuse-bouche were plentiful and served with smiles. They ranged in quality with my preferences in order being duck rillettes 10/10, salmon toast 9/10, goat cheese tartlet 5/10 as the pastry wasn't made with butter and they were dry through overcooking (or heating & reheating) and breadcrumbed mini fishcakes 3/10 made with cheap, pre frozen, pink salmon, little or no butter, no fresh herbs and an overpowering fishy taste. It was poor that the dip with the fishy fishcake was from a jar of mayonnaise: a cheap shortcut I didn't expect from a hotel positioning itself as upscale so yet evidence of style over substance. When I asked the server what fish was in the 'cake' she didn't know. It was also plain from her "I don't know' that she didn't much care either: maybe amateurism - you gotta walk the talk folks but if the server is on minimum wages I couldn't be critical of her malcontent malfunction. The wedding meal itself was pretty good for the most part, but not great. I had St Maure goat cheese with various salad leaves, sliced blood orange & pistachios to begin. My beef brisket main was very good and 7/10. It had great flavour served with a lightly fried perfect egg 10/10. I finished with what was alleged to be an artisan cheese plate. This was quite poor quality so 2/10. Maybe a Malfunction. Rather than artisan I got industrially made, mostly low grade cheeses, and none had any powerful cheese flavour. The worst thing of all about this was that this non-artisan cheese plate was served warm from the kitchen. So the hard cheeses sweated and the pasteurised Brie style cheese, that had already begun to sag when it reached the table, sank within a few moments into an unpleasant rind-topped oily cheese puddle. Later in the evening we were treated to delicious mini slider burgers that were ace 10/10 and barbecue style spicy chicken wings 6/10. I didn't try the bacon mini muffins or the chips. All cocktail drinks were exorbitantly priced. The dining room had about 80 wedding guests and was overfilled at that, to a point that was uncomfortable. There's another irritation to note. The in-room shower gel & shampoo tubes are labelled the best that you can steal. We've already paid for them so if we decide to take them and throw them in the bin that's our business and it certainly isn't theft. We could discuss daylight robbery style theft with Malmaison. So is it a wedding venue; certainly not for more than 50 in our view. Would we return here; well maybe but not anytime soon as we can stay for 3 nights half board in May in Malaga for less than £175. Our hotel there is right by the Mediterranean. I observed a fellow guest at check-in as we checked out. She was trying to pay for something. She tendered a paper £10 Bank of England note. She was told it could not be accepted. An upscale place would have been discreet rather than broadcast this non transaction for us to hear. More malfunction and maladministration. I imagine had she handed this £10 over as a tip it would have been a whole other story. Maybe he doesn't realise that customers make pay days. When a business in the service industry is charging £175 a night room only, £9 for a small glass of wine and upwards of £12 for badly mixed cocktails I expect every single aspect of customer delivery to be flawless. This consistently wasn't the case here.