Review – Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa

#sponsored – whilst this is a paid review, please note that all opinions are my own.

The first time I visited Dunboyne Castle Hotel was almost ten years ago with my husband. We were attending a wedding at Christmas time and all I remember was how perfect it was at that time of year. The grounds were covered with frost and the inside was dressed so beautifully.

Of course, the mulled wine was excellent too!

I took a trip to their wedding event on Sunday and had the opportunity to have a good look around and refresh my knowledge from that lovely wedding 10 years ago.

I was greeted by Kate Voice who is Dunboyne Castle Hotels wedding coordinator. She has such a lovely manner and I could imagine how she would put couples at ease.

As you drive up you will be greeted by a very impressive Georgian building. This is the wedding entrance and it really has the wow factor.

This wedding venue is a perfect example of old world charm meeting contemporary at its very best. You really have the best of both worlds.

The Georgian House offers a private area for the bridal party and also includes the bridal suite. The bridal suite has a huge four poster bed along with an impressive bathroom which is the pretty much the size of my house!

I particularly loved the hidden library which is kept aside exclusively for the bridal party. When you arrive, your guests check in to the main hotel which has an impressive lobby with grand piano. Its bright, spacious and full of comfy sofas.

You won’t have to worry about your guests comfort as you get your pictures taken.

There are two options available for your wedding day;

The Ballroom for weddings of 100 or more

or

The Drawing Room for a smaller more intimate room for weddings under 50 guests.

The Ballroom was refurbished very recently. In terms of décor, it is a blend of the old and new. The colour scheme is very neutral with abstract light features on the walls. The ceiling can be lit in a wide range of colours….just to add a little flair to your day.

I felt that the gold tone worked really well in the room. The table décor is actually a bit vintage by way of centrepieces and the gold frames holding the table number. Being honest, there is actually very little that a bride and groom would need to add as the room is really nice as it is.

The Drawing Room for more intimate weddings sits within the Georgian House and has very decadent décor. This is the room where you would have your civil ceremony too.

One of the main talking points of Dunboyne Castle Hotel is the food.

I had the opportunity to inspect all of the wedding dishes and the presentation is exquisite. I always get a bit excited when I see a well presented dish. Executive Head Chef, John Nagle, is a chef of very high standards.

During his tenure at Dunboyne Castle Hotel and The Ivy Restaurant, he has managed to scoop 2 AA Rosettes and a highly coveted spot in the Michelin Guide. I would describe the food as being traditional with contemporary touches. Some dishes look like nouveaux cuisine. It’s actually really impressive to see.

I have eaten in the Ivy Restaurant before and the food is excellent.

For me, one of the most important items to consider when booking your wedding venue is the quality of food. Guests ALWAYS remark on the food.

The spa has won so many awards. I visited Seoid while I was there, the smell is amazing!! They have a hydrotherapy pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, nail bar and many treatment rooms. I will definitely be returning here for some R&R!

Overall the key take away I had from the few experiences that I have had with the four star Dunboyne Castle is ‘Quality’.

To make a wedding enquiry, you can contact Kate at: kvoice@dunboynecastlehotel.com | 018013500 | www.dunboynecastlehotel.com

Now for my pictures!