Nestled in the heart of the Co Down countryside is the perfect place for a staycation this summer and beyond — Clandeboye Lodge.
A few miles outside Belfast and sitting within splendid grounds just before Bangor, the lodge is an ideally situated haven for holidaymakers who want to get away without the hassle long-haul travel can bring.
With its picturesque setting and lush greenery surrounding the hotel, you could be forgiven for thinking you have been transported much further than the short time it takes to get here from your doorstep.
The lodge has beautiful surroundings, modern facilities and friendly staff, so it’s easy to see why is has become an established wedding venue.
In fact, there was a couple celebrating their marriage on the May Friday evening my wife and I visited.
With that in mind, we were lucky and privileged that the best room in the house was still available for us, the Ultra-luxe Suite.
No matter your budget, Clandeboye Lodge can accommodate you, with a range of generous packages on offer from owner Pim Dalm.
But if you are in a position to spoil yourself with the top-of-the-range option, the Ultra-luxe Suite is very special indeed.
Bulging with opulence and plentiful proportions, the room is so spacious it is like having your own apartment.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the free-standing copper bath, but there is so much else to savour, including a super-king bed and a lavish bathroom with an extra-large walk-in shower.
The Ultra-luxe Suite
Alongside the classy decor is a range of creature comforts, including a 65-inch television with free Netflix and Prime Video, a Nespresso machine and a robe and slippers.
But where Clandeboye Lodge really excels and takes things into a league of their own is in its food, drink and fine dining.
We started the evening by sampling the cocktail list while we surveyed the menu — the perfect way to settle before the main event and cleanse your palate in the process.
When we were told there was a unique mix invented by one of the staff — and so good it was placed alongside the classics — we had to try it.
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The Azalea, a refreshing cocktail with a kick, lived up to the hype. It’s made by combining Gordon’s pink gin, Midori, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, lime juice and cane syrup — just the thing if you’re lucky enough to be enjoying a long summer evening.
As we looked forward to dinner at the brilliantly named Coq & Bull restaurant — a nod to the locally reared organic chicken and beef — we decided to make the most of the good weather with a table on the terrace.
We welcomed the recommendation from our attentive waiter to share a bottle of Trenel Fleurie, a French red that was the perfect accompaniment to the dishes thanks to its fruity and floral flavour.
Coq & Bull offers a sophisticated menu, but what is really striking is the focus on premium local produce and the provenance of the seasonal ingredients.
The Ultra-luxe Suite is almost as big as some apartments
Homegrown and artisan food is gleaned from nearby farms — grass-fed dairy from Co Down, vegetables from the Ards Peninsula and fish caught in the Irish Sea.
Their mission statement is “we love local”, and they claim their food is “honest”, “heartfelt” and “soulful”. I have to agree.
My wife will often use dining out as an opportunity to explore seafood options, knowing dishes will be perfectly executed in the hands of professional chefs, so she chose the scallops with cucumber, lime and baby leaves to start.
The meaty shellfish was sweet and succulent, with the citrus elevating things with a refreshing zing.
I opted for the chicken liver parfait with smoked bacon, spiced plum chutney and toasted brioche, and it was every bit as tasty and moreish as it sounds, rich in flavour and an abundant in size.
True to form, my wife went for fish for her main course, picking the monkfish tail with blackened spices, curried mussel cream, butternut squash puree and tender stem broccoli.
The flavoursome meat flaked off the fork and was matched beautifully by the mixture of the sides, along with a welcome crack of heat through the spices.
Just as my wife is prone to look to the sea when we are lucky enough to dine out, I can’t resist the lure of a masterfully cooked steak, and Coq & Bull had sirloin and fillet on offer.
Again, I took the recommendation of our waiter by selecting the latter, an 8oz cut that was everything I hoped it would be. Perfectly seared, juicy and bursting with taste in every bite, it really was a triumph.
Monkfish tail with blackened spices, curried mussel cream, butternut squash puree and tenderstem broccoli
It is easy to see why their steaks are gaining a reputation. Sourced from Coyagh Farm in Co Tyrone, they are served with awesome chunky chips and oven-roasted vine tomatoes.
With such a feast on offer, there was little room for dessert, so we decided to share a hot Armagh bramley apple strudel, with ice cream instead of vanilla custard — what the wife wants, the wife gets.
Compliments to the chef and the restaurant team all round.
The sumptuous surroundings offer opportunities for a walk before or after dining.
There’s the nearby coastal path with its exceptional scenery — the walk from Bangor Marina to Brompton is beautiful at this time of year.
Closer still to the resort and just a few minutes’ drive up the road is Helen’s Tower, owned by the National Trust.
For food, drink and relaxation, Clandeboye Lodge is a diamond on your doorstep that can make you feel like you are a world away in the space of a few hours.
The final word must go to the wonderful staff. From reception to the kitchens, front of house to the restaurant, you can be assured you will be looked after from start to finish at this home from home.
For further information on Clandeboye Lodge or to enquire about reservations, call the hotel on 028 91 852500; email reception at: [email protected]; or visit the website at www.clandeboyelodge.com