Castle Durrow

Prior to our stay I had read some negative reviews however my own experience was very pleasant. We stayed in a spacious room overlooking the beautiful gardens. En suite a little dated but nice and clean. Our evening meal and breakfast were both very enjoyable. Special mention to the staff as I felt they were all incredibly friendly and attentive.

Gorgeous hotel in a fabulous location. Blissfully quiet yet only a short walk down the driveway to the village. We were here for 3 days for a wedding. It was amazing. The place itself was stunning, but the icing really is the incredible staff here. Warm, friendly, and kind.

Went to book a party here for about twenty people. Receptionist told us that we would be safe booking it anytime within the next two weeks as it was for planned for February, we first rang a few days after Christmas. Decided to go with venue a few days later rang and got no response, closed until the end if February ! You would think the Receptionist would have kindly let us know this. Attempted to ring several more times and sent an email inquiry as directed on their website. No reply. It'll be too late to book they reopen only a matter of days before planned event. Have ended up booking somewhere else.

We were booked to have a large family event in this hotel a number of months ago. Unfortunately we experienced a loss in the family and had to cancel swiftly. However, the hotel offered no compensation and were frankly rude on the phone upon informing them. While we didn’t expect full compensation, a tiny bit of compassion would have been appreciated in light of the circumstances.

Gorgeous hotel with an excellent restaurant. We stayed in a Heritage Room which was very comfortable. The staff were all very attentive and welcoming. Highly recommended.

Castle Durrow — Family Reunion Review (Draft)|Castle Durrow — Family Reunion Review||(Draft)||• Arrived 3pm for family reunion (special as two relatives|went to school here, returning with daughters).||• Bar: staff were excellent — welcoming, charming,|couldn’t do enough for us.||• Dinner: gentleman at reception was accommodating, gave|us a table. Dining room only quarter full.||• Asked politely to change tables (we were seated at edge|near bar). Waitress said she could move chairs but not the||table — odd.||• While discussing, a man called Robert (later told he’s an|owner) came over loudly, saying we were ‘lucky to get a||table after just rocking up.’ Very embarrassing, whole||dining room heard.||• Food: very average, not 4-star, not fine dining. Definitely|below expectations.||• Found out later from locals this man was indeed an owner|— shocking behavior.||• Noticed no weddings at the castle in August — strange|for such a venue.||• Overall: Lovely bar staff, but experience ruined by|owner’s rudeness and poor hospitality.||• Advice: Think carefully before booking.

We travelled to the Castle during June 25 with family members. We had 3 small girls with us, 1 a baby. Overall, it was a poor experience. We have previously stayed in castles around Ireland so were fully aware of the limitations of an old building. This said the "castle" felt tired and in need of a major refurbishment. The bedroom itself was large to accommodate our family however basic amenities like the tv and shower were not working. The room was not fully clean for example rubbish bins were still full from previous guests. Windows wouldn't open.||Breakfast was included, the food was very basic from the buffet and the cooked breakfast was cold on arrival.||All this was not ideal but it was the rudeness of the owner (I believe he was the owner) that annoyed me most. As we were checking out he made a comment in an unkind manner about our children running riot in the restaurant the night before. Our children were in their room from 8pm and asleep. My husband was in the room with them (with no tv) from that time while I was with the rest of our adult family downstairs. We also did not eat in the Castle restaurant that night so I'm not sure whose children he was referring to. ||While we appreciate a Castle stay isn't always ideal with children, this was a family occasion. Our children are very well behaved and we never once encroached on other guests experience. It seemed very quiet the weekend we were there. I think when you are paying above the going rate for a hotel break the least a guest deserves is politeness from the owner/check out staff.||I would seriously consider other venues before organising a family occasion.

We just returned home from the most wonderful week in Ireland and wanted to reach out and thank the Castle Durrow team for everything they did to make our daughter's wedding all we had hoped for and more. Our friends and family were thrilled with the beautiful castle rooms and gardens. The food was excellent and we received so many compliments on both the wedding dinner, and the buffet the evening before the at the welcome party. The staff could not have been more helpful and accommodating- from top to bottom everyone that we encountered was just lovely.||I just cannot say enough about our wonderful service and experience at Castle Durrow. We made memories that will last a lifetime! Thank you for all you did to help in the planning and execution of all the details to make this amazing wedding happen. Castle Durrow, and the wonderful people there, will forever be near to our hearts!

If your going to stay here make sure you stay in the rooms in the main house . 4 poster beds, double height ceilings, with the original shutters in the windows and big velvet curtains . Our bed was turned down each night . Very comfortable rooms though did think the bathroom was a bit basic . There are only 47 rooms in total .8 in the main house and then the rest out among the garden. We went for 2 nights B&B and evening meals . Food was very good , a lot of the veg and herbs are grown on the grounds and everything seems to be sourced locally . Particularly liked the full Irish and the black and white pudding very tasty . For first night we had dinner in the main restaurant fillet steak and lamb was our main . Both cooked to how we liked it . Mains come on bed of veg and some potato , we ordered sides and felt we didn't need them as what we got was sufficient with starters and desert . There are only seating for 20 which gives a very personal service . Theo and his team will look after you very well . Then 2nd night we had our meal in the conservatory, good choice , we both had fish and chips and mushy peas . Fish was so fresh with a nice thin batter . Delicious . Other things on the menu was sea bass , Durrow burger , steak something for everyone . Very friendly staff made our stay all the more enjoyable and local people also . Nothing was too much . What I liked was there seems to be a good few locals use this restaurant . They also do afternoon tea which was very popular and they seems to get good value for money . Another thing we liked was there is a little room just inside the front door for residents only , comfortable seats and you can have tea and coffee and need papers if the day and they are free . The grounds are lovely well kept met one of the gardeners and he gave us a bit of the history of the place as we took cover from the rain . Village of Durrow is at the end of the drive . Definitely will go back no hesitation, only an hour and a half from Dublin well worth the trip .

Stayed here for our friends wedding. The staff were very friendly on check in and helped us with our bags to our room. We stayed in a garden room, which was spacious and bed was comfortable. The room did get a bit warm during the night but they do provide a small fan to help you out. The breakfast included was nice, service was a bit slow. They also included coffee/tea/hot chocolate any time from the lounge bar which was nice.

I was here for a wedding and boy do they know how to do weddings here in Castle Durrow. The drinks reception was out the back, in the garden and you really couldn't ask for a more perfect setting, The room the reception itself was in was wonderful. The staff were excellent. The food was amazing. Everything really appeared to go like clock work. After dinner everyone went outside to chat and mingle the night away. The heatwave we were experiencing made it feel like the Mediterranean. After the reception room closed, we made our way to the hotel bar. Greeted by a very affable bartender, he was able to give a history of a few of the pelts and stuffed animals displayed in the room. He was a good laugh too. It's only fabulous, Castle Durrow. A great day and night was had by all.

We often come here for Sunday Lunch and have never disappointed. The castle is fully restored and is over 300 years old. The staff are excellent and are truly professional. The food is excellent and a great choice of menu. There are beautiful gardens at the rear of the castle and safe for children. The prices are fair and service good. We had our daughter Hollie christening at Castle Durrow and we had a delightful day. Our friends enjoyed the great quality food and excellent service from the Castle Staff. There was a excellent choice of menus and there was nothing but clean plates. We stayed overnight and our room is amazing. There was separate room for our children next to our bed room. We can't wait for breakfast. We can recommend this venue enough for the first timer and excellent venue for Weddings. Just take my word for it, try for yourself. I hope you find this review helpful. Enjoy!

Wow, what a place. I'm surprised Castle Durrow doesn't have more 5 star reviews to be honest! Myself and my partner attended a wedding here and decided to splash out and stay overnight in one of the rooms in the castle itself. The interior was lush but not OTT, a nicely old world homely (if palatial) feel with odd little modern touches. The food was divine, with great use of fresh herbs, and boy was there plenty of it. And the staff were by far the most efficient and friendly bunch I have ever encountered when staying at a place like this (we've stayed at a fair few over the past few years; ah to have a group of friends all at that marrying age!). Kudos to the staff! Yes, it is expensive, no doubt about it, but boy is it worth it. The grounds are idyllic, you can wander about to your hearts content; lie on the grass, wander though an avenue of cherry blossom, a walled garden filled with flowers, herbs and a small veg patch and a woodland path. I read that there are looped walks from between 1 to 6 hours that you can do around the area, sadly we didn't have time to explore them, but I certainly hope we will return for a romantic getaway; I can't think of a nicer place for one!

My cousin had her wedding here a week ago this April. After a bit a touring of Ireland, we came to the castle. It's not much of a castle, actually being an old school, but it was very charming. They have many unique room options (my parents stayed in the England room, which had a 4 poster bed and rose wallpaper, while our room was more traditional but held the same charm) The lobby is the main room here, with other rooms off to the side. One of the those rooms is the bar/lunch room and following that room (straight back) is the library with more lunch/bar seating. Seating is mixed with leather couches with coffee tables and chairs with circle dinner tables. Lunch menu had things like sandwhiches, soups, and burgers. The chicken salad was good, the burger was better. The veggie soup was unlike any I have seen and I regret not trying some; everyone loved it. Next to the bar and the library (the 2nd door off the lobby) is the hallway which leads either upstairs to the guest rooms or down the hall to the door leading outside to the garden. The garden is home to a few more guest rooms with private enterences, the garden and grounds, and a path with extends to the furthest room which is used for receptions. The staff was far more friendly then any other people we met while on our visit to Ireland. We made it a point to visit the bartender (John) every night we were there to talk. The bar here is very laid back and it also never closes...which is a plus, esp for an Irish wedding! The wedding was long...no one ever tells the American how long the wedding will last, in my opinion, to see how long they will last before heading to bed. My husband and I lasted until 3am, but that's besides the point. The food was amazing! The canopies (cocktail hour munchies) were less then good...just weird. The scones were good, not too hard. For dinner, I had the sea bass..it was perfect. There were so many things to eat I cant even begin to remember what we had. I know there was butterbut squash soup which was good, and they had some weird chocolate & rasion bread pudding which made me sick (bread pudding...it's deff. better plain). The decor was simple, slightly modern chic. It was nice. I think the thing that highlighted best was the gardens and the hall outside. I spent much of my time trying to get out of that crowed room and even though it was raining a bit, I prefered to be outside away from the loud noise. Very good conversation outside as well, and the gardens helped the atmosphere a great deal! The pictures were also very pretty and memorable. If you're going for lunch or for a wedding, you will be equality happy with this hotel. Alougth there isnt much of a town here you wouldnt notice once inside the gate.

Stunning Blue Book hotel in a restored 'Big House' in country Laois. The bedrooms are luxurious and elegantly decorated, and the main areas retain an uncontrived atmosphere of the eighteenth century ascendency culture. The garden also, are spectacular.

Totally enjoyed my stay at Castle Durrow- it's so clean and warm and the staff have true Irish hospitality at heart with every touch point. Food was very nice and I had an excellent back massage. Looking forward to returning.

We got married recently in castle Durrow. The venue is elegant, opulent and totally chilled. the interiors and the gardens are beautiful, a perfect backdrop for our perfect day. The food was fantastic We are both vegetarian and the chef Graham was very helpful, I work as a chef and I wanted a particular menu, Graham and his team executed it perfectly. The staff were all very helpful and dedicated to making sure every guest was well looked after, they made us and our party feel at home over the few days we were there. The overall attention to detail during our stay, the friendliness of the staff and the high standards in the hotel make this an ideal venue for a large party or a quiet getaway for two. We cant thank Shelly and all the team enough for such an amazing few days.