Dobbins Inn

We had a wonderful family stay at Dobbins Inn, and we absolutely loved it! The place has such a warm and charming atmosphere, perfect for couples and families alike. The staff were kind and welcoming, making us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. The rooms are spacious, spotless, and very comfortable, ideal for relaxing after exploring the beautiful surroundings. The restaurant is simply outstanding — the seafood is fresh and full of flavor. I had the corn and clam chowder, and my husband enjoyed the seafood platter — both were divine, among the best we’ve ever had! A truly lovely stay — cozy, romantic, and family-friendly. We can’t wait to come back! 💙

Visited here for Halloween. It is a very authentic inn. Staff were friendly and the food was good! Portion sizes are very large - especially at breakfast! The only downside for us was that our bedroom did not feel warm despite some heating being on! This could have been due to the nature of the old building with thick walls. Also our bed was super-comfy!

My husband and I had another great overnight stay. We had a small hiccup just after check in but this was very quickly rectified. The food was wonderful...highly recommend the chicken stack....and served by super friendly staff. Our room was clean, bed was super comfy and breakfast definitely set us up for the day. The lady serving breakfast was so lovely and chatty infact all staff we encountered were super friendly. Well done Team Dobbins!!

My husband and I stayed here Saturday 19th for his birthday. The evening meal was disappointing.. mine was ok (the chicken stack) although a tad dry.. he got the roast of the day (chicken) .. the vegetables were so hard they were inedible.. my husbands meal was removed from our bill.. breakfast was awful,, tea and coffee made up in flasks and was luke warm at best.. 😞 sausage was horrible. Poached eggs cold and the crispy bacon as,stated in the menu was just cooked and lacked even a good colour and was as afar away from crispy as it could be. I actually asked for extra crispy. The rooms are dated without a doubt and need tidying up around grouting and tiling etc. definitely could do with a refurb but we had no issues with the room. It was clean and sufficed. The cleaner was also the waitress and server .. she works hard and done her best. Pleasant helpful staff.. didn’t complain about the breakfast as we had complained about the meal the night before and just couldn’t be bothered. But all in all wouldn’t recommend and wouldn’t stay again. Sorry to be leaving this review but it is honest 😔

We stayed overnight. Clean rooms with good facilities. Staff wonderful and helpful. Breakfast delicious. Bar good fun and very welcoming. Love the history of the place and the location by the castle and harbour (which has free parking).

This has took a while to wright on arriving we couldn't have asked for anymore service the receptionist was absolutely amazing. We arrived at 7.30pm left and returned almost 2am straight to bed and up and out for 9am . We had to ask for assistance with the shower on the morning this wasn't a problem to the house keeper again an amazing members of staff . On returning Saturday evening 9.30 I asked for help with a tv which wasn't working my reply from that receptionist staff was have you switched it on . As a family we don't know yet what we done to this person it turned out she was the owners daughter Kirsty .. now it takes a turn we knew how she was going to act but paying 2nights you expect a working tv . Now I tell no lies I am diagnosed ADHD and I am medicated for this with meflynate xl 20mg and also have a medi canni prescription I had rolled and left the building to smoke this medication which I had that an amazing chat with the house keeper she was aware of this . After asking for help I was then accused of smoking in our room . Which I hope wasn't the case because as well as no working tv there was no alarm if this was the case . There was member of staff to witness it all from the bar and she was shocked by the level of rudeness and how unprofessional actually making comments as to sorry I am only bar staff . In the end I was having my last cigarette of the evening when Kirsty then approached me again in an intimidating manor as to which I shouted up to my partner in our room so she would in fact leave me alone. Never once stating she was the owner or one of .. we have never been so intimated ever . Prior to only asking for help and accusations being made we had actually enquired as to a stay next year going by the staff we had and our experience prior to meeting Kirsty in the end . I had an 11 yr son with additional needs to which I shouldn't have to disclose in case of an absolutely vile woman . At 43 yrs of age I've never experienced anything like it over something so trivial and to which we had paid to be made feel how we did .. absolutely disgusting sad something that started out to be an absolutely amazing time ended with anxiety and sadness it did .. may I add the room was left to the same standards we arrived in because we are decent people in looking to take part and meeting like minded people and sadly instead of your awful daughter Derek fallis photos added so customers actually know who their dealing with a father and daughter with no point in complaining as to nothing will be done other than allowed .. just as well one rude woman didn't ruin our normal time spent with spent meeting new and amazing people

We were warmly welcomed, but the breakfast was not great. We were served dry sausages, the avocado was not ripe, the mushrooms were bland (probably from a can, and the orange juice was bot freshly pressed, but was a soet of industrial orange juice from a box. Not impressed.

Very well kept old building that is family owned. It's age is charming and the staff is very friendly and helpful. We stayed in Room 21 which is supposed to be haunted. We did seen an unexplained shadow and had unexplained battery drainage -- nothing scary. The reception area is small but the fireplace makes is cozy. The restaurant has a nautical theme and the food is very good. It's in a great location. When you walk out the front door, you are a block from Carrickfergus Castle and can see it. We parked on the street after 4pm and were sure to leave before 9am. There is a one hour grace period, free parking between 5pm and 8am. We took advantage of that free hour. Parking patrols do come by regularly. We had to carry luggage upstairs, but the manager helped us, and we left the bigger cases in the trunk of the car.

Pro: the sweetest service. Somehow when we checked in and got to our room we found that the room had somehow not been cleaned. The manager was SOOOO apologetic and cleaned our place right away and left us a little gift. I wish I'd remembered her name because she was so sweet. Pro: the continental breakfast was really good and continued my daily full Irish/ulster breakfast. Con: there's some work being done outside and our view from the window was awful. Just a ton of garbage. I know they're working but they'd be good to clean what they could because there was just a bunch of trash to look at.

Dobbin's is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Carrickfergus. It has been a hotel since the 1940's and prior to this, has been among other things, a family castle, an armoury, and even a gaol. Today, Dobbin's is a hotel, and has a popular bar and restaurant which is hugely popular with both locals and visitors to the town. The interior is decorated throughout keeping in mind the age and history of the building, and provides a comfortable and homely environment. Opening each morning from 9am, there is a fantastic range of foods available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, using fresh locally sourced produce, the menu changes regularly and is absolutely delicious. I particularly recommend their cooked breakfasts! At night, the bar is a lively spot for a few drinks, and they host various live music, karaoke and quiz nights. The staff are very friendly and the owners take a keen interest in the running of the establishment and are always available to give you any local information if needed.

Well what can I say about Dobbins? I have spent many a night here, as it has been my local for a very long time! This is the sort of little pub that I can still go into and know at least a few people there :) The staff are friendly and helpful and the food is delish (give the steak deal a go, you won't be disappointed). The rumoured resident ghosts are always a talking point and attract many tourists from all over the world, the pub has links to Carrick Castle (rumour has it there are secret tunnels underground between the two that were used for secret trysts between buttoncap, a soldier in the castle and the wife of the owner of Dobbins at the time lol). If you like a bit of history and some tall tales then you have to visit Dobbins for a drink at least once :)

A lovely family run hotel right in the heart of Carrickfergus, though i haven't stayed here the food is lovely. Their steak meal deal is the best I've had anywhere for the money. Garlic bread to start, 2 ribeye steaks with mushrooms, onions, side order, sauce and a bottle of wine for less than £30!! Their other meals are also very good value and very tasty. A lovely hotel steeped in history, well worth a visit..

Want a hotel with a bit atmosphere? Dobbins is reputed to be haunted and there are tales of a underground passage linking it to the Castle, certainly their history is interlinked. Ghosts always add a little extra to your stay! Maybe thats not the sort of spirits you are looking for and this is a good place to enjoy the liquid variety. Do a good line in bar meals too with some keen pricing for lunchtime and earlybird teatime menu. Place is best decribed as friendly and hospitable.

Dobbins is yet another example of how Carrickfergus is steeped in history and culture. The Hotel is a family run business which makes it more friendly and personal that big chains such as the Ramada or the Hilton. The hotel is traditionally decorated but with that it manages to be bright, clean and airy. Which is great. If you're on a visit to Ireland and wan a nice traditional personal place to stay, full of locals and plenty of craic..well, you won't be disappointed! Prices are good at £52 single occupancy, £72 double and £95 for family room. They also run an offer at the minute of two nights stay with one three course evening meal for £80pp. Which is pretty good! Prices also include Breakfast and free wifi! The restaurant is really great here offering a whole range of local dishes sure to tickle everyone's fancy,..try the fish! Yum!!

Just finished eating dinner here - what a disaster. We were greeted very kindly going in,hence the one star. I asked for a table of 2,we were seated and told the specials. I ordered roast of the day,roast beef, and my mum ordered steak ciabatta. Dinner arrived,both plates were garnished with pesto and horse radish. Neither myself or my mum like horse radish and it has such a distinctive flavour I was surprised at this choice. Tucked into my dinner and it was cold. The waitress came over and asked was everything OK. I advised of the problem and she asked was everything cold. I explained the mash potato was warm but everything else wasn't. She took my plate away and returned saying the chef was making me up a fresh meal. Few minutes later my fresh meal arrived,again there was parts of the meal warm. It was obvious that the mash had been microwaved as it was warmer than all the other food. But hey,I was hungry and my mum had almost finished her meal. Cut into my roast potato and it was borderline frozen on the inside. Again,i sent the roast potato back,another one was produced and shockingly the same thing again. I ate the warm parts of my meal. When the waitress came to clear out plates she said noticed the potato still sitting and jokingly asked did I not fancy it after all that. I explained that on their 3 attempt at a simple roast potato it was still cold. I explained we were very disappointed with the meal we had just ate. She apologised for this,brought our bill and nothing further was mentioned about our poor food. If they can't cook a simple roast potato,God only knows how safe the meat was to eat. Won't be back.

Was looking forward to a mid-week break on a special deal in this hotel. What a disappointment! Dobbins markets itself on a homely atmosphere, good food and good craic. Well, the food was dreadful (without doubt, the worst that I have ever experienced), I didn't notice any craic other than a drunken recital of 'Happy Birthday' and the homely atmosphere well, I didn't notice it. I had been warned about Dobbins but I didn't take heed of the warning! Big mistake! Don't say that YOU haven't been warned!!!!!