Maryborough Hotel,

Maryborough Hill,
Douglas,
Cork,
Maryborough Hotel enquiries
www.maryborough.com

• The juxtaposition between Cork City and West Cork
• The Wine Tasting Experience
• The Spa Facilities

Now celebrating its 10th birthday, Maryborough Hotel, on the outskirts of Cork City is home to a fabulous Spa; but originally it was the home of wealthy Banker, Richard Newnham, who built the house in 1710. Modern features have been tastefully added to this Georgian manor house but I was privileged to stay in one of the refurbished suites in the original house. So I had both a sense of history and contemporary luxury as I turned into the 300 acre wooded estate and the view over the Douglas River estuary was stunning.

THE MARYBOROUGH SPA

This is certainly one of the more superior spas we have found in an Irish hotel in recent years, and the treatment I enjoyed was certainly up there with the best! The design of this spa is cool and contemporary, and it is situated well away from the main body of the hotel, yet easily accessed at the same time. Colours are mooted, and the sound of moving water, the scent of fresh flowers and the smiling attentive therapists all induce a feeling of relaxation – even if like me you arrive late having got stuck in diverted traffic! Treatments all use the lovely ESPA products, and include everything from Charkra Balancing to Age Defying and all manner of facials, wraps, massages and head and feet treatments! I always find it difficult when reading a spa menu to choose, as they all sound so good, and indeed so needed. On this occasion I picked a winner – the ESPA Holistic Back, Face and Scalp Massage with Hot Stones. This is a real all-embracing treatment, and helped de-stress my shoulders, re-hydrate my skin and left me feeling perfectly pampered and relaxed. Treatment, therapist and ambiance were all splendid, and if we were appointing marks for this spa experience, it would have to be ten out of ten.

ACCOMMODATION AT MARYBOROUGH HOTEL

My companion had already arrived and I was pointed in the direction of our suite, up the cantilevered staircase in the old house, where the steps were worn smooth from years of use, to a magnificent sitting room and double bedroom. The old brick walls are still exposed and a network of thick beams lace the ceiling. The large (and obviously authentic) windows look out over lawns and well planted flower beds. The sitting room was equipped with stylish accoutrements for tea and coffee making and all the facilities for broadband. I caught up with my electronic mail and the news before opening a bottle of wine and lighting the gas fire in the large grate.

DINING AT ZINGS RESTAURANT

We booked dinner for 8 o’clock. Zing’s Restaurant is in a more modern part of the house but we were still met with decorum and attention. On the way into the restaurant I noticed stairs leading to a room laid out attractively below us. I was told this was the wine tasting area and was intrigued. However, my attention was waylaid by the offer of the cocktail of the evening, Rum and Orange Juice, which we sipped while we perused the menu. Suffice to say that our meal was enjoyable and I particularly noted that my companion declared her Fillet of Turbot with Lobster Croquette potatoes to be ‘perfect’ and ‘succulent’ and that I thought that my Rump of Lamb with Goats Cheese Tartlet was pink as requested and wholesomely meaty!

The night was but young and I was still fascinated by the ‘wine cellar’ so I asked if we could have a wine tasting. We repaired down to the cellar, were made very comfortable in deep chairs, and several trays of Irish cheeses, succulent green grapes and luscious homemade fig chutney were set before us. We tasted a good range of wines including a New Zealand Pinot Noir; Errazuriz Merlot Reserve from Chile; a French Bordeaux, a couple of Irish wines and two dessert wines. It was getting late by now really an appointment between 4.30pm and 6pm would be more practical so as to enjoy the experience of the wine tasting before dinner. Next time!

I would highly recommend a leisurely visit to this comfortable establishment; partaking in an exploration of the surrounding city or country side followed by a visit to the wine cellar before dining and slumbering in pastoral peace.
Marybotough Hotel, Cork