This summer, Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts will debut two new openings, one being the brand’s introduction in Northern Ireland!
The hotels and opening months are:
Slieve Donard in Newcastle, Northern Ireland — Opening July 2023 |
Located in Newcastle, County Down in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard is rooted in history. Rich in history, the hotel was built by the Belfast and County Down Railway in 1898. A Provisional IRA bomb explosion in 1973 left extensive damage, but was rebirthed into the building it is today. Now, Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts will breathe new life into the hotel, preserving the Victorian elements and characteristics of the building combined with new touches such as custom ornate wall coverings, tartan patterns, and statement chandeliers bringing a refreshed personality to the space. The hotel overlooks Royal County Down Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland and consistently ranked one of the best golf courses in the world.
The decor will pay homage to the destination’s seaside beauty, rich Irish traditions, and the building’s original grandeur— for example, across the railway-inspired lobby, a large variety of plants will hang from the ceiling, as early images of the hotel showed the same concept, and artwork will feature local landscapes and fauna from the region, bringing the outside in to this grand arrival. The 180 redesigned rooms will flaunt color blocked palettes with floral motifs found in the headboards, pillows and draperies, to original songsheets by Percy French of his famous songs, an ode to the mountains of mourne. A wooden crest above each bed, and a larger version in the lobby, will proudly display the coat of arms of the railroad company that built the hotel.
About Newcastle: The hotel is located at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland and the wider province of Ulster — ideal for hikers and nature-lovers. The views from the summit are extensive and on a clear day the Isle of Man, Wicklow, Donegal, Wales and Scotland may be seen, as well as the long stretch of Newcastle Beach. Located five minutes drive from the hotel is also Tollymore Forest Park, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the sea. Tollymore Forest Park caters to many outdoor activities including walking, caravanning/camping, horse riding and orienteering.
Dornoch Station in Dornoch, Scotland — Opening August 2023 |
Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, the new Dornoch Station will match the best-in-class golf experience with a bespoke upscale hospitality experience, just a short distance from the first tee of Royal Dornoch Golf Club, ranked third in the world by Golf Digest. Design inspiration derives from the Highlands, hunting cabins and lodges around Loch Ness. The lobby houses original wood panelling as the design aims to restore and celebrate the initial design features. In the lounge, Royal Dornoch Golf Club tartan adorns the walls surrounding a snooker table. Throughout the hotel, guests will find nods to local golf heritage, such as vintage golf clubs on columns, the Royal Dornoch Carnegie Shield depicted in lamps on the nightstands, or sketches depicting the Highlands or seascapes with golfers hidden within. Guests can leave behind golf balls representing their home courses to create an experience of pilgrimage for keen players around the world.
