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Recommended Reviews - Ballygally Castle Hotel
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My wife and I attended our wonderful friends wedding nuptials at The Ballygally Castle. This is a delightful hotel with lots of character and dates back to 1625. It is part of the locally owned and run Hastings Hotels. On arrival we mingled whilst waiting to enter the Kintyre Ballroom for the wedding registration ceremony. The room was well decorated and the ceremony was short and well conducted. After the pictures we retired to the hotel lobby and had drinks whilst the room was prepared for the dinner. This gave us time to explore the hotel and learn about the history. There is also a Game of Thrones door in the hotel. The bride and groom looked super!! The weather was kind and we were able to take a walk in the well manicured and mature gardens, which sported a river flowing into the sea and various other features. By now we had built up a healthy appetite and it was time to be seated and tuck into a very well cooked and presented 5 course meal. For starters there was a lovely Caesars Salad then Butternut squash and sweet potato soup served with a warm soft wheaten muffin. The first two course were amazing and set the standard for the mains. For mains we both had the chicken, potatoes and vegetables. The chicken was succulent and vegetables al dented and mash was perfect. Service was exceptional and staff very attentive and professional. For dessert there was lemon tart and profiteroles, again an amazing sweet. After the cake cutting and speeches we had our coffee and cake in the lobby. Ballygally Castle is famous for the resident ghost, so we went to the ghost room to see if we could spot her.......and we........ didn't see or feel her!!!!! Maybe you will?? Finally the evening entertainment started and the DJ played a wide range of tracks and we danced for a while, relaxed, chatted and thoroughly enjoyed it!!! After a snack of fish and chips it was home to relieve the babysitter!!!

Hubby got me an afternoon tea for 2 voucher as part of my Christmas present. Booked for Feb 3rd with my friend. The table was perfect, right at the window with a good view. But I truly don't think it was worth £18pp. Sandwiches were made on stale/hard bread - not quite the delicate, decadent afternoon tea sandwiches you expect. If I can make nicer sandwiches at home, you've already lost. Plus? There was an odd number of sandwiches - were we supposed to fight to the death to win the last one? 1 of each of the 3 flavours each. 1 of each of the 3 flavours left over. Fight it out. Chicken and egg ones were lovely but I wasn't fussed on the ham and mustard. Butter was rock hard and the scones weren't hot enough to melt it. Wasn't fussed on the blamange but the macaroons were good. Lemon tarts were good, meringues were good. Not a drop of chocolate in sight though. I paid €25 pp in Donegal just after Christmas for a much better spread than here. I was really disappointed.

Pros: Excellent service, attentive restaurant and bar staff. Great Real Coal Fireplace, with sea view - comfortable and romantic, could snooze here for the rest of the day. Cons: Very pricey , £10.00 for a small burguer, £3.40 for a pint of Guinness.

Some wee spot! Was here for Porkys wedding- had a cracking Time. Friendly staff, great service and top notch hotel rooms! The food was delicious and they serve a lovely wee pint of guinness or 15 for a great nights craic. If you plan in getting married - you should have it here. Lethal! I Would comment on the breakfast but I was too hungover- probably delish though!
Most of the hotel is just a very old building right kn the water front. You do get to go into a turret up a circular staircase. There is a nice walk along the ocean. Had the foresight to book dinner reservations given there is not much around there. The dinner dishes were a bit bland. Odd that they did not have the Red Malt Vinegar. They provide distilled white vinegar for the fish and chips. Server said it was "distilled malt vinegar." Service was very good in the restaurant and hotel otherwise. There is a Game of Thrones door leading into the restaurant. read more
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Scott W.
Business Owner
Thank you for the review for Ballygally Castle, we really appreciate…
We ate in the restaurant twice (walking through the very cool door that apparently appears in Game of Thrones), and it was actually very good. We had our tour finale dinner there, which was ordered off a pre-set menu, and it was very good. The next morning, we had a traditional Irish Breakfast buffet, and it was one of the better ones we had during our 13 days in Ireland. Service was also very good for both dinner and breakfast. Not sure what restaurants are around in Ballygally, but eating at the hotel turned out to be a convenient and good option. read more
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Scott W.
Business Owner
Thank you for the review for Ballygally Castle, we really appreciate…
What a stunning castle hotel in a beautiful place! The water that it's located on creates such dynamic scenery! The castle was built in the 1600s but the hotel that was built around it is much newer but still works very well. I love the ambiance and decor inside, and the stunning wood beams in the dining room is quintessential to Northern Ireland. Of course, as a Game of Thrones fan, I was absolutely taken aback when I found out that I was going to be staying in a castle hotel that was fortunate enough to get one of the ten doors made especially for hotels and pubs in Northern Ireland from fallen beech trees when there was a storm that uprooted them from The Dark Hedges in 2016. This door, is most definitely one of the most beautiful that I was blessed to see first hand and I saw six out of the ten. It is the door to the entrance of the dining room/restaurant. The restaurant is absolutely divine. I started with an appetizer of ribs that were fall off the bone delicious and so tender and flavorful. For my main, I had salmon with veggies and mashed sweet potatoes in a garlic butter sauce. Divine is not even strong enough a word to describe this meal. The Sauvignon blank I had was perfectly paired with my meal and the service was incredible. The room was lovely. The bathroom had both a bathtub and a shower. What a superb and heavenly shower too!! I love when the shower has great water pressure. The hotel is alleged to have a ghost room and I met the couple that stayed there the night I was there and they didn't hear or feel anything. The bed was so comfortable, the sheets and duvet so lush, and the view to the garden the perfect way to wake up in the morning! I highly recommend staying here when in the area! read more
Business owner information
Scott W.
Business Owner
Dear Lesley,…
My wife and I attended our wonderful friends wedding nuptials at The Ballygally Castle. This is a delightful hotel with lots of character and dates back to 1625. It is part of the locally owned and run Hastings Hotels. On arrival we mingled whilst waiting to enter the Kintyre Ballroom for the wedding registration ceremony. The room was well decorated and the ceremony was short and well conducted. After the pictures we retired to the hotel lobby and had drinks whilst the room was prepared for the dinner. This gave us time to explore the hotel and learn about the history. There is also a Game of Thrones door in the hotel. The bride and groom looked super!! The weather was kind and we were able to take a walk in the well manicured and mature gardens, which sported a river flowing into the sea and various other features. By now we had built up a healthy appetite and it was time to be seated and tuck into a very well cooked and presented 5 course meal. For starters there was a lovely Caesars Salad then Butternut squash and sweet potato soup served with a warm soft wheaten muffin. The first two course were amazing and set the standard for the mains. For mains we both had the chicken, potatoes and vegetables. The chicken was succulent and vegetables al dented and mash was perfect. Service was exceptional and staff very attentive and professional. For dessert there was lemon tart and profiteroles, again an amazing sweet. After the cake cutting and speeches we had our coffee and cake in the lobby. Ballygally Castle is famous for the resident ghost, so we went to the ghost room to see if we could spot her.......and we........ didn't see or feel her!!!!! Maybe you will?? Finally the evening entertainment started and the DJ played a wide range of tracks and we danced for a while, relaxed, chatted and thoroughly enjoyed it!!! After a snack of fish and chips it was home to relieve the babysitter!!! read more
10 years ago
Hubby got me an afternoon tea for 2 voucher as part of my Christmas present. Booked for Feb 3rd with my friend. The table was perfect, right at the window with a good view. But I truly don't think it was worth £18pp. Sandwiches were made on stale/hard bread - not quite the delicate, decadent afternoon tea sandwiches you expect. If I can make nicer sandwiches at home, you've already lost. Plus? There was an odd number of sandwiches - were we supposed to fight to the death to win the last one? 1 of each of the 3 flavours each. 1 of each of the 3 flavours left over. Fight it out. Chicken and egg ones were lovely but I wasn't fussed on the ham and mustard. Butter was rock hard and the scones weren't hot enough to melt it. Wasn't fussed on the blamange but the macaroons were good. Lemon tarts were good, meringues were good. Not a drop of chocolate in sight though. I paid €25 pp in Donegal just after Christmas for a much better spread than here. I was really disappointed. read more
17 years ago
Pros: Excellent service, attentive restaurant and bar staff. Great Real Coal Fireplace, with sea view - comfortable and romantic, could snooze here for the rest of the day. Cons: Very pricey , £10.00 for a small burguer, £3.40 for a pint of Guinness. read more
4 years ago
This hotel is a breath of fresh air! Beautiful hotel, grounds/gardens are magnificent, cool history, views outstanding, rooms comfy and bed amazing, food and service great! I look forward to coming back someday. read more
Business owner information
Scott W.
Business Owner
Thank you for the review for Ballygally Castle, we really appreciate…
10 years ago
We had a really good stay here. The service was excellent as well as the room, garden, and dining. We needed help with our room and they went beyond our expectations. The room was nice and it had a wonderful view of the beach. Their garden and the huge playground across the street was very enjoyable. Finally our meals were well made and you will get to learn about how they source all their main food products. Over all Ballygally Castle is a really great place that we hope to revisit someday. read more
11 years ago
Some wee spot! Was here for Porkys wedding- had a cracking Time. Friendly staff, great service and top notch hotel rooms! The food was delicious and they serve a lovely wee pint of guinness or 15 for a great nights craic. If you plan in getting married - you should have it here. Lethal! I Would comment on the breakfast but I was too hungover- probably delish though! read more
18 years ago
Situated on the famous County Antrim coast, Ballygally Castle Hotel is the perfect venue for any function, from weddings to business meetings. The castle itself is beautiful, especially at night when it is illuminated in the light. A two minute walk away in one direction is Ballygally beach, and in the other is the Antrim countryside, just waiting to be explored. When I stayed at Ballygally Castle it was just gaining its four star status from its previous three stars, which was comforting. The service was impeccable, both in the restaurant and at reception; the staff always made you feel welcome and were there for any queries you should have. The hotel concierge carried our bags to our rooms which was lovely. In the restaurant myself and my boyfriend enjoyed a three course meal near a roaring fire, which was delicious, and which we would definitely return for. Afterwards we enjoyed a walk along the beach. I cannot stress enough how beautiful this hotel's surroundings and scenery are! Our room was an ensuite with shower, which was neatly presented and there was minimal noise at night. We had a wonderful time at this beautiful hotel; it was very relaxing and we would love to return again! read more
10 years ago
Went to Ireland and Northern Ireland to celebrate my 50th Birthday and really wanted to spend at least one night in a castle that wouldn't break the entire trip's budget. Ballygally Castle fit the bill perfectly and was an optimal place to stop between Belfast and heading up to the Antrim Coast, Giant's Causeway, and the Bushmills Distillery. Two added bonuses were that it has one of the Game of Thrones carved doors entering the restaurant, and a Ghost Room in it's Tower Keep. Had an excellent dinner in the restaurant as part of the room package as well. That was a pleasant surprise as I wasn't aware that the dinner was part of the already quite reasonable room rate. They really treated me well for my birthday, candle in my morning muffin and a special plate of macaroons to boot. It is an old building, so there are small issues that go along with that, not the best water pressure in the shower, no elevators, wi-fi signal is not the best connection throughout the building, etc. But, if you want a unique experience for a night or two with top notch food to boot, you really have to give it a shot. read more
11 years ago
We have enjoyed many Sunday buffet at Ballygally not to mention a mention a totally fantastic wedding day here! The staff are great, the rooms are lovely, food is amazing and the hotel itself it beautiful! read more
11 years ago
Lovely Hotel on Coast Road with fabulous sea front view. Part of Hastings Group of hotels so a high standard of service should be expected. I have absolutely no complaints in this regard - staff throughout hotel appeared well trained and did a good job - impressive as they were all So young. If calling at hotel for a meal in the restaurant you shouldn't be disappointed - it's good food - not fabulous just good. Waiter service is adequate. I have attended two wedding receptions at this hotel both very different affairs and still hosted very well by staff. It's a good location for a wedding but bar can be put under pressure as not the biggest. The temperature in Function room always seems to be too high - no evidence of air conditioning or ability to adjust room temperature. Beware that as a wedding guest hotel car park is small and therefore limited - you may have to walk. Overall still a good wee hotel with good standards and good food. Worth considering for a wedding as staff are well drilled and courteous but definitely has limitations. read more
18 years ago
This hotel is run by the Hastings chain and is located right on the coast road allowing you to look out over the sea. It is styled as an ancient building, though I think only part of it is from the original castle. Regardless, it is in a great location if you like going for walks on the sea in the village. The nearrest large town in Larne and it is is about an hour drive to Belfast or 90 mins to the Giant's Causeway. The rooms are traditional with a TV, kettle for tea/coffee and ironing facilities. The staff are friendly and the bar has the lovely views of the sea. The restaurant is smart with decorated with railway prints and a suit of armour. Food is modern Irish/British and some traditional dishes also offered. Breakfast is also good with a choice of hot and cold dishes. The Ballygally is popular with tour parties, this hotel gets busy in Summer, but don't let that put you off, it never feels cramped or over populated. read more
18 years ago
I stayed in Ballygally at the start of the year. The Castle dates back to 1625 and is unique in that it is the only 17th Century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland today. The hotel is reputedly haunted by a friendly ghost and brave guests can visit the 'ghost room' in one of the towers to see for themselves, apparently if you say goodnight to her she wont haunt you so we did (just to be on the safe side). The hotel was quite busy the night we stayed as there was a wedding on. The rooms are very spacious, we had a twin room with one double and one single bed. Breakfast was also really impressive we stared of with fresh fruit, cereal etc then followed by a cooked breakfast, perfect to set you up for the day. There is also free parking at the hotel. The cost was very reasonable £85 for a four star hotel. read more
16 years ago
Loved my sunday buffet! These guys really know how to put on a feed! Lovely service, and big portions! Great Value! Try try try! Will def be back when i recover! read more
18 years ago
This is a great hotel with a wonderful view. The hotel also has a great hunted room which has been featured on most haunted. The hotel is an ideal location for weddings as the views are fantastic. The room rates a re a bit more expensive but definately worth it. The hotel offers some very good offers as well which is worth looking out for. The food in the hotel is wonderful as well. The staff in the hotel are so friendly and a pleasure to deal with. read more
18 years ago
A luxurious hotel finely situated on the doorstep of the famous glens of antrim. Standing at the front reception, you are looking right at the sea, with Scotland, and the mull of kintyre in the distance. A large burnung fire in the lounge and suits of armour add to the charm of this beautiful hotel. Rooms are well presented and service efficient. A must for those seeking a getaway romantic break. Lovely!! read more
More info about Ballygally Castle Hotel
Coast Road
Ballygally BT40 2QZ
United Kingdom
Directions
028 2858 1066
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Visit Website
https://www.hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle/
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Does Ballygally Castle Hotel have free WiFi?
Yes, Ballygally Castle Hotel has free WiFi.
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Perched on the tip of the famous Causeway Coastal Route, sits Ballygally Castle, a stunning 17th century castle which overlooks the golden sands of Ballygally Bay and has uninterrupted views across the Irish Sea. This beautiful Castle is perfectly located for top tourist attractions and has a wealth of recreational activities within easy reach making it the perfect base for exploring the stunning Causeway Coastal route, Bushmills Distillery, Carrickfergus Castle, Royal Portrush Golf Course, Carrick-a-rede rope Bridge and the popular Game of Thrones Tour. For those wishing to explore on foot will enjoy the beautiful walks to be found in Carnfunnock Country Park, which is within walking distance, or simply relax and enjoy a leisurely stroll on the beach opposite the hotel.
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Review Highlights - Ballygally Castle Hotel
“Ballygally Castle is famous for the resident ghost, so we went to the ghost room to see if we could spot her.......”
Mentioned in 4 reviews
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15 years ago
beautiful building! was at a wedding here and it was so nice and every where was spotless!! and staff were very friendly too!
























































