Having just come back fresh from an evening spent here, I felt it my duty to hop straight on with a review. Having lived very near this hotel for most of my life, it's always considered the local haunt for a quick drink on a Saturday just before the X-Factor starts, or a place to go for a Sunday carvery - my Mum's favourite word, by the way! The Lansdowne is also known to locals as the place for a full-on North Belfast reunion at Christmas and Easter time...all the old faces come back to haunt you!
But seeing it with fresh eyes tonight, it's not a bad place. I spent this evening at a function there, an award ceremony - and thier main function room was appropriate for it. Everything seemed well organised and looked good. The main foyer seems to offer lots of local information, and there is a large bar/lounge area as well as an outdoor lawn for kids (although I'm not a fan of bringing kids when you're having a drink - they tend to torture everyone else!)
The food tonight was good - a finger buffet with a decent choice. The obligatory cocktail sausages, sandwiches, spring rolls, vol-au-vents and so forth but there were also sticky ribs and onion bhajis - which were, actually really lovely. There was tea and coffee on offer also. I've heard some not-so-great reports about the food here from others, but I couldn't fault it tonight, and it was piping hot and there was plenty of it - none of this taking it away before you've had seconds, malarkey.
I wouldn't have had my wedding there - it's nowhere near special enough, but if you're staying there or nearby, and are looking for somewhere to whet your whistle - it will do. read more