Business travellers to Belfast have a refreshed five-star option on the city’s doorstep after the Culloden Estate & Spa completed a £620,000 refurbishment to coincide with its 150th anniversary. The work covers guestrooms, private dining and The Spa, with new décor, soft furnishings and bespoke furniture throughout.
For SMEs booking corporate stays in Northern Ireland, the timing is useful. Belfast’s meetings and events trade continues to grow, and the Culloden, set on twelve acres above Belfast Lough with views towards the Antrim coastline, is one of the properties most often used for board away-days, client entertaining and senior-level stays outside the city centre. The building itself dates back 150 years, having originally been constructed as the official palace of the Bishops of Down.
What the money has bought
The largest slice of the spend, £500,000, went on bedrooms and was completed earlier this year. The Garden Rooms and Deluxe King guestrooms have been redecorated from scratch, with new furniture and soft furnishings in deep green and terracotta tones, set off by warm ambient lighting. Bathrooms have been upgraded too, gaining marble-effect finishes, brushed brass fixtures and walk-in rainfall showers.
Of more direct interest to corporate bookers is the £40,000 refurbishment of the Ailsa Suite, a private dining room looking out across the estate and the lough. The redesign nods to the architecture and heritage of the original 1876 building, pairing rich navy tones and William Morris wallpaper, a reference to the designer’s rise to prominence in that era, with a bespoke marble boardroom table and chairs upholstered in leather and velvet. The result works equally well as a meeting room or a dinner venue, and arrives as competition for premium private dining in the city sharpens, with the Grand Central Hotel unveiling its own exclusive private dining space in Belfast.
A further £80,000 has gone into The Spa, covering both interiors and fitness facilities. The reception and retail area now has marble flooring, new soft furnishings and a dedicated seating area, while the gym has been fitted with new treadmills and weight resistance training equipment. For travellers who build a workout or treatment into a trip, that strengthens an already well-regarded leisure offer.
What the hotel says
Cormac Fadden, general manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa, said: “As we celebrate 150 years of Culloden Estate & Spa, this investment reflects our commitment to preserving the estate’s rich heritage while continuing to enhance the guest experience for the future. The upgrades to our guestrooms, private dining spaces and spa facilities have been carefully designed to combine contemporary luxury with the timeless character that makes the Culloden so distinctive.
“Following a strong year of growth, we are delighted to unveil these enhancements during our anniversary year and look forward to welcoming guests to experience this exciting new chapter in the Culloden story. With the vibrant summer season now underway, we are also thrilled to welcome back our much-loved Bollinger Champagne Garden, providing the perfect setting to raise a glass and toast this significant milestone.”
Anniversary package and costs
To mark the anniversary, the hotel has launched a Retreat & Restore package for this summer only. It includes an overnight stay, a 150-minute ESPA treatment combining a full body massage and personalised facial, access to the spa and thermal suite, a celebratory glass of bubbly and a full Irish breakfast the next morning. It runs from June to November, priced from £710 for two adults for one night, and must be booked 15 days in advance via the hotel’s website.
The Culloden is the flagship of the Hastings Hotels group, whose Northern Ireland portfolio also includes the Europa, a property with a long history at the heart of Belfast’s renaissance as a business destination. Travellers weighing up a stay elsewhere in the group’s estate can find more in our guide to Northern Ireland with Hastings Hotels.
