The Old Inn Crawfordsburn’s Gem

This editions staycation takes us to The Old Inn Crawfordsburn, those unfamiliar it was purchased by Beanchor not too long ago , they are the owners of The Galgorm and Merchant Hotel, from the purchase they have been being doing all kinds of refurbishments and additions mainly on the rooms and adding a beautiful Spa, accordingly named the Tree Top Spa. We were invited along for a day/night away, which was so exciting

My sister Pamela and I hopped in the car and headed off ready for a relaxing time. Getting there was so easy, even if you aren’t a confident driver or good with directions I don’t think you would have a problem finding it. Crawfordsburn is between Holywood and Bangor, just off the main A2 road. It is such a charming village which has a real feel of history and tradition, it was of no surprise when I discovered that the hotel was built back in 1614, it is filled with character and charm, visually looking like a building of its time though with all the mod cons added in a clearly designed way.

We arrived around 2pm which gave us plenty of time to check in, admire the place and head off to the piece de resistance - The Spa.

First though I have to tell you about our room , they have 4 different room types, we honestly were not expecting to be given one of the Junior Suites - it was so beautiful, opening the door we both gasped with delight, so much care and detail has went into the refurbishment , everything was decorated with a beautiful traditional approach completely in keeping with the hotels age, there was an amazing free standing copper bathtub, had I been away with a partner and not my sister I would have certainly made the most of it. The bathroom was so spacious and the shower even had a seating area which I thought was such a clever idea.

The bed was HUGE, super King which would easily fit 4.

Other features included a Fridge , Coffee Machine, Satellite TV, Wifi and of course Flip Flops and Robes which we practically dove into lol. I cannot fault a thing about the room.

Swimming gear and robes on - Spa time, here is a wee quote from the Old Inn’s website “ Perched above Crawfordsburn Country Park, the Treetop Spa offers guests unrivaled forest views for a peaceful rural retreat. Begin your spa journey by enjoying hot outdoor bathing in the pool and hot tub, followed by detoxifying and cleansing the body and mind in our sauna and steam room and cosy up on the heated waterbeds in the covered cabana. Unwind on heated marble loungers whilst you relax in luxury in The Conservatory, stay warm by the woodfire stove as classical music plays softly. A haven of tranquility and relaxation, the Treetop Spa is a luxurious and exclusive experience” I could not have worded that better. Our room was 2 mins from the Spa making it so accessible, looking out over the woodlands really transported us away. It felt like we were miles from civilization in a scandinavian forest, it was breathtaking.

We spent the next couple of hours relaxing and using all of the facilities, being early in the week it wasn’t busy, though as such an exclusive hotel with 32 rooms, even at full capacity you wouldnt feel crowded. The Spa is complete with Outdoor Pool, Sauna, Relaxing Cabana, Hot Tub, Steam Room and experience Shower - we loved everything about it and used all of the facilities, my sister didn’t want to leave lol

After freshening up we went for dinner, I think we were the first residents dining, we had a show booked that evening so went for dinner around 5.30pm as we didnt want to rush.

I always ramble on about how much I love food so you’ll not be surprised to read that choosing what to eat was such a struggle, I want to try everything lol, it was super helpful when I saw the A La Carte Menu, there were 6 choices for starters and 6 for Main.

To Start on recommendation I ordered the

Spicy Pork Ribs, these were literally finger licking good, just the right amount of spice for me, they were a tad fatty so if you are watching the waistline maybe go for something else. I could have easily gone with the Steamed Mussels, Seared Scallops or Tomato and Goats Cheese Arancini - all good devine.

My sister order the Chicken Satay Skewers, she said they were so good

On to the mains and on to another struggle, I loved a stew/casserole so decided to order the Beef Bourguignon, this was French style with Goats Cheese, a generous helping of Wholegrain Mustard Mash and a side portion of Buttered Courgettes.

This was heaven in a bowl for me, tender beef , rich sauce and little pops of zing from the baby pickles, so so good though honestly there was so much, I couldn’t manage it all though I got it boxed up, waste not want not.

Pamela ordered the Steak, I was told it was cooked to perfection, she got the Sirloin Medium, it came with all the trimmings, she was well pleased.

Other dishes I would have loved to try were Pan Fried Duck, Slow Cooked Pork Chop or

Grilled Sea Bass. The Menu definitely had something for everyone

There is always from for dessert, I ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding and Pamela Got the Apple Tart, we shared them, both hit the spot, great finish to a lovely meal and perfect portions

Our server was so knowledgeable and attentive, thank you

We popped out for a few hours and on return we went to the bar. It would be rude not to, it was so lovely chilling by the open fire with ambient music playing, it was like being in a hunters private lodge with the decor.

We shortly retreated to bed, I am a rubbish sleeper in general though managed to get 6 hours which is unheard of for me, the bed was so comfy

Before leaving we went back to the spa for a couple of hours then had Breakfast, again the spa was pure bliss. Breakfast was such a spectile, there was a large table with all the cold items which you could help yourself to, meats, cheese, yogurt, nuts, berries and loads more.

We also ordered hot food, my sister got a traditional fry and me being the inquisitive eater I ordered the ‘Shakshuka’ this was baked eggs with Chorizo and Sourdough, omg it was delicious

On departure we discovered that our suite was the most recent to be refurbished, thanks for allowing us to be one of the first to experience it we genuinely had a lovely stay only complaint is that it was too short, a day away from reality and toils of life isnt enough though it recharged the batteries and had us heading home relaxed and happy

Thanks so much for the kind invite and a wonderful stay, we adored the vibe and atmosphere immensely. Please don’t change a thing. Highly recommend

Words by Daniel May

we’ve got something to suit everyone. If it’s a hearty lunch or evening meal, delectable afternoon tea, private dining or just a few drinks in the bar you’re after, we have a selection of menus guaranteed to satisfy your tastebuds.

Complete with Outdoor Pool, Sauna, Relaxing Cabana, Hot Tub, Steam Room