KINGFISHERCountry Estate

On Sunday past I was invited to stay/review the Kingfisher Country Estate - Previously Hilton Templepatrick, in the past I have been at the hotel for meetings though never stayed so this is another new experience for me to share with our readers. It couldn’t have come at a better time either as the hotel has been undergoing a refurbishment and rebrand.

Here are a few words from the Kingfishers website ahead of my review.

‘The recent acquisition of Hilton Belfast Templepatrick by Loughview Leisure Group sets the stage for the development of Northern Ireland’s preeminent Resort and Golf Hotel. Kingfisher Country Estate will feature world class facilities including the luxurious Double Tree Resort Hotel, modern, immersive hydrotherapy area and spa, health club with indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre, award winning Parkland golf course, outdoor activities and accommodation pods bringing you closer to nature.’

Completion of the initial program of redevelopment includes the refurbishment of guest room accommodation, providing luxury, quality, comfort and memorable experiences in the wooded surrounds of the County Antrim countryside.

Every one of the hotel’s 129 rooms has been styled to induce calm and restfulness while a natural colour palette of soft sage, heritage teals and nudes is accentuated by rich walnut fixtures and finished with premium textiles. This stunning composition, elevated by views of our handsome parkland and golf course, makes a sleepover at Kingfisher Country Estate an indulgent experience to remember.

Set among 220 acres of wooded parkland on the Kingfisher Country Estate, our hotel has access to the championship Templepatrick Golf Course.

We’re within a 15-minute drive of Belfast Airport and 13 miles from the City Center.

Approx 2 weeks before my stay I knew I was in for something special - I received the most elegant emerald green presentation box in the post, it contained a voucher which detailed everything that was planned for my stay - I thought this was a wonderful touch which really got me excited. I have stayed in many hotels and establishments over the years reviewing and as a regular guest and I do not recall receiving anything similar. Needless to say we are already off to a more than promising start

OK let’s relax into my review!

I had planned to check in early, but due to work commitments it was around 5pm before I arrived, I was immediately taken back on the drive in. It was so scenic with lush greenery which set the tone for quality and the experience that was ahead of me.

The reception staff were so friendly, they checked me in promptly , explained the location of the bar, restaurant, spa and fitness suite before advising me of my room and confirming details around my dinner plans.

I headed up to the 3rd floor, I was booked into room 313, it was only on exiting the elevator that I realised I would be staying in the Upton Suite, WOW! I was not expecting such grandeur for little old me.

Room 313 - Upton Suite

The suite was unbelievable , probably larger than the entire ground floor of my house lol. Everything was pristine, as soon as you opened the door your attention was caught by a super luxurious L-shaped Yellow Sofa, work desk area with an Emerald Green chair which matched the presentation box I had been sent and a massive flat screen TV, it was clear that no expense had been spared with the refurbishment.

There was a working kitchen with all the mod cons, again everything was immaculate, I’m unsure if it had even been used.

Around the corner there was a beautiful King Size bed, a dressing area pre equip with dressing gowns and another seating area.

I must also mention the HUGE bathroom, a family could get ready at the one time, there was a double shower and full bath - I really was blown away so much so that I had to share a video across my socials - if you saw it you will have just possibly noticed the excitement in my voice lol.

Food

Having not eaten since 11am I was more than ready for some Grub. I headed down to the restaurant for 6pm as planned, I was escorted to a reserved table, gave menus and told of specials.

My server took a drink order while I pondered over the Menu, I had intended on behaving, I haven’t had alcohol in 6 weeks though as it was a special occasion my arm was twisted into ordering a glass of wine - Sauvignon Blanc was the tipple of choice, it was perfect.

To start I order the Pil Pil Prawns , these were delicious, I have never had softer prawns, they melted in your mouth, they were served with

To finish I ordered a 2nd class of wine and the Mango and Passion fruit Cheesecake, I asked for this to be served with Honeycomb ice cream - this was right up my street, I have such a sweet tooth and this had the perfect balance for me, it was sweet, tart, rich and satisfying.

The Manager and Servers were all so friendly and super attentive, thank you.

Soon after with a full belly I retreated to my room.

Next Morning gooey melted cheese, garlic butter and a little hit of chilli with a side of Melba Toast - I could have eaten 2 or 3 portions, they were so good.

I don’t recall the exact time I fell asleep. I think it was around 10.30pm, and I didnt wake until 7am. This was a combination to being chilled with the wine, though mostly due to the bed being so comfy, though it was after 9am before I managed to drag myself out of it with just enough time to get breakfast.

For my main I opted for the Ribeye Steak. It was served with Chips, roast tomatoes and a choice of sauce. Being indecisive I ordered the peppercorn & garlic butter and a side of buttered vegetables. The steak was almost perfect, the meat was medium as I requested, though for me the fat could have been rendered a little more, saying that it was so juicy and bar the fat I devoured the lot. The portion was perfect, though had to leave some chips and veg so I would have room for pudding

I must mention the view from the room, it would’ve been a golf enthusiast’s dream, had it not been raining I would have been chilling on the balcony watching people play.

Breakfast was served in the restaurant, everything was self service buffet style though there was a chef on hand if you wanted something else - I overheard other guests ordering omelets though I was more than pleased with the cooked offering, in fact I had a double helping of a few things - don’t tell lol.

Halcyon Spa, Hydro Space and Facilities

Probably one of the things I was most looking forward to was being pampered - let’s be honest who doesn’t love to be looked after.

My original plan was to be up early to use the gym ahead of my treatments though time had escaped me , I did however admire the facilities and set up, when I return I will definitely be pumping some Iron lol.

The entrance to the Spa is just to the left of reception, I arrived about 10.45 ahead of my treatments at 11am, I filled in a few medical forms, had a little consolation and was brought to the treatment room - again I was taken back with how state of the art and new everything was, this really was in heaven all that was missing was muscular men in very little,feeding me grapes - I can dream lol.

There are dozens of treatments , Rituals and Massages to choose from. I decided I would get a 30 minute back massage followed by a 30 minute facial.

The massage was lovely, just the right amount of pressure and as for the facial, while writing this 3 days on my skin is still subtle and soft.

I thoroughly enjoyed both treatments - I think I even fell asleep while getting the facial - this has to be the ultimate compliment.

Thankfully, having arranged a 2pm late checkout I had time to immerse and enjoy all of the facilities. The Steam room, Salt Room,

Sauna, Hydro Pool were all so lovely, I think I stayed for almost 2 hours.

I must mention the little extras, chocolates waiting in my room, Mimosa, sorbet and truffles after treatments were all super welcome gestures - you won’t be surprised to hear that I polished off the lot lol.

All in all I had the most amazing time at Kingfisher Country Estate, I have already recommended it to so many people and cannot wait to return. Thank you so much for the generosity and invite to review, I will be talking about this for a long time to come.

Review by Daniel May

Kingfisher Country Estate Paradise Walk, Templepatrick, Ballyclare BT39 0DD 028 9443 5500 info@kingfishercountryestate.com | www. kingfishercountryestate.com