A touch of whimsy and a sprinkle of luxe


Heidi McAlpin booked in for a night at Belfast’s newest boutique hotel...


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ake a touch of whimsy, add a sprinkle of luxe and you’ve got yourself a truly unique stay at


The Harrison, Belfast’s latest arrival on its steadfast accommodation scene. This truly wow-factor overnight option has transformed two three- storey townhouses into a quite incredible canvas of baroque antiques, bold prints and bookish homages to local greats. Owner Melanie Harrison has poured her heart and soul into this glorious Victorian building which sits right next door to her own family home. This lady of the house has added the mantra ‘Chambers of Distinction’ to her opus and really does live and breathe the character and history of her sumptuous Malone Road abode. And history is delivered in abundance, as The


Harrison was once home to the Cleaver family of the iconic Robinson & Cleaver department store fame. As befits owners of such elegance and prestige, The Harrison’s creamy exterior is resplendent with bowed windows and detailed plasterwork.


But it is inside where the local legends theme


really delivers. Each of the 17 en-suite bedrooms is named after a well-known locally connected creative, from CS Lewis to Jonathan Swift, Percy French to Hans Sloane, Van Morrison to The Brontë sisters whose father hailed from Rathfriland. Books are in abundance and TVs have been abandoned, so snuggle up between the sheets and lose yourself in some top-drawer tomes. Vibrant clashes of colour, fabrics and curios


await at every eye-popping turn providing Insta moments galore. Chandeliers, rolltop baths and four poster beds bedeck the grandest of the bedrooms, while a menagerie of monkey, octopus and wild animal motifs hang out harmoniously amid big floral prints. Not to be outdone, even the smaller bedrooms


feature fantastical décor, humorous touches and the same personal attention that makes your stay extra delightful. But the real eye-popping detail comes courtesy of local designer Grainne Maher whose bespoke wallpaper is a pinky blush of bountiful breasts, with soft plump cushions scattered on the chaises longues to match. Breakfast is delivered to your room so you can


enjoy home-baked savoury muffins, overnight soaked oats and plunge coffee as you watch the verdant Queen’s Quarter come to life. More comestibles are served in the ground floor lounge with morning coffee and evening BYOB candle- light platters delivering on style and taste. And if you need to destress, the in-house beauty therapist


Vibrant clashes of colour, fabrics and curios await at every eye-popping turn


providing Insta moments galore.


Small town tucked away just across the border


Chelsea and her mum Debbie took a short break to Kilkenny and discovers what the medieval town has to offer visitors...


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Owner Melanie Harrison


is on hand with head and back massages to iron out all those knots. Free Wi-Fi, off-street parking and the delights of


Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum a mere stroll away make The Harrison a sophisticated city break for romantic couples, bijou family soirees or stylish girly get-togethers. And with Belfast City Centre an easy walk or swift bus ride away, you can really indulge in some quality shopping and urban exploration from this eclectic boudoir base. Go on… spoil yourself.


Hotel Info:


The Harrison Chambers of Distinction 45 Malone Road Belfast BT9 6RX www.chambersofdistinction.com Rooms £95-129 including breakfast Candle-light sharing platters £10 for two people Overnight with head & back massage £150 Keep an eye out on The Harrison’s Facebook and Instagram for all the latest news and offers.


njoying a good look about, our adventure in Kilkenny began after the best sleep of our lives


at the Hotel Kilkenny… time to be all touristy and check out the sights. A quick car journey to the town centre gave us the answer as to why this small town tucked in the south of Ireland was known as The Medieval Capital of Ireland. From the moment we stepped foot onto the


narrow streets, it was clear the rich medieval heritage seeped threw the buildings and landscapes. With Kilkenny being the location for Irelands only witch trials, Chelsea and Debbie started at the bottom of the Medieval Mile and worked their way up, learning everything this historic town had to offer. First up was a visit to Rothe House & Gardens.


This is a 17th Century merchant house built in 1594 held over 2,500 artefacts of Kilkenny’s history. The Gardens, beautifully displayed held an Orchard at the back with massive bird houses and every herb known to man! (figuratively). Sitting in the sun, watching the birds enjoy the accommodation was the best start in exploring the town. With a small admission fee of €7.50, this is most certainly a place to see! Masks are requires in this location. As we moved up the mile, we visited everything


from The Black Abbey, to Butler Gallery leaving us at the end looking up at Kilkenny Castle. What a sight this was, the 12th Century castle which was remodelled in Victorian Times held the history of Kilkenny in portraits. A small admission fee to do the tour is €7 - masks are required to be worn during the tour. Settled around the castle is the most beautiful


park and gardens, fountain included!! With having the best weather, the only option was lunch on the green… food and a cuppa purchased, Chelsea and her mum soaked up the sun and spent some quality mother daughter bonding time - totally like something out of a movie right?! After a day of sightseeing, it was back for a delicious meal at Hotel Kilkenny and a good nights rest as THERE WAS MORE TO SEE the next day! The final day, after a big brekkie at the hotel (get the pancakes, trust me!), another little look about was a must! With St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower


offering the best view in Kilkenny, we had to go catch the views before we left.. unfortunately the tower was closed but we didn’t let that stop us from taking pics and of course… comparing the Round Towers’ hight with Scrabo Tower (you have two girls from Newtownards here; who live directly under Scrabo - were always going to do this, just saying! For anyone interested, Scrabo Tower is taller). With cute pictures and the exploration over, it


was time to hit the cobble streets and shop! With Chelsea’s tradition of buying a shot glass every place she visits, a Kilkenny shooter was purchased! A quick lunch by the river saw Chelsea and her mum fed and hitting the road back up North. A massive thank you to Hotel Kilkenny for having


NI Travel News for a visit and taking such good care of us. The entire trip was a dream from start to finish, you will be seeing us again! For all the pictures and highlights from Chelsea trip, head over to NI Travel News’s Instagram page: nitravelnews.


*All information disclosed in the above review were correct at the time of stay.


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