68 | LOCAL TOURIST
THE LOCAL TOURIST
Luxury By The Lake Side
BY ERIN ENGLISH
erin@nitravelnews.com
www.nitravelnews.com
Plans For New Belfast Hotel Given Green Light By Council
A new hotel in the Botanic area
has been given the green light, after Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee granted planning permission for several Major developments across the city, this month. Permission
was granted for the
164-bedroom hotel by applicant, Andras House, with ground floor bar and restaurant at the junction of Botanic Avenue and Donegall Pass. The site for the new hotel is currently
used as a surface level car park and retail and office unit. Councillor
Ryan Murphy, Chair Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee,
area ; A beauty which is only a sliding door away. Accommodating 10 guests,
the
Lake House has five bedrooms, four of which have ensuite facilities. The master bedroom is breathtaking with floor-to ceiling windows offering unparalleled
views of the Lake
House’s private spa facilities and neighbouring lake. Stepping out into the garden, you
THE Rabbit, the spirited little sister of the Galgorm Resort and Spa, resides in the village of Templepatrick in County Antrim. Back in 2021, The Galgorm Collection expanded their portfolio with the addition of the Rabbit Hotel. Accommodated with 50 guest rooms, a spa which provides guests with access to Swedish saunas, aromatherapy spaces, steam rooms, halotherapy, a salt chamber, and a roman-inspired bath. From Belfast, the Rabbit
Hotel is easily accessible via a 20 minute drive or by the 300 Belfast International bus, which departs from Central stops at
Grand
Station and the Ballymartin
Park and Ride which is just a short walk from the entrance of the hotel. Back in August, it was time to
dip my toe, quite literally, into the indulgent offering of the County Antrim premises.
The Lake House was our home
away from home for the evening, and what a treat it was! The newest addition to the many strings on The Rabbit Hotel’s bow, The Lake House offers an idyllic and private escape, located just a short walk from the main hotel. Sleeping up to 10 guests, and providing guests with private hot-tub and sauna facilities throughout the duration of their stay. First impressions always matter,
and
basking in the cosy comfort of The Rabbit Restaurant, the primary restaurant at The Rabbit Hotel was a warm welcome. Visiting on a Sunday afternoon, perhaps the busiest day of the week for a restaurant, was a great way to see the property in full-swing. The Rabbit Restaurant and the adjoining Hunter’s Bar strikes the perfect balance between sleek and muted colour palettes with an aura of upscaled rustic furnishings. As part of a six person party, there were multiple orders
placed, with different
amendments and changes needed, and as far as service goes, the staff were pleasant and happy to accommodate.
A mix-match of different plates, I opted
for a starter and main course. Starting off my culinary journey with a tomato and red pepper soup, paired harmoniously with a slice of Guinness wheaten; as a self-proclaimed soup enthusiast, this was by-far the highlight of my Sunday meal. For my main course, I chose a Vegan Wellington option,
paired with olive
oil mash and an array of roasted vegetables. Fed & Watered, it was time to unwind with a trip to the Spa. The roman bath takes
centre
stage at the Rabbit’s Spa, with a gigantic glimmering disco ball perched
above the facilities
expanse of the Roman Bath. Providing the backdrop to countless social media posts and reels, the Rabbit’s spa are
grounded in an atmosphere of fun, fashion, and self-care. With an area deemed
the ‘Lakeside Beach’, sun loungers are perched amongst the heated sand with a lakeside bar a mere few steps away. The layout and decor bring a slice of beach life to County Antrim. Hotel residents can avail of earlier
access to the spa from 12pm, subject to availability, or from check-in at 3pm. After 3pm, it was time to check-out the
Lake House, a much anticipated addition to The Rabbit’s Hotel offering. From first stepping into the house, the interiors fuse together to create a blend between modern innovation and a 1970’s aesthetic, with plush furnishings draped in earthy tones and ambient lighting scattered throughout the Lake House. Upon further inspection, the kitchen and bathrooms are fully-fitted with every tool, gadget, and utensil which guests may need for a long-stay at the premises. These spaces are bright, and spacious with floor to ceiling windows allowing the panoramic views of the lake to spill into the property, inviting guests to explore the natural beauty of the surrounding
are greeted by an outdoor seating area and a staircase which cascades to the private-hot tub and sauna facilities. This was by-far my favourite aspect of the property. After all? Is there a better way to spend a warm- summer’s evening than allowing your troubles to melt away in a hot-tub, while the reflection of the sunset glimmers on the nearby tranquil waters of Templepatrick.
of
September/October 2025
said: “It’s further good news for tourists and visitors to Belfast to have another major hotel development approved, this time – in the Botanic area. “This new hotel will be close to shops,
bars and restaurants and other local visitor attractions
like Botanic Gardens and the
Ulster Museum. It’s also walking distance to the city centre and close to Botanic station which provides public transport links to the wider
city and beyond including Lanyon
Place and St George’s Market and Titanic Quarter and SSE Arena and Titanic Belfast, among other great attractions.
Finn Lough Introduces Electric Hydrofoiling Journeys
FINN Lough will become the first luxury hospitality destination in Europe to offer its guests electric hydrofoiling experiences, with a vessel made by New Zealand ma- rine technology innovator, Vessev. Known for its Bubble Domes and immer- sive, design-led approach, Finn Lough, on Lower Lough Erne, is preparing to welcome the VS–9, a high-speed, long- range catamaran whose technology rev- olutionises on-water transport. The VS–9 is a nine-metre catamaran that flies above the water on carbon fibre hy- drofoils, producing minimal wake, noise, or environmental impact. The VS–9’s all-electric propulsion and foiling tech- nology can reduce energy costs by up to 90%. Finn Lough co-owner Michael Beare said the VS–9 exemplified Finn Lough’s ‘wild- ly refined’ philosophy. “Partnering with Vessev allows us to of- fer a form of travel that connects people more deeply to a place, and that carries a sense of story, not just movement. It captures our core belief in the beauty of contrast: pairing the untamed beauty of the lake with a thoughtfully designed, el- evated way to explore it.” Beare noted the VS–9’s design reflect- ed Finn Lough’s principle of ‘refinement through intention, not excess’, integrat- ing seamlessly with its surroundings and providing guests an elegant alternative to road-based transport between remote points on the lake. The VS–9 was recently awarded a Red Dot Design Award, an international competition that
celebrates excellence
in product design. The vessel was recog- nised for its experience-first approach, including wraparound glazing that offers an uninterrupted view of the landscape. Vessev CEO Eric Laakmann said
the
VS–9 was a natural expansion of Finn Lough’s offering. “The boat’s design and technology is configured to enhance a passenger’s ex- perience of the natural world. “A flight on the VS–9 is smooth, silent, creates very little wake, and produces no on-board emissions. There’s nothing getting between you and that tranquility that guests come to Finn Lough to find,” he added. Vessev is scaling production to meet global demand. The VS–9 will arrive at Finn Lough in 2026.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
