Marlagh Lodge

71 Moorfields Road, Ballymena, BT42 3BU

Phone: +44 (0)28 2563 1505, Fax: +44 (0)28 2564 1590

'Marlagh is a beautiful house ... with its pitch-perfect style and Rachel’s fabulous cooking – Mrs Thompson cooks some of the best food in the North'

Bridgestone 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland 2007

Built around 1855, Grade B1-listed Marlagh Lodge, on the outskirts of Ballymena, Co Antrim, was restored by Robert and Rachel Thompson who bought the property in 2003.

It now provides elegant country house accommodation in three beautifully decorated ensuite rooms, and is a fine location for private dinner parties.

Marlagh Lodge has three bedrooms. You won’t find satellite TV or DVD players - we much prefer to relax with a good book, so each room has its own bookcase instead! Our bathrooms are full of luxurious little goodies from fluffy towels and bathrobes to indulgent lotions and potions guaranteed to make you feel truly pampered!

The Blue Room with its king-sized Victorian cast iron four-poster is especially popular. The ensuite bathroom has a rolltop bath (lovingly restored by Rachel!) and an interesting mahogany-framed blue sink dating from the 1920s.

The Chintz Room with its restful aquamarine and cream colour scheme features a cast iron double bed and spacious ensuite shower room.

The Print Room has cream and brass beds - either available as a twin or super-king - and is populated by cherubs! Its private bathroom (with more cherubs!) is just across the private landing.

Marlagh Lodge

The Drawing Room is full of books - we’re particularly interested in Ireland’s country houses, including those that are now in a state of ruin, so there are lots of books on that subject. We’re both musicians (Robert is an organist and pianist and Rachel is an opera singer) and those of a similar bent are welcome to play the piano in the Study. There are also some interesting old photos, including our ‘before, during and after’ collection which charts Marlagh Lodge’s journey from decaying wreck to elegant home!

Breakfast at Marlagh Lodge will certainly set you up for the day! There’s fresh fruit, fresh bread, cereals and muesli to start off with, then goodies such as ‘Marlagh Lodge Tummy Warmer’ - creamy porridge with Bushmills whiskey, brown sugar and cream. Of course, we only use the best ingredients in our Ulster Fry - local sausages and bacon, traditional soda bread and potato bread and local free range eggs. You may prefer something a little lighter - an omelette, perhaps, or Rachel’s fantastic scrambled eggs with our fishmonger’s own wonderful smoked salmon.

Dining at Marlagh Lodge

Marlagh Lodge has a growing reputation for fine food and good wine. Rachel cooks everything freshly, including her popular brown bread and very popular after-dinner fudge! Ireland has fantastic home-grown produce which we are proud to use in our monthly-changing menus.

We are fully licensed and have an expanding wine list supplied by James Nicholson of Crossgar. We stock wines from all over the world, with a slight emphasis on our own favourite French wines!

Marlagh Lodge is available for small private dinner parties and other “do’s” by arrangement.

Rates and Information

2007 Tariff
All prices are per person

Bed and Breakfast with Dinner (1 night) £71.50
Mini break - 2 nights' B&B with Dinner on one night £105.00
Gourmet Break - 2 nights' B&B with Dinner on both nights £135.00
Bed and Breakfast only (1 night) £40.00
Dinner (non-residents) £31.50

3/4 nights B&B only - 5% discount

5 nights or more B&B only - 10% discount

Children under 16 - 20% discount

Children under 8 in day bed in parents' room - 50% discount

Children under 3 in parents' room - free of charge (cot available)

Dinner available to residents Monday to Saturday

Dinner parties for non-residents by arrangement (maximum no. of guests 16)

No Single Supplement
Licensed

We require a valid credit card number at time of booking. We don't take a deposit but charge in full if a booking is cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice and we can't relet the room.

Directions:

From Belfast:

Take the M2 north. Leave at Junction 1 (for Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine) and take the A26 towards Ballymena.

At the roundabout at the end of the A26 (Ballee Roundabout), take the third exit, following signs to Coleraine and Larne.

At the next roundabout (Larne Road Roundabout), take the third exit (A36), again following signs to Larne. At the top of the climbing lane (0.5 miles), turn right into Rankinstown Road. Marlagh Lodge is first entrance, immediately on the left (gravel driveway).

Belfast International Airport - 20 mins
Belfast City - 35mins
Port of Larne - 25mins

Why not visit the Marlagh Lodge home page?