Culloden Estate & Spa

Very comfortable stay, staff were very helpful and approachable. Excellent services and experience, will return again.

Staying at the Culloden is a luxurious experience from the moment you go through the gates. I had the wonderful experience of staying there in late December 2025, just ahead of new year. The welcome you receive from the staff is exceptional, but not over the top. You are made to feel welcome and at home immediately. The hotel was impeccably decorated for the festive season and there was a warm festive vibe throughout the hotel. I stayed in the Bishop Suite which was truly five star with views of Belfast Lough to match. Every detail has been catered to and the suite was spotlessly clean. The turn-down service was most welcome after an evening out dining in Belfast City. We dined in hotel restaurant on New Year’s Eve and it too was outstanding. The food was some of the highest quality I’ve eaten and the service could not be faulted. Overall, I have to say that my stay in the Culloden was noting short of perfection. This is a resort that knows how to look after its guests and I really look forward to returning very soon.

Overall, we had a very enjoyable stay and the hotel is undoubtedly a lovely place. The setting is beautiful, the food was excellent, and the bar and waiting staff were genuinely outstanding — friendly, attentive, and a real credit to the hotel. That said, it didn’t quite feel like a true five-star experience, mainly due to a collection of small but noticeable details. The bathrooms, while clean, lacked the finish you would expect at this level, and the toiletries felt quite generic and inexpensive. At breakfast, the seating was very close together, which made it feel cramped, and used plates weren’t always cleared promptly. Small things like brown sauce being spooned out and spilled, and laptops sitting out at breakfast, took away from what should feel like a polished, premium experience. We also visited the Culra Bar, which is associated with the hotel. On its own, it’s a lovely bar with a nice atmosphere, but it doesn’t align with the five-star image the hotel is aiming for. Unfortunately, that association slightly detracts from the overall perception of the hotel rather than enhancing it. In summary, this is a great hotel with excellent staff and food, and we really enjoyed our stay. With a bit more attention to detail and consistency, it could very easily reach true five-star standards — but for now, it sits comfortably at four.

We arrived early and were greeted warmly, and my mother’s room was ready which was appreciated. We were especially excited to book a spa hotel resort for treatments. Whilst waiting in the lounge for our own room to become available, on receiving a call to say it was ready, we were then left waiting in a freezing, cramped reception area right beside the main door having to wait on our room keys.  Check in service was extremely slow, disorganised, and not what would usually be expected from a 5 star hotel. On the first day, we decided to visit the renowned Cultra Inn on the Estate grounds for a lunchtime drink and possibly food, but after being left stood waiting at the entrance and ignored by two staff members, we instead chose to leave. When we returned later in the evening on a second attempt having made a reservation on our first night the service improved, but the inconsistency was disappointing.  We then ventured to the spa to book somewhere massage treatments during our 3 night stay only to be met with huge disappointment on being informed that there was no availability for residents of the week during our stay. This was very disappointing as we were not previously informed of this at the time of booking. We got the impression from the staff that non-residents took priority which again was disappointing for a 5 star spa hotel.  The hotel bar was hugely understaffed for New Years Eve, particularly given that the hotel knew it was hosting both a private wedding and its own New Years Eve Special Stay.  This left hotel residents with slow or no service and very limited space. Whilst we ate there on one occasion and the food was fine, it was not worth the price charged at all for a bowl of soup and sandwich.   Having previously enjoyed the Slieve Donard under the Hastings group, we expected a similar standard. This stay fell short, though still slightly better than our experience with Marine & Lawn but wouldnt be rushing back to visit this hotel or the Hastings group of hotels in the near future.  Housekeeping was another issue. Rooms not being serviced until late afternoon on both days, toilet rolls weren’t replaced, towels not refreshed, and the bathroom wasn’t properly cleaned, with dirty glasses left behind.  This happened on two occasions requiring reports to managers on day two. The service was simply unacceptable and lack lustre and entirely undeserving of a supposed 5 star luxury estate hotel. Whilst these issues were rectified on reporting, they should not have arisen.  The rooms are a good size but dated, with furniture that requires updating. The bathroom was spacious and the ESPA products were a highlight The spa layout is poorly designed. Guests have to walk through a busy reception and bar area in robes, and seeing people sitting around the bar in robes especially in the morning was uncomfortable and not something I’d want to experience again! A standout part of the day was probably the breakfasts. Even though the selection of breakfast options is buffet style the food was always nice and hot and plenty to choose from.  Overall, the hotel has potential, but the service, staffing levels, housekeeping standards, and layout issues made this stay far from the 5 star experience we expected.  At this price point we expected luxury and unfettered service this cannot simply be said for this hotel.  I would genuinely advise you to book somewhere else if you have not fully committed to a stay here as there are better hotels in Belfast and surrounding areas at this price level. Do not be fooled by the location

From the entry to the exit, this hotel is unmatched in it's beauty, simple but brilliant attention to detail and overall feel of quiet grandeur that does not overwhelm but makes anyone feel at home. The staff, who were clearly working incredibly hard, never faltered in their smiles and warmth. In particular, Johnathan's knowledge of the building and also his clear affection for it was brilliant. I have not stayed anywhere where the staff were as friendly and kind as this location. I would strongly recommend here for any occasion. The food was also on a different level compared to any other hotel in the region. It's fondness for locality is brilliant too which no doubt only adds to the magnificence of its taste and quality.