Mount Juliet Estate, Autograph Collection

We had a lovely weekend celebrating my wife's birthday with some friends. We stayed in the Hunter's Yard and the rooms were very comfortable. The ladies all had treatments in the spa and enjoyed the facilities there. There are also some lovely walks on the grounds and along the river Nore. All you need are suitable clothing and footwear. We were due to eat in the Lady Helen restaurant on the 2nd night but due to a booking error there was no table available. As a result, we were seated in a private room in the Tetrarch Lounge and extremely well looked after by Jimmy and Jonathon the Manager and Assistant Manager of the Manor with service and stories. The food was fabulous and we got to meet John Kelly, the Executive Head Chef and Tom Phelan, the Head Pastry Chef, who were both very gracious in spending time explaining their dishes and their journeys as chefs. They were very well supported by the rest of the staff, who all, along with the management and chefs did all they could to make it one of the most memorable nights for all of us.

Although it was only a one night stay, it was still very nice and worth it. It is the hotel/estate that you only see on TV. The grounds were so large that it came with a map upon check-in. Lucy checked us in quickly and with clarity; even though I lost my hotel card key, she resolved it with no issue. My fiancee and I did quite some walking around the different trails and saw nothing but beauty. Well landscaped property with views of horses, river, trees, and inclines. The breakfast was included, top notch, and satisfying. The staff knew the meaning of "etiquette" and treated guests with such respect and properness. My fiancee enjoyed the pool and it did look big and pretty. The rooms were clean, big, and fancy with complimentary water bottles and, a nice, shiny bathroom. We loved our stay here and would return in the future when we revisit Kilkenny.

The listings of likes: The cleanliness and decor of all aspects of the accommodation and facilities. The spacious and well kept grounds. The fitness facilities, although somewhat compact (as you expect from a hotel gym) it had an adequate amount of well maintained machines. The pool and sauna area. The Spa facility. The “breakfast room” with an extensive offering both from the menu, as well as, from the buffet area. The Hound (little more formal) and the Club house (little more causal) restaurants. The food in both was well presented, delicious and served with a smile. The most important asset and what makes a stay is the staff. Without exception the staff in the Mount Juliet, from the Ladies at the “front of house” reception. To the servers in the breakfast area, club house and Hound restaurant. As well as the staff in the fitness, pool / sauna and Spa, always offered assistance with a smile, conducted themselves in a professional, but at the same time, relaxed manor. We came away with the impression that they all enjoyed what they were doing and were happy to be working for Mount Juliet. This created a nice vibe throughout.

This is a 12 out of 10 stay! Absolutely fantastic estate. not only did we feel taken care of, there is so much to see and do at Mount Juliet. It wouldn’t be right to end the review without mentioning David. He is an exceptional part of the staff that made us feel like royalty. All the small gestures added up to great memories. Thank you David for teaching us about the Estate and making sure we enjoyed every inch of our stay! oh, and you must try a Lemondrop if you stop by the bar. We’ll definitely be back!

Room was well finished, very clean, heated floor in bathroom, comfortable bed, great coffee/water station and quiet. Food in The Hound was excellent; my wife rated her meal as one of the best she ever had; I emnjoyed mine too. Not cheap, but great quality food and waiting staff were very good.