Launch of Afternoon Tea at the 4* Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown
What a wonderful gem of a hotel the 4* Carlton Blanchardstown is. How have I not known about it before?
Situated close to both Dublin Airport and the City Centre of Dublin this award winning hotel is airy, bright and has everything going for it!
Recently the Carlton Blanchardstown launched their afternoon tea menu and I was lucky enough to be invited along to sample the delights.
The attention to detail at this hotel is rather special and the staff were amongst the friendliest and most knowledgeable I have come across. I even got help launching Boomerang on my iPhone from the lovely Emma, Meetings and Events Specialist!!!.
We were treated to a "Pimp Your Prosecco" reception on arrival. We had a choice of adding casia, melon or orange to our Prosecco then topping this off with a selection of berries for a healthy twist.
What struck me from the moment we entered the room was the attention to detail that was apparent in every corner. From the freshly hand cut Lavender which adorned the tables, to the hand written tags on the jars and the personalised name badges for our table settings.
The afternoon tea menu included scones with jam and fresh cream, fruit banana bread, oaked smoked salmon and cream cheese on brown bread and tender roast beef with onion marmalade and horseradish cream. The miniature sandwiches included egg mayonnaise and cucumber and supreme of chicken.
We also had desserts including baked vanilla cheese cake, custard tart, the signature Carlton coconut fluff, custard tart and toffee gateaux mille feuille.
AND of course, the tea was served in danity tea pots and china tea cups.
After our feast of afternoon tea we were taken on a tour of the hotel. The hotel can cater for up to 450 indoor seated dining guests and have expertise in hosting Gala dinners, AGMs, conferences, seminars, to name but a few.
The outside gardens are a perfect location for wedding pictures or lazy summer BBQ evenings.
We also checked out the corporate rooms and lounge. The meeting and event space can cater for up to 750 delegates with free car parking for 600 attendees. I could see myself quite happily working from the corporate lounge which included facilities like photocopier, mini fridge with water and very fast Wi-Fi connection, always a must for a corporate client.
Certainly an office away from home!
We also got a view of the suites and general bedrooms and I was in awe of the sheer luxury of the rooms in this 4* hotel. The four pillar bed in the bridal suite with its spacious living area with couches, television and living area could also make a fantastic suite for a luxurious family getaway.
There is a room adjoining this suite that can double up as a children's room. It has a double bed, (which can be turned into two single beds if required) and room for another single bed if needs be. This room also has a television area and enough room for children to chill out after a day's adventure in Dublin!
The hotel's closeness to the National Aquatic Centre and Waterpark make it a great family holiday choice for a luxurious getaway.
There is an interesting clock theme running throughout the hotel, designed by the architect which includes clocks of various styles hanging from the walls. Even the carpet has a clock theme. It adds to this hotel's charm and uniqueness.
The 4* Carlton Blanchardstown is a tastefully designed hotel which has lots of extra features which makes it stand out from the crowd. One thing I love in a hotel is for it to be bright and airy. The Carlton Blanchardstown definitely ticks all these boxes with a bright, welcoming feel even along the upstairs corridors where there is side lighting running along the walls.
After the grand tour of the hotel it was off to sample the Gin menu!!! Another treat lined up for us and we had the very friendly Ossie attending to our every need.
We each received goody bags before we left which were full of fantastic products from Ultra Pure Laboratories, Dr. Paw Paw, Human + Kind, Nude by Nature, Graham Anthony and Debenhams.
We also got goodies from Ardel Lashes, O'Briens Wines, Westend Retail Park and Chopped. The Carlton Hotel supplied us with a box of macaroons, sweets and lollies which personally was a great treat for me to have some goodies to bring back home to my two boys!!
I very much look forward to going back and staying in this lovely hotel and would rate the service, ambiance, friendliness, and cleanliness on a very high scale.
It is truly a gem to be explored further.
Dolores Andrew-Gavin, Founder of IrishHealthHour, Energy Therapist, Soul Care Practitioner, Author and Mum.