What attracts people to the area?
Athlone is such a diverse town – there are all manner of things to do here from Glendeer Pet Farm for the kids, to Jump Lanes trampoline centre for teens.
Baysports is a massive draw to the area. It’s a large inflatable adventure zone on the River Shannon. It attracts kids from age 5 to adults aged 55! Its tremendous fun and runs all summer long – a great family or couples’ activity. Athlone Castle is also a great day out and a chance to learn about Athlone’s earliest settlers. There are plenty of interactive areas of the Castle which kids find really educational and engaging in a fun way.
As well as that, there are 2 great shopping centres with all the best high street brands in the town centre so there is really something for everyone.
Are weddings still a big deal? How have they changed if at all?
I think the traditional Irish wedding is always going to be with us. As a nation, we know how to throw a party for family & friends. While weddings have been a bit smaller for the last 18 months, I do believe they will make a comeback with large numbers. I think we are entering into 2 of the biggest wedding years we have ever seen & we are incredibly excited at that prospect. Having just emerged as one of Athlone’s newest & most stylish wedding venues we are really well positioned for intimate weddings of 20 in our private dining suites to the lavish, big Irish weddings of 200. Having just won ‘Overall Wedding Venue of the Year Roscommon’ by WeddingDates.ie we are so excited to create more bespoke weddings for each of our couples.
How important is the food and drink offering?
In Irish hospitality, food & drink are the driving force of the business. They go hand in hand, you need to have both to succeed in this business. When you have a passionate kitchen brigade coupled with local, quality produce & you can deliver that with excellent service your certainly on a winner. People will come back time & time again when this winning formula is engrained in the Hotel. We are so lucky to have so many repeat guests, both locally & nationally. It gives me as a general manager no greater joy than seeing those repeat guests & being able to pop over for a chat. These guests become like family coming to visit & naturally we look after them as such.
