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Travel + Fun

02nd May 2021

A new luxury boutique hotel is about to open in Co. Antrim – and staycation here we come

Trine Jensen-Burke

The Rabbit Hotel

Yes, please!

It will be another summer of staycations for the vast majority of us – but TBH, we don’t mind it so much – especially now that we have clapped eyes on the brand new The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Co. Antrim.

The gorgeous boutique hotel, which is due to open its doors on June 18th, is situated in the heart of Templepatrick – and is the little sister (same owners) as the award-winning Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, also located in Co. Antrim.

The Rabbit, though, is cooler, more hip – and exudes a free spirit attitude with a sleek, modern environment.

In other words; the perfect place to escape to with your bestie or BAE.

The 33-bedroom luxury boutique hotel and spa will open on 18 June and complete with a stunning spa retreat – and honestly, we are counting down the days already!

Formerly the Templeton Hotel, The Rabbit has undergone some extensive refurbishments and will offer an onsite restaurant, bar, private events space for weddings and conferences and lakeside walks.

All the guestrooms come equipped with all the latest mod cons.

“After more than 18 months of extensive redevelopment and a challenging year for the hospitality industry, we’re thrilled to throw open our doors and welcome guests to enjoy this unmatched experience,” says Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston.

“It also represents a significant investment in the local economy and cements our longstanding commitment to support and grow our tourism industry.”

The boutique hotel will also feature a £2m outdoor spa area, offering guests Swedish saunas, an aromatherapy steam room, a halotherapy salt chamber and Roman-inspired baths and hot tubs.

Also exclusive to The Rabbit is its “lakeside beach” with heated sand, a Lake Bar and a sunken lounge.

When you get hungry, you can visit The Rabbit Restaurant and Hunter’s Bar, which first opened to diners in July 2020 and seats up to 180 guests.

The restaurant has a large outdoor terrace allowing for al fresco dining, which I think we can all agree is perfect for those warm summer days. And as for what to sip on, how about a bottle of wine from the extensive wine cellar located in the restaurant? Or, you know, a refreshing and summery cocktail?

And if you fancy a bit of city life and shopping while up north, The Rabbit is located only 20 minutes by car from Belfast city centre, with all the shops and nightlife you could ask for.

For more information or to book your room now, check out Rabbithotel.com