RESTAURANTS AND FOOD: Mount Congreve

Showing posts with label Mount Congreve. Show all posts

Thursday, September 7, 2023

The Lodge at Waterford's Mount Congreve is a hideaway gem

The Lodge at Waterford's Mount Congreve is a hideaway gem.

All ready for you

The Lodge at Mount Congreve is a charming 18th-century gate lodge that has been lovingly restored and converted into a cosy and stylish hideaway. It is located on the grounds of the stunning Mount Congreve House and Gardens (one of the Great Gardens of the World), and it offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the best of both worlds: a peaceful retreat in a historic setting with easy access to all the amenities and attractions of the surrounding area including the lively city of Waterford.

Be sure and check the story
behind this temple in the
garden with its
lovely view over the Suir.

Following its 7-million euro renovation, Mount Congreve House and Gardens was reopened in early 2023 and now, since June, includes the Lodge in its list of attractions.

The lodge, an 18th-century cottage by the entrance gate, is currently the only accommodation on the estate available to guests. Two other similar buildings are on the restoration list but they won't be ready anytime soon as no work has started.

The Lodge, originally the gatekeeper’s, has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom, all on the small side but snug. Like all old buildings, it has its quirks but these give it some of its personality. While the restoration has some old features (cast-iron rainwater goods and an antique bio-ethanol stove), there are also very modern elements (apps on a supplied mobile phone for heating, opening the main gate etc.).

There is a decent-sized lawn equipped with a barbecue and hammock and if you want to walk, the whole estate is at your door, the gardens too (you have your own key). You can park the car by the house and close the lodge gate behind you. The main gates to the estate close at 6.00 pm, so if you are out and about you need to have the supplied mobile with the apps in the car.

Sleep well!

If you want to tour around the area, you are also well placed. The award-winning Waterford Greenway cycle route can be accessed directly (you have two bikes available at the lodge) from Mount Congreve Gardens. The restored Waterford Suir Valley Railway has enabled the magic of rail’s golden age to be brought to life in nearby Kilmeadan. This narrow A gauge railway runs along 10 kilometres of the abandoned Waterford Dungarvan line. The R680 runs outside the gate and a few minutes in the car will take you to the N25.

The second bedroom. The Lodge can take 4 adults

Picnic?

The living room is one of the larger spaces here, well furnished, though modern posteriors may find some of the seats that bit hard - no shortage of cushions, though. There is an honesty bar (includes their own Mt Congreve gin) at hand, a chessboard and other board games, and no shortage of books. And a very modern Wi-Fi TV and yes the Wi-Fi is excellent.

The kitchen is small but has all you need to cook (if you want to!) and they supply enough essentials (fresh eggs, milk and bread included) to have a snack when you arrive (or the morning after). There’s even an “old” transistor radio on the window shelf and it is in good working order.

The dining room is so well furnished. The table is set with very attractive ware and you are immediately tempted to try it out. How about a picnic? No bother. There’s a large well-equipped basket there. I'm not too sure you'd manage that on your supplied bikes (2). You will of course be able to have breakfast or lunch or indeed afternoon tea at The Stables, the restaurant in the house.

Mount Congreve

The master bedroom is beautifully lit and decorated (large tapestry and gilded mirror in one) and the black radiators (used throughout) are hardly noticeable but do their job. The bed itself is of the lower variety, handy for those of a certain age! Comfortable though. The second bedroom is only slightly smaller and just as comfortable.

In the Bathroom, you’ll find a range of toiletries including body wash and hand soap made locally by Wild Oats Soap, as well as a hair dryer. Bathrobes made up of 40% Bamboo & 60% Cotton can be found in the bedroom wardrobes. Check yourself out in the gorgeous old mirror. And the modern shower is all pushbutton, one of the best I've come across.

Meet a hearty Reuben at The Stables Café in the main house.
Here, you may enjoy breakfast, lunch, and anytime treats.

The Lodge itself is very well maintained both inside and out, spotless.

Pawn to Q4!

You are assured of a very warm welcome. Head to the main house reception to meet the staff and they’ll take you to the Lodge and show you around and fill you in on what you need to know including a little demo on the apps on the supplied mobile phone.

Additional details:

The lodge is located in the heart of the Waterford countryside, just a short drive from the city of Waterford.
It is dog-friendly, with up to two dogs allowed per stay. If you do bring the dog, you will be able to take it to the Secret Garden Shop and the Stables Restaurant but not into the gardens.
Not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Rates from 195 euro per night to 270 euro per night depending on the season. A minimum two-night stay applies.
.More info here https://mountcongreve.com/gate-lodge/

Check the Secret Garden Shop for treats and pressies.

April Visit to Mount Congreve and gardens here . (Note - before Pantry at Cliff took over the Stables Restaurant).

Monday, May 1, 2023

360 Town Stay Excellent Base For West Waterford Trip

360 Town Stay Excellent Base

For West Waterford Trip

Baker's Table in Lismore

In the heart of Dungarvan town, 360 Town Stay offer a selection of studios and apartments. We stayed in one of the apartments during a recent mini-tour of the West Waterford area. Even though we didn’t meet a single human at 360 - everything is done online or via code - it worked out very well indeed.

The 360 house is entered from the large car park St Augustine’s/Scanlon’s Yard in the town centre, perhaps not the most promising of entrances on a dull day. Used our code to get the key from the black box and made our way up some fifty steps (not as difficult as it sounds).

360 front entrance

The apartment is spacious and comfortable. An average sized bedroom and separate bathroom had all we needed. Then we were into the living space. Sofas and armchairs to relax in if we wanted to watch the large TV (we didn’t, even though it had Netflix).

Mount Congreve, with the Suir in background

Around the corner was the kitchen with fridge/freezer and cooker and lots more besides, and in another space was a fine dining table and chairs. You could easily stay here for a couple of days. And they also have a restaurant nearby. Check it all out for yourself here. We made good use of it before we had to depart, using that code again to put our key back. Still no human!

Our mini-tour had started with a visit to Mount Congreve Gardens which is of course nearer to Waterford city than Dungarvan. The house and gardens, café also, are well worth a trip, particular now that they are so much improved following a seven million euro re-furb. See post link below.

That evening, we had the most enjoyable meal in The Shamrock, a every short walk from 360. Really good local food and a very friendly atmosphere. All generations seem to dine here. Not fine dining that you get in the Old Bank for instance but good stuff and it is very highly recommended. See post link below.

Petit Fours at Cliff House

At The Local

We did of course have our spot of fine dining and that was a splendid Seafood Tasting Lunch at the Michelin starred Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore. The lunch was part of the West Waterford Festival of Food. It was a spectacular display by Tony Parkin and his team, very enjoyable indeed. See post link below.

After our meal at The Shamrock, we strolled the few yards to the square and ended up in The Local, also newly renovated. And it was busy, mostly with serving food. The willing and smiling staff were on their toes, serving food and drink, even charging mobiles for customer. Besides, they had a selection of the local Dungarvan Brewery beers (in bottle) and here we enjoyed their Mine Head American Pale Ale.

The following morning we were up on the Vee for a fairly early walk. We went up through Cappoquin and then on past Mount Melleray. We more or less had the sunny pass to ourselves and enjoyed the views and got some good photos as well before we headed back down to Lismore for brunch. See post link below.

Mount Melleray

Our venue here was the Baker’s Table. It was sunny but also cold as we strolled to the cafe and went on to enjoy a relaxed and excellent meal. See post link below.

Sunny out but fire on inside at The Bakers, Lismore

Vinilo is another baker in the town and we called in there. They have a table or two inside where they serve coffee and pastry. But they are most busy with customers calling for bread and cakes and also takeout coffees. We bought a sourdough loaf and it was quite a good one as well.

Vinilo sourdough

So that was about it for this trip to West Waterford, every bit as enjoyable as before. We’ll be back.

On this trip

Mount Congreve, Kilmeaden

The Local, Dungarvan

The Baker's Table of Lismore

Vinilo, Lismore

Marvellous Sunny Morning On The Vee (Waterford/Tipperary)

360 Town Stay, Dungarvan

The Shamrock

Seafood Delights at Cliff House Hotel Festival Lunch

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Renovated Mount Congreve is looking very well indeed this year! Fuel up at the Stables Café.

Renovated Mount Congreve is looking very well indeed this year.

You can fuel up at Stables Café.

The Temple, with the River Suir in background
All pics taken 13.04.2023

Mount Congreve House and Gardens are situated in Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford, in Ireland’s Ancient East and are home to one of “The Great Gardens of the World”.

Mount Congreve House, home to six generations of Congreves, was built in 1760 by the celebrated local architect John Roberts. It is now in the hands of the OPW and, after a recent seven million euro revamp, is looking very well indeed, both the house and the gardens.

The gardens comprise around seventy acres of intensively planted woodland, a four acre walled garden and 16 kilometres of walkways and some great viewpoints. But don’t worry. There are some long and shorter walks and all are well signed and you can check the distances before you start off. If you tired halfway through and need some feed, then check out the Stables Café. The main walks are The Woodland Garden (55 mins), the Fragrant Walk (20 mins) and the Walled Garden Walk (30 mins). There are also guided tours.

The shop is alongside the café

If you visited Mount Congreve in the past, you’ll remember that the cafe was down in the old out-buildings, near to the car park. Now it is part of the house itself with outside tables on a terrace as well. It is now run by Catoca Fine Food and Giftware, who already list Emo Court, Portumna Castle and Doneraile Court as places where they operate food facilities.

Something sweet?

You have to queue to order your food here, then pay for it and then find a table. Not too difficult but do take a look at the menu boards around and also check the displays in the glass cabinet as the queue makes progress. Lots of us would prefer a menu in hand but this is a busy spot and some 80,000 visitors are expected this year.

Approaching the house from the car park (which is not very close at all)

Anyhow, I settled on the (already prepared) Chicken Caesar Salad (13.00) which was neatly presented and a good one. No shortage of good quality chicken, crispy bacon pieces, one or two baby tomatoes, lettuce leaves, sauce and of course the essential parmesan. CL had to wait for hers to be cooked - Smoked Salmon and Prawn Salad (16.50) - ands brought to the table and that too proved quite satisfactory and we were ready for the garden walks!

Plants for sale here also

The gardens are of course seasonal. The woodland garden peaks in the months of February through to May so the colourful rhododendrons and magnolias have reached their peak by now. One other side of the coin, the walled garden (a very extensive one) looks rather bare right now but will be the sight to see in late summer. Around the same time, in a three-quarter mile walk, there are over ninety different varieties of Hydrangeas is in full flower.