The experience was largely positive, and we look forward to returning soon. However, there were a few tiny details that I feel are easily rectified, which would elevate Carton House to a true 5* experience. We left Carton House really pleased with our stay, but quite frustrated at how simple some of the grievances were.
In no particular order:
There was no host at breakfast. We wandered around the lobby/bar area and eventually decamped at a table by the entrance to the Morrison, and went in to Kathleen’s Kitchen to place our order. The lady at the coffee stand in there told us we could sit in the kitchen dining area if we wanted. We then realised there was a restaurant / dining area in there, and so gathered out things and moved into the space. We were sitting for maybe 15 minutes before we caught someone’s eye and asked for a menu. The aesthetic and vibe of the space was absolutely stunning, as was the food. However the service let it down. It feels like it would be easily overcome by having a host on the door to greet and direct guests.
The bathrooms, especially at The Morrison, whilst clean and tidy, are lacking something. I feel having small hand towels, and a basket to dispose of them, would be more appropriate to the setting than a stack of paper towels and a stainless steel pedal bin. A very minor detail, but the location of this bin in The Morrison’s bathroom is quite annoying – in the corner furthest away from the door, rather than en-route to the exit, meaning you have to wash your hands, walk to the opposite corner to dispose of the tissue and then head for the exit. The food however… wow! Two dishes especially (the ex-dairy beef & Valrohna Jivara) were absolutely stunning – 10/10! Flawless.
The air conditioning unit on the wall of our room (#225) has an extremely bright green light, which stayed on all night. I woke at 4am, and found it extremely irritating – a real sensory annoyance in an otherwise beautiful room. I also struggled with the fridge door, which kept locking itself into an open position.
The pool area / spa, whilst adequate, could be improved upon. The loungers, although extremely comfortable, are positioned right next to the swim lane of the pool, meaning enthusiastic folk doing lengths are splashing and disturbing those who are relaxing with a book! There’s a beautiful courtyard outside the jacuzzi area which lends itself perfectly to an outdoor sauna or hot tub. The showers for use before entering the pool area are cold (male and female changing rooms), which is deeply unpleasant. Whilst the hotel itself, and the dining experiences, are 5*, the pool/spa feels lacking to comparable hotels.
We did a walk of the grounds, which are stunning, but found sections of it quite mucky. Would you consider a boot/wellington offering similar to Cliff @ Ardmore?