Conferences, gala dinners and weddings for up to 600 guests at a reception can be held at Slieve Donard, a Victorian hotel opened in 1898 on the seafront of Newcastle, County Down, where the Mourne Mountains meet the Irish Sea. The hotel has a self-contained Grand Ballroom of 720 square meters, four further event rooms, six breakout rooms, a dedicated events team and in-house AV.
Seminars and company events
The Grand Ballroom is the room for large conferences: it has its own entrance and can be set up to suit the event. For breakout sessions, workshops and seminars, the six Centenary Rooms on the first floor take 20 to 40 people each and can be booked one by one or as a full suite. The Annesley Room, with original columns, chandeliers and a fireplace, is offered for meetings by the half day or full day. The Drawing Room, a quiet room off the main lobby with views over the lawn and the sea, suits a board meeting for up to 25. Golf on Royal County Down, the links next door, and the spa give options for a team afternoon.
Weddings and receptions
The Grand Ballroom, the Chandelier Room and the Annesley Room are all presented for weddings. The Chandelier Room, with crystal chandeliers and curved windows over Dundrum Bay and the Mournes, can serve as both the ceremony room and the reception room, with 300 guests at a reception or 140 at dinner. The Brunel Lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows, its own bar and direct access to the front lawns, works alone for 100 or alongside the Ballroom or the Chandelier Room for drinks.
Rooms and capacities
Grand Ballroom: 720 square meters, 600 at a reception. Chandelier Room: 280 square meters, 300 reception, 140 dinner. Brunel Lounge: 130 square meters, 100 reception, 100 dinner. Annesley Room: 119 square meters, 100 reception, 60 dinner. Drawing Room: 52 square meters, 25. Centenary Rooms: six rooms of 27.5 to 44.5 square meters, 20 to 40 each.
Accommodation
Guests stay in the hotel itself, in seven room categories that include sea-view kings, twins and family rooms. The spa, indoor pool and fitness facilities are on site.
Catering
Food is served in-house. J.J. Farrall's, a high-ceilinged dining room with period details that has welcomed guests since 1898, is offered for private dining and corporate gatherings. The Percy French, a pub with timber rafters and a stone fireplace, suits drinks receptions and casual evenings. The Wolf Bar serves cocktails and whiskeys, and the Lighthouse Lounge serves afternoon tea with views of the Irish Sea.
History and setting
The hotel opened on June 24, 1898, after the Belfast and County Down Railway decided Newcastle needed a grand hotel, and its design came out of an architectural competition held in 1895. Guests over the years have included Charlie Chaplin and Desmond Tutu, and the songwriter Percy French performed here. Sir William Hastings bought the hotel in 1971, and it joined Marine & Lawn Golf Hotels under new ownership in 2021.
Getting there
The hotel is on Downs Road in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, beside Royal County Down golf links and at the foot of the Mourne Mountains.
