Hotel review: This Westport hotel offers knock-out views and top-class service

A 10-minute walk from Westport town centre, this four-star hotel is the perfect location to explore one of Mayo’s liveliest towns. 

With the train station less than a five-minute drive away, and Knock Airport within the hour, the hotel’s wider connectivity is good too.

9/10

Style and design

The country manor-style hotel exterior evokes an old-time elegance with a stone facade and period styling. 

Set against well-maintained, lush foliage, a red carpet at its entrance for one of two wedding receptions taking place during our stay doesn’t look out of place. 

Inside, whether ordering a cocktail at the warmly lit Brehon Bar or taking a dip in the Roman-style spa, the sense of old-world grandeur continues. 

Wandering maze-like corridors is made less of a hindrance and more of a treat with fine art and antiques dotted throughout; the focus on paintings of Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, and Westport reveals the owners’ pride in their homeplace.

9/10

Service

From reception to the restaurant, spa, and bar, staff are helpful, attentive, and always friendly. 

We get the impression there is a real focus on service here.

9/10

Guest rooms

Our room isn’t a suite, but it feels like one. The Grand Deluxe is a sizeable 65sq m with a super king-size bed and single bed, both kitted out with crisp white linens. 

In addition, we have a couch, two armchairs with footstools, a vanity table, and a coffee table, meaning there is plenty of room to chill out. 

The sage green palette combined with period style furniture, heavy curtains, and artwork makes for a lovely, homely feel. 

The elegant marble bathroom features double sinks, a light-up vanity mirror (though this isn’t working during our stay), a Jacuzzi bath, shower, and bidet.

8.5/10

In-room perks

Eco-friendly water cartons, alongside Barry’s Tea, instant coffees, and Costa coffee pods are provided with a kettle and Nespresso-style machine. 

We are disappointed to see there is no mini fridge. In the wardrobe, robes and slippers are a nice touch, along with the usuals: iron and ironing board, hair dryer. 

A substantial guest directory features useful information on everything guests might require from recommendations for local angling spots to numbers for local chemists and taxi drivers.

7/10

On the menu

Often, when heading on a weekend break, there can be the temptation to skip dinner in the hotel as it rarely matches up to the food offerings of local restaurants. 

Thankfully, there is no such fear for diners at Knockranny. Chef Seamus Commons has been at the helm of La Fougère/The Fern Grill for over a decade now, and his offering has long been lauded by critics — including our own Leslie Williams.

The menu features plenty of game including roast crown of pigeon, game pithivier (rabbit, pheasant, venison), Silverhill duck, and Irish venison. 

For those less adventurous, there’s a good selection from smash burgers to cauliflower steaks and seafood linguini. 

We play it safe with Hereford steak which is very good — as is our selection of mini-desserts. 

Breakfast, eaten overlooking Clew Bay, is not as impressive. We order poached eggs with avocado on sourdough toast — the eggs come on a single slice with avocado that is overripe and unappealing.

8/10

Activities and amenities

The hotel’s Spa Salveo offers a thermal suite with a brine inhalation room, aromatherapy grotto, herbal sauna, scented steam room, monsoon shower, and hydrotherapy body massage stations, though not all of these facilities were operational when we stayed. 

The most disappointing aspect was the pool which was unusually cold. But while the facilities could do with a revamp, the staff in the spa were top class. 

Spa manager Carrie Cann worked all the tension out of our neck and back during our magnesium wellness massage, leaving us ready for a dreamy snooze.

7.5/10

• Knockranny House Hotel & Spa
• Westport, Co. Mayo
• knockrannyhousehotel.ie
• Nicole Glennon was a guest of Knockranny House Hotel.