Hotel Review: Relax like rock royalty in a 13th-century castle that Eric Clapton once called home
A Bedroom Hotel Barberstown At
This four-star country house and 13th-century castle is easily accessible, just 25km from Dublin and 10 minutes from the M50 motorway.
Visitors veer off a busy thoroughfare, yet the moment they enter the driveway, it’s like entering another world.
The castle turret beckons, the manicured hedges obscure the busy world beyond.
Its easy accessibility to Dublin airport explains its popularity with Americans, 30% of the weddings at the castle are stateside bridal parties.
There’s an urban ease, yet sitting on 20 acres, views stretch across to the Wicklow mountains from the castle heights.
It’s also close to Kildare Village, Newbridge Silverware, and the National Stud with its stunning Japanese gardens.
This is Barberstown’s USP. One of Ireland’s oldest standing castles, it was built in the 13th century.
Even the inhouse dressing gowns pay tribute to its vintage, with ‘1288’ embossed on the front.
Breakfast is served within its historic walls, and if you’re lucky enough, visitors can access the turret steps, leading to the revamped exquisite presidential suite.
Connected to the castle is a 300-year-old extension, another dating back 100 years and a more recent add on, just a few decades old.
Eight centuries of history sees it blend its Victorian and Elizabethan extensions with the original medieval castle.
Barberstown has operated as a hotel for around 50 years, but before that had about 60 owners.
Nicholas Barber, who the castle is named after, built it as a castle keep.
Its most famous former resident was Eric Clapton who owned the castle in the 1980s.
Under new ownership today, managing director Ted Robinson is a near constant presence at the hotel.
Currently undergoing a staggered renovation, the drawing rooms downstairs have also been refurbished, by none other than the team who gave The Park its recent upgrade.
Deep plums, and lush velvet seating — it feels every bit as five star as its Kenmare counterpart.
The refurbishment plan at Barberstown is ongoing, and the areas of the hotel yet to receive the same treatment include the reception area and garden restaurant.
Watch this space. When it’s complete, this will be something very special.
The MD has spoken about prioritising staff morale, and evidence of this ethos shines through.
Check in was thorough. Lynette was our server at dinner — striking the perfect balance between professional and personable.
Our service at breakfast was just as impressive. Our waitress recalled our order without a notebook in sight, and it arrived just as requested.
Warm and welcoming, the team at Barberstown didn’t put a foot wrong.
We stayed at one of the newly decorated rooms, adjoining the castle.
Enhanced just this summer, the luxury dark wood furniture maintains an antique feel with deep velvet couches and flatscreen TVs.
The chandelier is the finishing touch. We loved that the TV logins for Netflix were ready for use.
It’s a small touch but it sums up the attention to detail.
The coffee machine was another welcome addition, though there is no fridge for cold milk.
Arran toiletries are stocked in the renovated bathrooms.
Ted Robinson’s aim is to open Barberstown to the local community.
Once regarded as an exclusive wedding venue, today the gates are open to visitors.
Midweek there is an impressive casual dining experience at The Garden Bar — it even houses a framed Eric Clapton guitar.
Formal dining is available at weekends in The Barton restaurant. Breakfast was served in the refurbished rooms adjoining the castle.
A buffet of fruit, cereals and pastries are available, with a menu including the Castle Full Irish.
What else do you need when there’s a castle to explore? Outside, this hotel is perfectly catered for weddings, as well as a banquet hall for civil ceremonies, there are two options for ‘day two’ weddings, each with their own bars.
We ventured upon one space that had been booked for a 60th celebration — a cool and rustic shed of sorts.
Think open fires outside seating with fur throws for heat on a nippy October evening.
A spa would be a wonderful addition to the hotel. With ambitious plans in place, we suspect it's all a matter of time.
The hotel advises guests to liaise with hotel staff on their needs.
Due to be available in January.
There are no kids clubs but children are welcome.
Barberstown Castle is a pet friendly hotel - we observed two families with dogs during our stay.
B&B for two from €254, including a three-course meal in the Garden Bar.
- Barberstown Castle Hotel
- Straffan, Co Kildare
- barberstowncastle.ie
- The Hotel Examiner was a guest of Barberstown Castle Hotel.