Place Hotel Stay An In To Friendly This And Limerick Georgian Hideaway Review: City Is Intimate

Hotel review: This Georgian hideaway in Limerick City is an intimate and friendly place to stay — House Offers Spacious Four Main The Rooms Period Style

Sun, 15 Dec, 2024 - 17:54

Jillian Bolger

Location

Tucked into a handsome terrace in Limerick’s Georgian Quarter, No 1 Pery Square overlooks The People’s Park in the heart of the Treaty City. The well-appointed townhouse enjoys a dual aspect, with a smart entrance, on-street parking (and its own car park) and a quick walk to Limerick train station.

9/10

Style & design

Owner Patricia Roberts’ sense of style is evident across the attractive décor and details. The unusual shape of the building means there’s lots of odd nooks and crannies. Décor is elegant and considered and the property feels well loved and comfortable while celebrating its Georgian DNA. A large drawing room overlooking Pery Square is delightfully cosy on a Sunday night with an impressive Christmas tree.

This is where afternoon tea is served and it is smartly appointed and comfy. A helpful staff member lights the fire especially for us while we are eating downstairs and it’s all ablaze as we settle in after dinner with tea and biscuits in fireside armchairs. In a world of bland city hotels No, 1 Pery Square feels both interesting and intimate.

9/10

Service

Arrival at Pery Square is delightfully personable, something that stands out throughout our visit. Staff are encouraged to engage with guests making time for chats and everyone is invested in their job. It makes for a warm, friendly and happy place to stay.

9/10

Guest rooms

A free standing copper bath is a thing of beauty in an all marble bathroom

The main house offers four spacious period-style rooms with high ceilings, sash windows and original features. each named after previous residents. Heritage colours of slate blue wall panelling, burgundy velvet headboard and olive green drapes are delightful. There’s a beautiful original fireplace though it has been closed up for practical reasons. A small wood burning stove in the grate has a sign asking guests not to use it. A free standing copper bath is a thing of beauty in an all marble bathroom. Club Rooms overlook the garden or the red brick Georgian terraces of Limerick.

8.5/10

In-room perks

Besides bottled water there’s no tea or coffee facilities in the room though room service is available. The usual gowns, slippers and a good hairdryer are available. Irish Voya toiletries add a premium feel to the elegant bathrooms.

6/10

On the menu

Our Sunday night visit means light bites only are available, which we know in advance. For dinner we share a selection of excellent olives with caper berries, generous farmhouse cheese platter and large halloumi and beetroot salad. There’s a good choice and menus all feature plenty of local provenance. Breakfast is served upstairs in a bright casual room overlooking a Georgian terrace. It is table service here with an imaginative menu where highlights like shakshuka style eggs with chickpeas, chilli and dukkah impress alongside basket of quality breads and pastries. Breakfast is excellent with just one disappointment -underripe, over-chilled fruit salad served straight from the fridge.

8.5/10

Activities & amenities

The Long Room is popular with locals for morning coffee and business meetings, as we discover next day plodding to the spa in our robes. (Guests are advised that they are welcome to change in the spa.) The spa is quirky and unusual, an urban oasis secreted away below the hotel in the historic cellars. It’s a warren with a boutique thermal experience and multiple treatment rooms where staff use Voya products to deliver quality therapies and treatments.

8/10

The bill

No 1 Pery Square. Picture; Keith Wiseman

Wine & dine 24-hour escape from €179pps. Classic Club room BB from €195.

Our overall verdict: 8.5/10

Room to improve? The Long Room is dark and chilly on a winter’s evening. We visited on a quiet Sunday night, and with just one other family dining it lacked warmth and atmosphere.

Access for guests with disabilities? 2 fully accessible bedrooms and all public areas, bar the Drawing Room, are accessible too despite being a listed building. (Afternoon tea can be taken in The Long Room)

Family-friendly? Yes, but this feels more like an adults hotel.

Dogs welcome? Service dogs only.

EV chargers? Yes, just outside directly on Pery Square.

The Hotel Examiner was a guest of No. 1 Pery Square.