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No man is an island, goes the saying.
But when a strapping, 6ft 4in male stands in a pool, surrounded by glamorous girls in Louis Vuitton swimsuits and giant Gucci sunglasses, flutes of fizz held aloft, he sure as hell looks like one.
To say the statuesque specimen marooned in the hot tub looked out of place at The Rabbit in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland would be unfair. This place welcomes all: staff oozing warmth and familiarity, rooms designed to cosset and connect.
But, as the already lively conversations across the spa grew ever more animated, I couldn’t help but feel his girlfriend had brought the wrong plus one.
This hotel is the place for a girls’ trip.
Set off a main road about 20 minutes from Belfast, it’s admittedly not the most attractive site. But beyond the car park lies something unexpected.
Instagrammable at every turn, the whole space is bedecked with faux flowers and complimentary neon signs reminding us how attractive we are, how much fun we should have and that it’s cocktail time (again).
A cinema-style popcorn machine and floral chandelier dominate reception, where guests mill around in white robes and slippers.
Far from being frowned upon to stalk the corridors half-clothed, here it is positively encouraged.
Indeed, clothes are forbidden in parts of the hotel: only swimsuits and robes allowed.
The jewel in The Rabbit’s crown is the spa, at the heart of which is a giant glitterball dangling over an expansive pool, where guests marinate for hours under bubbling spouts while a seemingly endless stream of barmen shuttle a seemingly endless flow of drinks.
It’s genius really – QR codes on the sides of the pool make it all too easy, even a novelty, to settle in for the day and tour the cocktail menu.
And so I do, starting with the Rogers Rum – a sparkling punch with pina colada leanings (Bacardí Coconut Rum, pineapple, Teisseire Coconut, citrus, Taittinger Brut, £16.75) and the Jessica Rabbit – a signature concoction of gin, strawberry and lemon – via classic and spicy margaritas and amaretto sours.
It is popular, but not full, with all in a celebratory mood.
One breakaway burst exuberantly into the changing rooms, still laughing.
This was a celebration, she told me. Of birthdays, divorces, new jobs, dead mothers – the final three being her own reasons to be there.
She was genuinely kind when I told her I ticked off two of them myself.
I chatted to a new mother, equally happy to be there, first time away from her baby and she was here, she said, to spend time with her husband somewhere they were guaranteed to relax and have fun.
They had chosen the right place.
A mud bath comes with the booking, dispatching guests to be scrubbed and cleansed before touring the relaxation areas: a Jacuzzi on the terrace, waterbeds on the roof, heated tiled beds in the tepidarium conservatory, lunch at the Palm House.
The grounds are set around a lake, a 10-person house on its shores, where popular with hen parties and celebrations.
Deckchairs are dotted around to enjoy the view, and a cosy reading nook (ask at reception as it’s a hidden gem) can be found at the edge of the spa for guests to watch the sun go down over the water.
It was no surprise to learn that The Rabbit hosts frequent weddings, and a peek at the venue and reception event space explains why.
Wreathes of ivy, chandeliers, ornate furniture, loos stocked with toiletries and fun neons: ready-made photo ops.
This isn’t a blank canvas that requires expensive dressing – it’s ready to go, an extension of the exuberant decor elsewhere.
Back at the smartly decorated, decent-size room, I couldn’t resist cracking a bottle from the well-stocked mini bar for a trial run of the private hot tub in the room’s miniature garden – respecting the sign above that instructs ‘good vibes only’ before heading down mood-lit, art-lined corridors to the restaurant’s sunny terrace for a standout meal.
Chef Niall Sarhan has created a menu that balances comfort food with more elevated dishes.
Farm to fork is observed where possible, with artisan meats from Lisdergan and Carnbrooke, dairy from Draynes Farm and Morelli’s and fish from Keenan’s.
The pork belly with seared scallops was rendered perfectly, the right balance of sticky and crisp. A white crab meat salad on homemade sourdough crumpet was fresh, light, beautifully presented.
My bream, served whole on the bone with a fennel and orange salad (£27), was excellent. The sugar pit pork chop (£28) was another skilfully plated dish and a fantastic piece of meat, if a touch over-brined, but the grilled cabbage an excellent accompaniment.
Broccoli dressed with Cafe de Paris butter and toasted almonds was a suitably indulgent side.
Puddings are imaginative – no sticky toffee pudding/creme brûlée déjà vu.
Instead, you get yuzu baked Alaska, made with yuzu curd and lemon sponge (£10): a classic with a worthwhile twist, not difference for difference sake. Yoghurt terrine (£10) came with honeycomb and bee pollen. A bread & butter pudding has a Bailey’s twist.
Fresh from a visit to the nearby Bushmills distillery, the night ended, suitably, with a whiskey sour.
As I left the bar, it was clear the remaining guests had only got going.
Everything you need to know, at a glance
Check in/check out: 3pm and 12pm.
Disability access? Yes. The entrance has level access, and there is a wheelchair lift to access rooms on level 1.
Who’s it for?
Hatches, matches, dispatches: this is the place to mark it all with fizz and a day-long soak. Girl groups, hen dos, locals celebrating birthday. Much of the restaurant and bar trade is non-guests, young couples on their first getaway, new parents briefly breaking free from babies.
Nice to haves
Excellent mini bar, a retro fridge filled with full-size spirits, plenty of mixers and a basket of decent snacks.
Dyson hairdryer in room (need we say more).
Private hot tub – somehow soaking all day did not stop us from cracking open a bottle and getting in for more.
Popcorn machine in lobby, hot and fresh all day.
Hotel dog Florence: a floppy, friendly, photogenic cockapoo.
Needs to have
Investment in additional steam and sauna rooms. The steam was too cool when we went and as a result, the one sauna too busy.
An adults-only cocktail bar: something cool, like a library-style snug or speakeasy would be great for sophisticated late cocktails.
The evening we were in the restaurant, there was a mix of ages, including families. I adore kids and often travel with two, so this is not a negative – but once we’d had dinner, would have been fun to move the night on from the bustling restaurant-bar area.
Things to do nearby
Giant’s causeway route – drive along one of world’s most beautiful coastal roads between Portrush and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge via Dunluce castle and Whiterocks beach and, of course, the mesmeric Giant’s Causeway itself, a geological phenomenon that lives up to the hype. Bushmills distillery – the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Tollymore Forest Park – big, beautiful river comes down from the mountains through the forest park. One of the most beautiful swimming spots in Europe and another major filming location for Game Of Thrones. White Rocks Beach (next to Portrush) – lovely sandy beach with massive sand dunes to run up and down. Perfect sea swimming. The Blue Pool in Portrush – great diving spot!Deborah Arthurs was a guest of The Rabbit, but don’t expect us to sugarcoat anything — our reviews are 100% independent.
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