Catherine Foleyvisits the Granville Hotel, Waterford
THE HISTORY of the Granville Hotel, on The Quay in Waterford, is enough to woo lovers of old-world charm and atmosphere to its rooms.
The hotel is easily spotted, with its elegant art-deco canopy over the main entrance, strongly echoing the Victorian love of coloured glass and wrought-iron ornamentation. Inside the door a fine old grandfather clock, once owned by Field Marshall Lord Roberts, who was made a freeman of the
city of Waterford in August 1893, gives the lobby great character and provides a focal point for visitors.
There is a lift, but the turns and corners up to our first-floor room made us think of Charles Dickens and old-style grandeur.
The bedroom was cosy, welcoming and spotless, and we immediately made use of the coffee-making facility. The beds were comfortable and the sheets were fresh and crisp. The little lamps and bedside tables were new and stylish. The en-suite bathroom was clean, modern and bright. A writing desk on the opposite wall was polished to a shine.
We used the broadband briefly to answer some e-mails, then watched the television news before we turned off the lights.
All 100 guest rooms have original paintings and prints from artists such as Joseph Haverty (1794-1864). The images of hunting and fishing scenes, as well as rural idylls, will lull you to sleep. Many of the windows look over the River Suir and the busy quayside, with Ferrybank across the water. Hooters and horns reverberate around the port. I felt as if I was in an episode of The Onedin Line as I drifted off.
The hotel's central location ensured a buzz in the lobby and bar the evening we stayed there. In the morning we wandered into the airy Bianconi Restaurant for fresh grapefruit and a fine selection of croissants, Danish pastries and coffee; our four travelling companions chose the yummy-looking fry-up.
We wondered if our waitress was Polish or Spanish. She told us she was Polish. She was warm and friendly as she served us with business-like efficiency. We chatted about the day's business, conscious of the hotel's central spot in the city, close to the shops, theatres and cinemas. We were also appreciative of the staff's overall friendliness.
In the ground-floor Tapestry Room fine hand-woven tapestries on the walls and ceiling are illuminated by Waterford Crystal chandeliers. There is no shortage of period detail.
The house was built in the 18th century, during the reign of George III, by the Quan family, and from then it was a landmark on the quayside. Thomas Meagher, the first Catholic mayor to be elected in Ireland, lived there with his family until they sold the property in 1832 to Carlo Bianconi, the great Italian transport entrepreneur, who had coaches travelling the country.
His Waterford base was a key stop, especially for those travelling by ship from the quayside to the New World. In 1865 Bianconi sold the business to the Commins family; the impressive mansion became known as the Commins Hotel until the turn of the 19th century.
The hotel changed hands again in 1899, when it was bought by Hearne & Co, who established it as the Granville Hotel. And so it continued until the 1960s. After a decline it was taken over in 1979 by the present owners, Liam and Ann Cusack, who have restored and renovated the hotel to its current four-star status.
Later on we returned to enjoy lunch in the Thomas Francis Meagher Bar. One of the hotel's claims to fame today is that it was the birthplace of Thomas Francis Meagher, one of the Young Irelanders and son of Mayor Meagher, who played a key role in the American Civil War, founding the Irish Brigade. We enjoyed a hearty carvery lunch of chicken and roast potatoes and raised a glass of red wine to those famous Meagher men.
The Granville Hotel has been witness to so much change in the port. Truth be told, we were sad to leave the old-fashioned paintings, the slow-moving clock in the lobby, the hum of talk in the bar, the coloured-glass partitions in the restaurant that felt so familiar.
Where
Granville Hotel, The Quay, Waterford, 051-305555, www.granville-hotel.ie.
What
Four-star hotel overlooking the River Suir.
Rooms
100 guest rooms, incorporating deluxe and executive bedrooms, plus six penthouse suites, with complimentary broadband in each room.
Best rates
Singles from €80, doubles from €47.50 per person, both with breakfast. A two-night break costs from €99 per person sharing, with breakfast and one evening meal. Available from €89pps if booked and paid for 21 days before your arrival.
Restaurant and bar
The Bianconi Restaurant, under executive chef Stephen Hooper, offers contemporary cuisine; the Thomas Francis Meagher Bar serves food throughout the day.
Access
The ground floor is accessible by wheelchair, and one room has full access for people with disabilities.
Amenities
The Tapestry Room is entirely self-contained, with its own bar and dance floor, catering for events such as weddings, dinner dances, conferences and business banquets. The slightly smaller Parnell Room is also used for meetings, functions and private events.