Royal Court Hotel

This cliff-top property, with its rather grand name, was originally built as a private residence before becoming a retreat center in the mid-20th century and then a hotel. Stepping inside, the lobby -- along with other communal areas -- is characterized by busy patterned carpets and mismatched wallpaper giving it all a rather dated feel. Display cabinets filled with whiskey bottles from the nearby Bushmills Distillery are dotted throughout the hotel, together with antique reproduction paintings and modern seascapes adding further to the jumbled feel of some of the interiors. 

A large, bright dining room looks out over the North Antrim coast while a cozier bar provides snug, booth seating area (and on warmer days meals are eaten on an outdoor terrace overlooking the sea). Clientele are mainly senior travelers, families, and golfers who come for the easy access to the picturesque offerings of the Causeway Coastal Route or for the nearby golfing facilities. The hotel is also very popular with locals, as well as being a regular -- almost weekly -- venue for weddings.

With its cliff-top setting overlooking Portrush Harbour and the beautiful White Rocks Beach, the setting is about as scenic as it gets. The hotel is in an excellent location for exploring Northern Ireland’s coastline on the Causeway Coastal Route, with the famous Giant’s Causeway a 10-minute drive and Dunluce Castle just three minutes away. Golfers can reach the Royal Portrush Golf Club in three minutes by car. The hotel is accessed via the Portrush to Ballymoney Road, meaning Belfast and its airport can be reached in just over an hour by car.

The hotel has just 14 rooms and four suites, all of which are fairly spacious, clean, and individually styled with a mix of modern and traditional decor. Color palettes include grays, purples, and aqua among others, and while the look isn't remarkable, decorative elements like oversized brown velvet headboards in the Family Room that we visited do make a nice impression. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, irons and ironing boards, and hairdryers. 

Executive Rooms have balconies with sea views stretching as far as the Scottish Isles, but some Standard Rooms overlook the car park. The largest option is the Bushmills Suite, with its four-poster bed, spa bath, separate lounge and dining area with spectacular views over the sea, plus a bathroom with second tub and separate shower. Standard bathrooms are clean and fairly spacious with Taylor of London toiletries, gray tile flooring, and shower/tub combos with clear glass doors. Guests have noted thin walls between some rooms, meaning that noise can be an issue. 

A full cooked breakfast is included in the room rates and is served in the airy restaurant overlooking the sea. Lunch and dinner are also served, while the carvery (roast buffet) is the restaurant's specialty and is popular with locals as well as guest, particularly on Sundays. Food does get inconsistent marks from previous guests. There's ample free parking and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, but the signal can be weak in spots. The large function room with stunning sea views is also popular with weddings parties, though there are no spa or health facilities on-site.