Built for a Bishop Fit for a King
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Built for a bishop fit for a king The story of Culloden Estate and Spa BOUTIQUE HOTEL In 1996 the Culloden House changed hands several times during the 20th century. In the Culloden Estate early sixties it was converted into a boutique hotel by the owner of White’s and Spa became Home Bakery, Rutledge White. It became HOW IT ALL STARTED widely known for its elegant ambience, the first hotel in French furnishings, beautiful paintings The origins of Northern Ireland’s and excellent food. Northern Ireland longest established five-star hotel go back to 1876 when leading Belfast THE HASTINGS ERA to be granted five stockbroker William Auchinleck star-status. Robinson JP had a beautiful stone The hotel was bought by Sir William villa built on a magnificent wooded Hastings in 1967. Since then it has site at Craigavad, Cultra. been expanded and has become Named for his wife, Elizabeth Jane internationally renowned for its luxury. Culloden, it was designed in the In 1996 the Culloden Estate and Spa Scottish Baronial style by Young and became the first hotel in Northern Ireland Mackenzie Ltd. Among the leading to be granted five star-status. The hotel architects of their day, the firm was now boasts 105 deluxe bedroom suites, responsible for many of Belfast’s most 11 luxurious self-catering apartments, prominent buildings. six private banqueting suites and a Much of the stone was brought from fabulous Health Club and Spa. Scotland by boat, landed at Portaferry, and conveyed by horse and cart to the site. The impressive fireplace at the Culloden. BISHOP’S PALACE Courtesy of Hastings Hotels At the end of the 19th century, Culloden House became the official residence of the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore, and was known as The Bishop’s Palace. Four bishops lived here including Bishop Crozier who later became Archbishop of Armagh. Bishop Crozier was a close friend of the celebrated Irish songwriter and entertainer Percy French and godfather to his daughter. French, who wrote the famous song The Mountains of Mourne, was a frequent visitor. LEFT Johnny the Jig, Watercolour Built for a bishop by Catherine Thompson Courtesy of Hastings Hotels fit for a king BELOW A drawing of the Culloden villa for Scottish stockbroker W.A. Robinson, 1877, for whom the villa was originally built Courtesy of PRONI A sketch of the Culloden from ‘The Architect’ 8 December 1877 Courtesy of PRONI, ref D2194/UNL ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT Mr William Robinsons crest depicted on the fireplace in the lounge Courtesy of Hastings Hotels BISHOPS CROZIER The Culloden’s Glasslough sandstone was brought Still Life by across from Scotland. Culloden House was the official residence of the Bishops of Down, Markey Robinson Courtesy of Hastings Hotels Courtesy of Hastings Hotels Connor and Dromore from 1898 until Morning Stag by Con Campbell, a recurring motif about 1920. All the bishops bore this SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS here at the Culloden staff (above right), or crozier, as a Courtesy of Hastings Hotels symbol of their office, including Some of the hotel’s art on display was The stained glass of the the aptly-named JB Crozier who acquired by Sir William Hastings; Culloden brings Victorian served between 1907 and 1911. style and colour to the paintings he liked and which he thought The crozier continued to be hotel’s interior. were in keeping with the Bishop’s Palace Courtesy of Hastings Hotels used until 2007. setting. More recently the Hastings family have concentrated on supporting local artists, many of whom have international reputations, yet still live and work in Northern Ireland. ABOVE Stained glass windows on the grand staircase Courtesy of Hastings Hotels The Culloden became LEFT Bishop Crozier in the widely known for its Crozier bar of the hotel Courtesy of Hastings Hotels elegant ambience, ABOVE French furnishings, Home to numerous sculptures, the 12 acres of exquisitely manicured gardens lead down beautiful paintings to the Cultra Inn (built in 1980) and towards the shores of Belfast Lough. and excellent food. Courtesy of Hastings Hotels Pointing the way, HOME TO THE STARS former US president Bill Clinton on his visit to the Culloden Over the years the Culloden has hosted Courtesy of countless stars of film, music and sport, Hastings Hotels as well as world leaders. Legendary musician Van Morrison Rock giant Van Morrison, who has played Courtesy of Hastings Hotels unforgettable concerts at the hotel, is a regular visitor. Ed Sheeran recalls his breakfast here with ‘Van the Man’ as one of the highlights of his life. Other famous music acts have graced the hotel, including U2, One Direction, Westlife, Ronan Keating, Chris Rea, Lionel Ritchie, Sir James Galway, Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Sir Cliff Richard and Dolly Parton. Katie Perry was a regular at the Culloden’s state-of-the-art gym BECKHAM, ROONEY during her extended stay in 2014. AND SNOW PATROL Film stars Sir Richard Attenborough, The England team – including David Shirley McClaine and Sir Christopher Beckham and Wayne Rooney – took Plummer have also been welcomed here. over the hotel when in Belfast to play Politicians, John Major, Tony Blair, Northern Ireland in the 2005 World Cup Presidents of Ireland and members of Qualifiers (which they famously lost 1-0). President Bill Clinton’s cabinet all stayed Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody joined on visits to Northern Ireland. the Northern Ireland team when they In 2008 tennis players Bjorn Borg, Pat were staying at the hotel in 2015, and Cash, Henri Leconte and John McEnroe played an impromptu gig for them all visited the Culloden while playing before their crucial European at the Belfast Legends tournament. qualifying clash with Romania. Culloden Estate & Spa Bangor Road, Holywood, Belfast BT18 OEX Tel: 0044 (0) 28 90421066 www.hastingshotels.com Tel: 0044 (0) 28 90421066 www.hastingshotels.com 90421066 28 (0) 0044 Tel: Bangor Road, Holywood, Belfast BT18 OEX BT18 Belfast Holywood, Road, Bangor Spa & Estate Culloden tournament. Legends Belfast the at qualifying clash with Romania. with clash qualifying playing while Culloden the visited all European crucial their before Cash, Henri Leconte and John McEnroe McEnroe John and Leconte Henri Cash, played an impromptu gig for them them for gig impromptu an played In 2008 tennis players Bjorn Borg, Pat Pat Borg, Bjorn players tennis 2008 In were staying at the hotel in 2015, and and 2015, in hotel the at staying were the Northern Ireland team when they they when team Ireland Northern the on visits to Northern Ireland. Ireland. Northern to visits on Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody joined joined Lightbody Gary Patrol’s Snow President Bill Clinton’s cabinet all stayed stayed all cabinet Clinton’s Bill President Presidents of Ireland and members of of members and Ireland of Presidents Qualifiers (which they famously lost 1-0). lost famously they (which Qualifiers Politicians, John Major, Tony Blair, Blair, Tony Major, John Politicians, Northern Ireland in the 2005 World Cup Cup World 2005 the in Ireland Northern over the hotel when in Belfast to play play to Belfast in when hotel the over Plummer have also been welcomed here. welcomed been also have Plummer Beckham and Wayne Rooney – took took – Rooney Wayne and Beckham Shirley McClaine and Sir Christopher Christopher Sir and McClaine Shirley The England team – including David David including – team England The Film stars Sir Richard Attenborough, Attenborough, Richard Sir stars Film AND SNOW PATROL PATROL SNOW AND during her extended stay in 2014. 2014. in stay extended her during ROONEY BECKHAM, gym state-of-the-art Culloden’s and Spa and Katie Perry was a regular at the the at regular a was Perry Katie Estate Culloden of story The Sir Cliff Richard and Dolly Parton. Parton. Dolly and Richard Cliff Sir Williams, Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Minogue, Kylie Jones, Tom Williams, Lionel Ritchie, Sir James Galway, Robbie Robbie Galway, James Sir Ritchie, Lionel fit for a king a for fit Westlife, Ronan Keating, Chris Rea, Rea, Chris Keating, Ronan Westlife, the hotel, including U2, One Direction, Direction, One U2, including hotel, the Built for a bishop bishop a for Built Other famous music acts have graced graced have acts music famous Other one of the highlights of his life. life. his of highlights the of one as Man’ the ‘Van with here breakfast a regular visitor. Ed Sheeran recalls his his recalls Sheeran Ed visitor. regular a is hotel, the at concerts unforgettable Hastings Hotels Hastings Rock giant Van Morrison, who has played played has who Morrison, Van giant Rock Courtesy of of Courtesy Van Morrison Van as well as world leaders. leaders. world as well as Legendary musician musician Legendary countless stars of film, music and sport, sport, and music film, of stars countless Hastings Hotels Hastings Over the years the Culloden has hosted hosted has Culloden the years the Over of Courtesy visit to the Culloden the to visit Bill Clinton on his his on Clinton Bill STARS THE TO HOME former US president president US former Pointing the way, way, the Pointing BOUTIQUE HOTEL In 1996 the Culloden House changed hands several times during the 20th century. In the Culloden Estate early sixties it was converted into a boutique hotel by the owner of White’s and Spa became Home Bakery, Rutledge White. It became HOW IT ALL STARTED widely known for its elegant ambience, the first hotel in French furnishings, beautiful paintings The origins of Northern Ireland’s and excellent food. Northern Ireland longest established five-star hotel go back to 1876 when leading Belfast THE HASTINGS ERA to be granted five stockbroker William Auchinleck star-status. Robinson JP had a beautiful stone The hotel was bought by Sir William villa built on a magnificent wooded Hastings in 1967.