Newly restored Ashford Castle in Ireland has been awarded Opening of the Year (Renovation or Conversion) at the 2015 European Hospitality Awards.
The award programme celebrates the finest hotels in Europe.
The award was collected by Brett Tollman, CEO of The Travel Corporation, parent company of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, as well as more than 30 other travel brands.
Following a two-year restoration of the 800-year-old building, the hotel reopened to guests in April 2015. A total of $75 million was spent on the restoration, which has re-established Ashford Castle as one of Europe’s top hotels.
Ashford Castle, and the 350 acres in which it stands, required a complete overhaul of the infrastructure, parts of which date back to 1228, including treatment of the exterior stonework and repairs to the battlements. Approximately 1000m² of lead roofing, weighing approximately 30 tonnes, and hand cut by expert local leadworkers, was used to reinforce the roof.
A total of 800 windows were replaced and all 68 guest rooms and 14 staterooms were either rebuilt or restored while retaining the original features of the castle, which was once owned by Lord and Lady Ardilaun of the Guinness family, and has played host to royalty, celebrities and heads of state.
A number of new facilities were also built including a 32-seat cinema, a billiard room, cigar terrace, boutique shop and tea room, museum, children’s playroom, and conservatory which houses the all-new spa, gym and ozone-filtrated pool. An abandoned underground tunnel has been transformed into a wine cellar to be used for private parties and wine tastings.
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