Categories: Reviews

Review: Longueville House, Mallow, Cork

Longueville House Cork review

This Longueville House Cork review is part of a series of posts from my Munster Vales travel guide. It’s also one of three posts on Longueville House. The other two are Longueville House Restaurant Review and Longueville House Beverages hot apple cider recipe.

Disclaimer: this was a complimentary stay as part of my tour around Munster Vales. I was not required or asked to write a review, however, I decided to do so as I had such a positive stay.

Longueville House Cork review

Driving the tree-lined road that leads to Longueville House didn’t give much away in terms of what awaits you at the end. Seeing an elegant, pink Georgian mansion appear at the top of the driveway was a surprise. It adds a much-needed pop of colour to the grey-toned evening.

Pushing open the heavy, green front door revealed a hallway bathed in soft light that instantly warmed me up. The hallway has the most wonderful original features, like a glass archway and an ornate, colourful ceiling. Gilt-framed portraits and mirrors adorn the patterned walls. A gallery of framed awards and certificates also celebrates this listed heritage property.

My eyes lit up as I scanned the antique cabinets bulging with jars of jams, chutney and honey and bottles of apple cider and apple brandy, all bearing the Longueville name. Furthermore, I was even happier to see that they were all for sale, should I want a keepsake of my stay here.

Aisling O’Callaghan greeted us at the door. Aisling and her husband, William O’Callaghan, own and run Longueville House. She is a convivial host and one of these women to whom you immediately warm.

Longueville House Cork review – the bedroom

There are 14 bedrooms in Longueville House and six suites. There are even lovely cosy single rooms which are perfect for solo travellers.

We stayed in the ‘Vineyard’ Suite, which is a bit special, to say the least. Firstly, it’s huge, with a king-size bed and a separate seating area with a couch, armchairs and coffee table. To the side of that is a big dark-wood wardrobe with plenty of storage as well as tea and coffee-making facilities. A table and two chairs are in the other corner, perfect for getting some work done. Hopefully, when you visit Longueville House, you won’t have to work, but if you do, the Wi-Fi is fast and free.

The room’s decor is that of a traditional country house with period-appropriate furnishings. The floral wallpaper, deep carpet, window shutters and soft lighting lend a warm, relaxing, timeless feel. Everything is plush, and there are heavy curtains decorating the sash windows, which do a fantastic job of blocking out all the light.

Here is the room tour.

The linens on the canopy bed are soft against the skin, and the bed itself is comfortable. I had a very restful night’s sleep. This is also helped by no TV or other distracting items in the bedroom. The room was very dark and quiet at night. Just how I like it.

The bedroom windows overlook the vine pergola to the West and the Palladian courtyard and garden maze at the rear of the house. I squealed with delight as I saw four dogs playing and chasing around the spiralling maze. I later learn that the dogs will go with you on walks. Best hotel amenity ever!

Longueville House Cork review – the bathroom

The room also has a huge white marble bathroom with a deep tub begging to be filled and enjoyed. There is also a separate shower; both are big enough for two (nudge-nudge, wink-wink). There are waffle bathrobes and fluffy towels, and the water pressure is excellent.

Longueville House Cork review – the lounge

After a while, we managed to drag ourselves away from our cosy room to go back downstairs for dinner. I couldn’t wait to sample some of the food and cooking for which Longueville House is renowned.

We went through the vibrant red residence bar and into the lounge to enjoy cocktails and pre-dinner canapés.

We curled up on the sofa by the blazing fire and finally relaxed after our long day. The lounge is an impressive room with elegant armchairs, plush sofas, ornate mirrors, chandeliers, candelabras, and heavy drapes. There are enough areas always to feel like you have a little sanctuary to yourself even if the room is full. The prime spot, however, is on one of the high-backed chairs in front of the huge fireplace.

The room made me feel like I was in Pride and Prejudice and Mr Darcy was going to burst through the door any minute and dry off his breeches in front of the fire. Oh, my!

Longueville House Cork review – the Library Restaurant

We were escorted to the Library Restaurant for dinner. The dining area is elegant but relaxed, with a roaring fire and bookcases overflowing with old tomes.

The dinner was superb, with a thoughtful menu, creative vegetarian options and a strong field-to-fork ethos. For an in-depth meal description, please read my Longueville House Restaurant review.

Walking from room to room, each space impressed with its tasteful, period-correct decor, lighting and relaxing ambience. Even with the high ceilings, the rooms all feel cosy and intimate.

Here is a video tour of the restaurant, hallway, bar and lounge.

Longueville House Cork review – the breakfast

In the morning, we had breakfast in the famed President’s Restaurant. The President’s Restaurant has beautiful wooden floors and fills with light as the sun streams through the long windows. The sun’s rays dance on the gold and brass fixtures, creating a fabulously warm glow. It is the perfect setting for a long, leisurely, multi-course breakfast.

Just last month, Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards 2018, in association with Fáilte Ireland, announced Longueville House as the ‘Best Breakfast in an Irish Country House’. Click here to read my detailed breakfast review in Longueville House and watch my video of the cold buffet options.

Longueville House Cork review – the Turner Conservatory

From the breakfast room, you can also admire the magnificent curved ironwork of the Victorian conservatory, added to the house in 1866 by Richard Turner, the greatest ironmaster and designer of glasshouses of the Victorian era. There is only one other Turner Conservatory in Ireland: the Botanical Gardens in Dublin. As far as I know, you can dine in the conservatory in the summer months. It is a spectacular space. It would make a stunning wedding venue.

Longueville House Cork review – the grounds

After breakfast, Rubert Atkinson, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Longueville House Beverages, took us on an estate tour. He is a wealth of knowledge and told us about the fascinating history of the estate and the O’Callaghan family. He also showed us the walled gardens with their extensive greenhouses and polytunnels. Longueville House must have one of the country’s best herb and vegetable gardens.

We also saw the extensive orchards where the apples are grown to make the award-winning Longueville House cider and apple brandy. Rubert is particularly proud of the orchard and knows his stuff about making cider and the Irish cider industry. As these drinks are made on-site, you can arrange tours and tastings. Click here to read my blog post on Longueville House Beverages and the Longueville House Beverages Hot Apple Cider recipe.

Longueville House Cork review – things to do

Apart from the distillery tour, you can make the most of the grounds and enjoy a variety of outdoor country pursuits. There are 500 acres of secluded woodland surrounding Longueville House, with breathtaking views of the Blackwater Valley. You can try your hand at wild salmon and brown trout fishing on the River Blackwater, falconry and clay and game shooting. There are also seasonal events like Autumn mushroom hunting and a guided May Dawn Chorus ornithology walk. How wonderful does that sound?

This is the view of the vine pergola.

Longueville House Cork review – overall

As we discovered, Longueville House really is a destination in its own right. You don’t need to go anywhere else and probably won’t want to. However, if you want to explore more, Longueville House is an ideal base for touring the South West of Ireland. It is just 40 minutes from Cork City, less than 10 minutes from Mallow and 15 minutes from Doneraile and around an hour from Killarney and Cahir.

Longueville House really does provide sanctuary and a slice of idyllic country living. Life revolves around relaxation and fine dining, and leisurely pursuits. You are welcomed with open arms and made to feel right at home (if your home is a sprawling Georgian mansion). Yet, despite the grandeur of Longueville House, it feels more like an enchanting country inn run by long-time friends who just happen to be award-winning chefs and distillers.