Review – The Station House Hotel Kilmessan

#sponsored – whilst this is a paid review, please note that all opinions are my own.

The Station House Hotel in Kilmessan is very special to me for a few reasons. Firstly, this is where I had my first full time wedding role. I started off as a wedding coordinator here and looked after over 300 weddings during my 3 years. This was almost 10 years ago. Secondly, I have been very lucky to have attended some of my friends weddings at this venue and each time I have had a wonderful time. Finally, The Signal Restaurant is one of my favourite special occasion restaurants. Let me bring you through this venue…..

Background:

The Station House Hotel was once a train station and still has many of the original features. The Slattery family brought this almost desolate venue back to life when they opened a restaurant. The Signal Restaurant become a popular favourite very quickly. The success of the restaurant allowed the venue to expand and grow to become one of Leinsters best wedding venues. (voted by weddingsonline.ie). The Slattery family are still the owner/operators today. There are very few remaining family run hotels left in the country and you can actually feel the difference when you walk in. You feel like you are stepping in to someones home.

Grounds:

One of the key features of the Station House Hotel is its setting. The hotel still sits on the train station grounds. The venue is surrounded by beautiful woodlands and gardens. Within the wooded area, you will find an impressive feature called the ‘Turn Table’. Again, it is from the actual train station. It is now the outdoor location for your civil ceremony. There is nowhere else in the country or potentially the world that has this very unique feature.

On the other side of the wooded area there is a ‘Festival’ area. Festival? Yes Festival! Throughout the summer months and for next day wedding parties, there is a small festival area fully decked out with bails of hay, bunting and a picnic area. This is perfect for a day after wedding BBQ or even a family gathering.

The Signal Box:

As you walk through the grounds, you may spot a little cabin sitting on its own. This is the Signal Suite and again, its an original feature. What once stood as the train station junction cabin, is now a little hide away for the bride and groom. Again…..possibly the only one in the world!  When I used to bring couples to the Signal Suite, they would fall in love instantly. If they weren’t sold yet, they would be by the time they got to the Signal Suite.

Carriage Suite:

The Carriage Suite is where the wedding party takes place. I must use the word ‘unique’ because it really is UNIQUE! The shape of the room is rectangular as it is the width and length of an actual train. The trains used to pull in here to load and unload. You will still see the stone work and arches. What I love about this room is its warmth and character. If you are looking for a modern style room, this is not going to be for you. It is, as the marketing brochures say; full of ‘old world charm’.

The suite is length ways which means that as you sit at the top table, you will only be 2 rows away from your guests. The intimate feeling in the room allows you to actually feel part of your wedding day rather than sitting away from the fun! The bar is in the room and this works well as you can keep your guests together rather than everyone congregating at a bar outside the room.

The room can take up to 180 guests. After the meal, the room is reset for the party. Some love this as it gives guest the opportunity to stretch their legs and if you have afters guests arriving, all guests re-enter the room together. Others aren’t to keen on this but from my experience…..its not a big deal!

When you book your wedding at The Station House Hotel, you will be the only wedding here on the day. You basically get exclusivity of the venue without having the big hefty exclusivity charges. Speaking of price, it’s very reasonable. They have all inclusive packages from just under €9,000 for 100 guests. They also do unbelievable midweek deals.

Signal Restaurant:

I can’t finish this review without mentioning the Signal Restaurant….or should I say…..Award Winning Signal Restaurant. They have AA Rosettes and other prestigious dining awards to their name. The food is sourced locally and you can actually taste the difference. As mentioned, this is one of my favourite special occasion restaurants. The menu is traditional and changes so regularly to match the seasonal produce. You can do your menu tasting here. There is also an option to have a small intimate wedding party here.

I could probably write another 1,000 words on The Station House Hotel but I think the pictures will do a better job of expressing my words! Here come the pics!