Plan a luxurious and unforgettable Christmas experience at the magnificent country resort in Kildare.
This Christmas, spend an afternoon at one of Ireland’s most luxurious country resorts, Carton House, the first Fairmont Hotel in Ireland.
Carton House Festive Afternoon Tea will be available from November 25th, by prior reservation, to residents and visitors, served in the magnificent 18th century reception rooms of The House at Carton House on Thursday through to Sunday, with sittings available between 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. for the festive period.
This Christmas, Carton House is back to the heights of its great house splendor, magnificently refurbished and ready for entertainment on a grand scale, just as this imposing estate was originally intended. Dating back to 1176, Carton was then part of the Maynooth estate belonging to the FitzGerald family, one of the most influential families in Irish history. Carton House itself was built in 1739, making it the oldest Fairmont property in a global collection famed for its grande dame hotels, including the iconic Savoy in London and St. Andrews in Scotland, and the first Fairmont hotel in Ireland.
As you arrive for Festive Afternoon Tea, you are seated in the gorgeous room where aristocratic visitors to Carton House would originally have been entertained. Gaze up at the gilded ceiling of the Gold Salon with the sparkle of Christmas throughout the interior and picturesque views of the grounds and beyond through the floor to ceiling windows — the same views that have captivated visitors for over 200 years.
Festive Afternoon Tea at Carton House is a contemporary luxury experience, where menus follow the classic pattern of a selection of finger and open sandwiches, buttermilk scones with clotted cream, organic jam and Irish butter, and an array of exquisite sweet treats. There are also carefully designed menus which can be booked in advance to suit vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian guests.
The first Festive Afternoon Tea at the reimagined Carton House features dainty finger sandwiches of honey baked Irish ham and smoked Knockanore cheddar with Dijon mustard, smoked salmon with caper cream cheese, Rush cucumber with minted Macroom buffalo ricotta and turkey with apricot stuffing and cranberry mayo.
The delectable baked goods include a traditional Battenberg, orange drizzle cake, apple and fruitcake with cranberry scones, a Carton House chocolate mousse Christmas tree with gold detail, gingerbread macarons, mince pies and orange, pear and cinnamon trifle.
Tea is, of course, an essential element of this experience, and Carton House is delighted to partner with Jing Tea, the finest tea sourced from artisan tea gardens across Asia. Enjoy the aroma of these speciality Jing teas, sipping from your delicate bespoke bone china cup, and be transported to days gone by, with a special afternoon tea occasion to be savoured with those closest to you.
The Festive Afternoon Tea experience at Carton House is €65 per guest to include your selection of tea/coffee or to include a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne for €80 per guest. Sittings available to book every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. To book please call +353 (0)1 505 2000 or visit cartonhouse.com.
For more visit www.cartonhouse.com