This Portrush hotel's Christmas menu is a celebration of northern Ireland on a plate
Right, hands up who's already feeling the festive season fatigue? Between school nativity plays, present wrapping, and somehow finding the energy to make Christmas magical for everyone else, it's no wonder the thought of actually enjoying a proper Christmas dinner feels like a distant dream. But what if – and hear me out here – you could actually sit down, relax, and let someone else do all the work for a change?
Enter Dunluce Lodge in Portrush, a five-star luxury hotel that's just launched its Christmas menu, and honestly, it sounds like the kind of treat every exhausted mum deserves. Running from November 24 right through to January 2, this isn't your standard hotel turkey-and-trimmings affair. We're talking about a proper celebration of northern Irish produce, the kind of meal that tells a story with every bite.
When local ingredients take centre stage
Executive Chef Stephen Holland and his team have gone all-out to showcase the very best of what's on our doorstep. We're talking Mussenden sea salt that's hand-harvested along the Causeway Coast, Burren Balsamic crafted in County Armagh, and Lisdergan flax-fed beef that'll make you remember why Irish produce has such a stellar reputation.
The Christmas Winter À La Carte menu reads like a love letter to northern Ireland. You can start with warming seasonal soup served with warm stout soda – an old Irish favourite that hits differently on a cold winter evening. There's also goats cheese tart, chicken liver parfait, perfectly seared scallops, or roasted pigeon if you're feeling adventurous.
For mains, you've got options that'll make the decision genuinely difficult: Lisdergan flax-fed beef fillet, succulent Thornhill duck, bone-in sirloin with red wine jus, or tender Manor Farm chicken. And if you're more of a seafood person (or just fancy a break from all the Christmas turkey elsewhere), there's pristine halibut, cod, or grilled market fish.
Desserts that embrace the season
Now, I don't know about you, but I'm always saving room for dessert – especially at Christmas when calories absolutely don't count. The dessert menu here celebrates both the festive season and local heritage in equal measure. There's fresh Armagh apple dishes, the lodge's signature baked Alaska, and a light soufflé. The chocolate options sound properly decadent, but it's the ginger and treacle dish that's caught my eye – elevated with Bushmills whiskey and muscovado sauce, alongside Yellowman ice cream. Very northern Irish, very nostalgic, very delicious-sounding.
If you're a cheese-over-pudding person (we see you), there's also a curated selection of Irish artisan cheeses, complemented by Burren Balsamic digestive, black apple butter, quince jelly, and pickled walnut.
"Christmas is all about being with friends and family and that sense of being at home is central to every great holiday season," says Executive Chef Stephen Holland. "Therefore, we want to put the best of northern Ireland on a plate this Christmas for our guests as they enjoy a little luxury and time with loved ones."
More than just a meal
The menu launch comes hot on the heels of some pretty impressive recognition – Dunluce Lodge recently won Newcomer of the Year at the prestigious Georgina Campbell Food & Hospitality Awards 2025, and the hotel's also been included in Ireland's Blue Book, a curated collection of the finest Georgian manors, country houses, boutique hotels, castles, and restaurants across Ireland. So you know you're in good hands.
Beyond the Christmas menu, the lodge offers some lovely extras if you're looking to make a proper occasion of it: intimate chef's table evenings, guided foraging walks, and whiskey and oyster pairings. And if you're planning to see in the New Year somewhere special, they're hosting two exclusive New Year's Eve experiences – one in the main restaurant with a drinks reception in the bar, and an intimate Vault menu for up to 12 guests, which would be perfect for a big family gathering or close friends.
For anyone thinking ahead to gift vouchers (because let's be honest, we're all Googling "what to get the person who has everything" at 11pm in December), the lodge offers seasonal packages and vouchers that combine fine dining, spa indulgence, and overnight stays in their 35 luxurious suites.
Look, I know a trip to Portrush might not be on everyone's cards right now – but sometimes it's nice just to know these places exist, isn't it? That somewhere, someone's taking the time to hand-harvest sea salt and pair local whiskey with ice cream flavours we remember from childhood trips to the coast. And if you do fancy treating yourself or your family to a bit of luxury this festive season – well, you'd be hard-pressed to find somewhere that celebrates Irish ingredients quite like this.
Because amidst all the chaos and the endless to-do lists, we all deserve to feel a little bit looked after. Even if it's just for one gorgeous meal.