Marlfield House is a 19th-century Regency-style country house outside Gorey in north County Wexford, set in 36 acres of woodland, gardens and an ornamental lake. It has welcomed guests for more than 40 years and has belonged to Relais & Châteaux since 1983. Peacocks, hens, ponies and dogs wander the grounds, which gives the place a relaxed, lived-in feel. There are 26 places to stay: 18 bedrooms in the main house, furnished with antiques and modern comforts, a two-bedroom cottage called The Lodge, and the Pond Suites, modern open-plan villas built sustainably in the woods. The gardens are part of the pleasure, with woodland walks, rose gardens and a vegetable and herb garden. The Conservatory Restaurant serves classical French and Mediterranean cooking in a formal setting, and The Duck, opened in 2015, is a more relaxed restaurant, café and bar with European dishes. Afternoon tea is served, and there is a tennis court. It balances traditional country house style with an easy, sociable mood.
- Rooms
- 26 rooms and suites, including the Pond Suites and The Lodge
Insider tip Book the Conservatory for a proper dinner on one night and The Duck for a long, relaxed lunch on another: the two rooms feel quite different.
Why I choose it It is a warm, family-feeling country house in Ireland's south-east, with gardens and cooking that suit a slower pace at the table.