Ballsbridge Court Dublin

Low End of Dublin's High End Market

Once upon a time there was a fabulous, glittering hotel in Dublin's very snooty D4. All but next door, as it was, to the infamous Lansdowne Road international rugby grounds, its five stars attracted the very top end of the Irish local and international tourist market. I clearly recall a friend, N, boasting how her Father had a penthouse at the top of this landmark hotel in which he stayed every time he did business in Dublin.

Oh how I longed to stay there.

Oh how those days are gone.

About two years ago the hotel and its two neighbouring hotels, Jurys Ballsbridge and Jurys Towers, were purchased for an exponential number of millions and the idea, I hear, was to knock the three hotels and build apartments.....or maybe it was a mall.....or whatever. That was when the Celtic Tiger was still big and bold and lining the ever deepening pockets of the new Irish aristocracy - the developer.

I'm not sure what happened as the three hotel buildings are still in situ. Maybe they're waiting on planning permission or whatever but, in the meantime, they are still being used as hotels. - all under the heading "D4 Balllsbridge" they bear the respective names of "Inn", "Towers" and "Court".

We stayed in the Court, allegedly the upper end of the three. I was not hugely impressed.

In fairness, for the cost (€130 per room per night), it's in the better part of Dublin, the public areas are still very glitzy, the staff are friendly and helpful, and it's clean; but that's more or less where the good ended for me.

The rooms are small average in size and still furnished with the dark rosewood furniture that was sheer luxury 30 years ago. In the meantime, the mini bars have been emptied, the glasses all removed with the exception of the two bathroom tumblers, and so have the tea and coffee maker. The one luxury is an iron.

We had a twin room and the beds were the old fashioned narrow singles. In mid June they were still using the Winter heavy duvets.

In the bathroom there was one hand towel, one bath towel, a slim soap, a vial of shampoo, and another of bath gel. The shower is, once again, the one that dangles over the bath behind a plastic curtain.

There is no room service and while the food in the bar is not at all bad, there's a very small selection indeed. That saying, while we sipped strong and freshly ground cafe Americano and ate hot buttered scones, we noted that another guest who was (like us) too late for breakfast was nevertheless served fluffy scrambled egg and toast in the bar. Made me realise this hotel can be flexible, and that's nice.

Unique Quality: The hotel was just too basic for me. However, for those who are not as fussy and don't mind that "jaded" appearance and limited facilities, it's a bargain at those prices for the area it's in.

Ignore my pickiness, give it a try, and let me know what you think.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Women's Travel, Business Travel, Budget Travel

Ballsbridge Court Dublin Photo: Bedroom

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