Seven Oaks

Dinner was a real feast, and the portions and taste were both superb. My 13-year-old daughter and I had such a lovely break. The leisure centre was spotless, and its manager was so helpful. In the room, we loved the walk-in shower, heated mirror (I'd never seen one before, now I want one!), robes, chocolates and the cosiest pillows and duvets. The Christmas decorations were beautiful too, just my kind of thing. Everything made it easy to recharge. Well done to all the staff, highly recommend.

The location is great and the staff are really nice. But the decor felt dated, with old carpets that weren't appealing, and I didn't enjoy the food. I also wouldn't suggest it for a girls' night away: there were lots of elderly guests, and we got three noise complaints by 9pm. I understand why, but it's probably not the best fit for that kind of trip.

The staff were absolutely lovely, which was the saving grace, but I definitely wouldn't stay here again unless I had no choice. Our room was freezing and unclean, with at least ten flies in the room and bathroom in October. One of the rooms only had a plug-in storage heater, which is mad at €189 a night. The restaurant food was awful too: the steak sandwich came on a burger bun, and the Chicken Kiev was pink. The staff serving were still lovely.

A classic hotel right in the heart of Carlow town. We've used it for meetings, conferences and private family get-togethers, and the hospitality and service have always been fantastic.