Dobbins Inn

Staff very welcoming, and great character to the building. But plumbing was very poor, shower was a dribble, and hot water took 7 mins of running to warm up. Essentially the system needs replacing. The atmosphere wasn't helped by the room opposite being decorated, with the accompanying stink of paint, as the door was propped open throughout. Overall a disappointing stay.

This is a 300 year old inn, which has been recently renovated. Very clean. Nice choice of breakfasts included in the stay and you can have two choices at one sitting. I had a Belfast bap with 2 sausages, 2 pieces of bacon and a fried egg. And also overnight oats with a lot of fresh berries. There were also toasts, jams, breakfast cereals with milk. We had a nice dinner in the pub area of the Inn (seafood chowder and sticky toffee and orange pudding) next to the real fireplace. You can also have your dinner in the restaurant area of the Inn where they serve breakfast. Two hundred metres from the hotel there is a very interesting Norman Carrickfergus castle built in 12th century and used until early 20th century by the army.

Firstly the good bits (this won't take long). The staff are pleasant and helpful and the food is good. That's the good bits, yup that's all. The rooms are dreadful. We were given room 15 (family room). We should have looked before we paid. The room when we entered smelt musty (if only that was the only problem) My wife did her usual and checked the shower, no pressure no hot water. She called reception and was told to let the water run for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes the water was lukewarm warm but still had no pressure (the shelf above the sink is upside down, when you bend down you hit either on the way down or on the way up. We complained again, the lady downstairs said we could use the room opposite in the morning and they would swap us to the other family room the next day. The beds were awful, so lumpy. The decor was from the 1970's. Room 15 is above the bar so all the noise came in as well. Not to worry we are swapping to room 20 in the morning. We got up and had a fabulous breakfast (the coffee was awful, but I take my own just in case). We packed our stuff and as arranged the staff moved it to room 20 while we were out enjoying our day. We came back and went to room 20..oh dear..! Firstly the decor was the same tired 1970's look, shabby sh* te! The show was a bit better (but not much) it took you a while to get wet! The bathroom had a lot of mould and the toilet was about 4" higher as someone had put a block under it. The windows were very heavy to lift and when you let go they came down like a guillotine, I am surprised that no-one has been injured. There appeared to be nothing to hold the bathroom window open apart from a dented bin..ah I see why it's dented! I used the toilet brush holder instead. The bedroom window was worse but at least we found the log from the fire to prop it open! The double bed in this room had a "Lovers" Mattress.. yup the one's that everyone rolls to the middle! It was very lumpy and old as well. The plug socket on the dressing room table was fitted so low we couldn't get our hairdryer plug in it. The carpet was new so there is a positive! Once again the food was good and the staff polite and helpful. There is a premier inn down the road which is cheaper. We paid £135 per night and it was worth about £20 per night.

This has took a while to wright on arriving we couldn't have asked for anymore service the receptionist was absolutely amazing. We arrived at 7.30pm left and returned almost 2am straight to bed and up and out for 9am . We had to ask for assistance with the shower on the morning this wasn't a problem to the house keeper again an amazing members of staff . On returning Saturday evening 9.30 I asked for help with a tv which wasn't working my reply from that receptionist staff was have you switched it on . As a family we don't know yet what we done to this person it turned out she was the owners daughter Kirsty .. now it takes a turn we knew how she was going to act but paying 2nights you expect a working tv . Now I tell no lies I am diagnosed ADHD and I am medicated for this with meflynate xl 20mg and also have a medi canni prescription I had rolled and left the building to smoke this medication which I had that an amazing chat with the house keeper she was aware of this . After asking for help I was then accused of smoking in our room . Which I hope wasn't the case because as well as no working tv there was no alarm if this was the case . There was member of staff to witness it all from the bar and she was shocked by the level of rudeness and how unprofessional actually making comments as to sorry I am only bar staff . In the end I was having my last cigarette of the evening when Kirsty then approached me again in an intimidating manor as to which I shouted up to my partner in our room so she would in fact leave me alone. Never once stating she was the owner or one of .. we have never been so intimated ever . Prior to only asking for help and accusations being made we had actually enquired as to a stay next year going by the staff we had and our experience prior to meeting Kirsty in the end . I had an 11 yr son with additional needs to which I shouldn't have to disclose in case of an absolutely vile woman . At 43 yrs of age I've never experienced anything like it over something so trivial and to which we had paid to be made feel how we did .. absolutely disgusting sad something that started out to be an absolutely amazing time ended with anxiety and sadness it did .. may I add the room was left to the same standards we arrived in because we are decent people in looking to take part and meeting like minded people and sadly instead of your awful daughter Derek fallis photos added so customers actually know who their dealing with a father and daughter with no point in complaining as to nothing will be done other than allowed .. just as well one rude woman didn't ruin our normal time spent with spent meeting new and amazing people

Dark and dingy restaurant in bar area not very big. The service was good the food is awful my daughter got the scampi and chips this was tasteless and wasn't very nice. I got the bbq chicken and cheese sandwich this is made with sliced chicken definitely out of a packet (like cheap) not as it states chicken breast very sweet and not very nice at all. I wouldn't recommend going here at all definitely will NOT be back.

Called into Dobbins Inn. While on shopping visit to Carrickfergus on a monday morning, we were seated at table and both ordered tea/coffee along with a small fry each, our order came very soon after and was brilliant sausage ,bacon. egg potato bread, soda bread, and beans, and tea and coffee all included for both of us for just under £13, the INN was warm and cosy with a friendly woman who served our meals, lots of history all around the Bar area, regarding the Navy and merchant ships, glad we called by today and would highly recomend a call, we will be back and sample theyre huge menu they have too in the future, parking for car is a short walk away, and not expensive either, well done Dobbins.