Rosquil House

Charming modern guesthouse just outside the city centre but within walking distance

One thing Ireland is known for in the culinary stakes is a hearty breakfast.  It’s one of the traditions of the country.  And it really shines at Rosquil House.  This lovely guesthouse, which is a gentle stroll from the centre of the city, has the hearty Irish breakfast theme down to a tee. It has a lot more to offer too. Accommodation here is spacious, graceful and seriously comfortable.  Phil and Rhoda Nolan have huge experience in hospitality and they bring this to their lovely home run business. Their welcome is warm and friendly, and service professional. This is a home from home and guests come back time after time because of it.

Rosquil is a characterful property, a generous double fronted house with welcoming red front door. From the moment you enter you’ll feel as if it’s your own place.  A gracious hallway leads to an elegant sitting room where leather sofas beckon and peace is guaranteed. Here you can take tea, sip a coffee and just relax with a good book.  Bedrooms are well furnished with king sized beds or twin doubles, lovely fabrics and drapes, plenty of wardrobe and drawer space, and modern ensuite bathrooms with fluffy towels.  The finish throughout the house is impeccable, with interior design influenced by the couple’s many working trips abroad. But the reason we love it so much is that breakfast - which really sets you up for the day.  If you are planning a trip round the historic city, or taking a drive through the pleasing countryside of the County Kilkenny area – you’ll be more than ready for it after a great food start.

Breakfast is served in the airy dining room to the rear of the house, which has lots of natural light from big windows to one side.  In the centre of the room, the buffet features an array of homemade items.  Rhoda’s own Granola is deliciously crunchy with nuts and honey.  A selection of fresh fruits and seasonal poached fruits come with Irish organic natural yogurt.  We enjoyed early spring Rhubarb poached in Rosewater, but depending on the time of year you visit – it could be ripe plums, fresh berry compote, or Irish apples and pears swimming in cinnamon spicy syrup.  Seasonality is the key here.  Baking includes Rhoda’s Grandmother’s Apple Cake, Sultana Cake, Fruit scones, Cherry Scones, Banana Bread and of course, traditional Irish brown and white soda bread too. . Pots of homemade preserves are always seasonal.  We loved the Rhubarb and Apple, made with the apples from the autumn harvest and the first early rhubarb from the garden.  Once you’ve sampled the buffet delights here, it’s time to move on to the cooked breakfast menu.  All dishes are cooked to order, and Phil’s extensive cookery skills are used to their full in the kitchen.  His Traditional Full Irish includes Knockdrinna Sausages and Bacon with local butcher’s black and white pudding, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes and fresh organic eggs cooked whatever way you want them. Omelettes are a house speciality - and Phil is known for his lightness of touch in that department! We tried the Knockdrinna Feta Cheese and Spinach – delectable in texture and big on taste.  Other fillings include smoked trout from nearby Goatsbridge Trout farm, or you can have what Phil calls ‘The Works’ – a robust mix of Ham, Cheese, Mushroom and Tomatoes packed into the lightest fluffiest egg mix.  It’s yummy, we can vouch for it! Acclaimed Highbank Apple Farm supplies their juice here – cloudy and aromatic and zinging with fresh apple taste - a good wake up call for the palate.  Plenty of tea or coffee too.

A walk is definitely required after breakfast here! Phil and Rhoda are happy to suggest things to see and do during your stay, either in the city itself or farther afield.  It’s all part of their wonderful hospitality package to make sure guests have the most enjoyable time.  The house is available on an ‘Exclusively Yours’ basis too – and ideal place to stay for families wanting a get together on a break away, or for celebration parties and working groups. However you come here, as a single traveller or with friends and family – you’ll be welcomed and looked after to the highest standards. Rosquil House also has a self catering apartment.  The Mews sleeps 2/4 guests and has all the amenities you need for a self catering short break. Available for a minimum three day letting.  We know you’ll be happy here with these committed Good Food Ireland members who believe that good Irish food lies at the heart of their home.    

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Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

Rosquil House
Castlecomer Road
Kilkenny City
+353 (0) 56 7721419
Email: info@rosquilhouse.com
Web: www.rosquilhouse.com

 

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