The Merchant's House

The Merchant's House B&B is stunning.

After ringing around to almost every B&B in Portrush there was only one place available in a town nearby....we stayed in a super old school B n B called Chez Nous which was over priced and all items in the house were circa 1960s including threadbare sheets, beds with the springs popping out of them, old towels, several types of patterned wall paper and various pieces of patterned carpet mixed together, the oldest tea cups and cutlery and a mish mash of knicknacks and stuff everywhere - which was a bit of a pattern/grandmother's house type nightmare, it was clean and the owner was friendly which was its redeeming point but I think the house desperately needs a bit of updating.

So for the next night we decided to book accommodation early to ensure we got one of our top 3 choices and luckily there was one room left at the Merchant's House -top 3 rated in the Lonely Planet guide. Entering the Merchant's house was like stepping into a home out of a movie, it has an aura to it and is decorated so well and maintained that you felt instantly at home. The Merchant's House is award winning restored Georgian town house located just outside the old city walls of Derry. There are large rooms, high ceilings, fab plaster work and beautiful antique furniture, paintings and lovely accents all around.

The family that owns it was so lovely and caring - you could just feel the love in the house, there were family photos, Easter cards from previous guests/friends, letters of thanks for American govt officials who stayed there and books, games and large comfortable couches for you to lounge back in if you didn't want to stay in your gorgeous room. The two staff there were such nice ladies with such gentle, kind mannerisms and the owner was absolutely lovely and genuinely interested in her guests. I could've stayed there forever...the breakfast was also v.nice - home made jams and marmalade on traditional Irish soda bread.

The dining room was set immaculately and all items in the house were just perfect. When I asked if the owner decorated the house herself, she answered, 'I did but the house has its own style and dictates what it needs..' She could probably be the Irish Martha Stewart without the jailbird history.

There was even a document in the entrance that dated back to the 1600s (I think) and it stated that the rent for the home back them was ₤14.00 for the whole year. My camera's battery died so only have a few dark pics...will post more when I get some and their website doesn't do it any justice. My only recommendation is get there to see it for yourself.

"This elegant Georgian house has been revived with such care that it won a Civic Trusts Ireland conservation award". Frommer's 2004.