Top marks for nice spacious comfortable rooms with reliable inclusive wi-fi, and a good swimming pool. But...oh dear....the catering! - Not good, and because La Mon is way out of town, there's no local alternative. If you want to eat you have to have what they describe as "gourmet carvery" (two words which don't belong in the same sentence) which means endless queuing and to-ing and fro-ing and milling about under your own steam to assemble a plateful of rubbery grey meat, frazzled vegetables, and gooey gravy. A romantic or even relaxed meal in the country this is not. Gourmet? They're definitely having a laugh. Actually you could use their "bistro", but this, like "gourmet", is another French word La Mon management never bothered to check the meaning of. It's just a stark huddle of tables between the foyer and the restaurant where you can order (say) hamburger and chips or cold meat salad. No atmosphere, and certainly not one iota of Gallic flair in the food or the service. The same space is also refferred to by staff as "the lounge bar" but that can't be right either - there is no lounge style seating, and the so-called "bar" itself is just a wee servery with a short row of bar stools which are purely decorative and which the staff will chase you away from (they have exactly the same arrangement in the Clandeboys Lodge - must be a County Down thing, because where I come from a bar's for bellying up to and settling in at). Incidentally, if there's a function on, residents are barred from the "bistro" but I'd say that's a blessing. Breakfast is more of the same DIY wandering around collecting indifferent food, with the added complication of having to get in line to make your own "toast" on a conveyer beld contraption which takes the supplied bog-standard soggy supermarket sliced bread and lightly singes the outside, rendering it, if anything, slightly soggier. Yuk. Rather than provide a decent restaurant and bar, La Mon is investing in additional conference facilities (maybe that's why 24 hour porno is on offer in the bedrooms), so if your idea of a peaceful weekent in the country involves competing for the above mentioned delicacies with a milling horde of self-important middle managers bellowing into their mobiles, this is the place for you.

Within such easy reach of Belfast city center yet so delightfully set in the countryside our stay at La Mon was a wonderful experience. Although arriving early our room was available and we were welcomed and immediately made to feel at home by the very pleasant receptionists. Our room was everything you would expect and the leisure facilities extensive. The pool especially was a delight. Our evening meal in the Shakespeare restaurant was lovely and the "family" feel of the hotel was continued at breakfast the next morning when the owner walked around meeting and greeting guests and showing genuine interest in making sure our stay was enjoyable. Another special mention for the always friendly receptionists who dealt speedily and very efficiently with any query . My only criticism would be of the bar area which seemed a bit "clinical" and lacked the homely feel of the rest of the hotel but overall our stay was wonderful and Id have no hesitation recommending La Mon for a relaxing break within easy reach of Belfast

Charged ?32 for dialling an 0800* number, wasn't even given a breakdown of phone charges, even after making formal complaint!

The la Mon Hotel was a complete contrast to the experience of staying in an impersonal 5 star hotel in London. We arrived a little after breakfast had finished and well before the official check in time but nothing was too much trouble - they rustled up a full Irish Breakfast and the rooms were ready when we had finished. This must be one of the friendliest hotels I have stayed in - the staff and general manager were excellent and the evening meal in the restaurant was very very good. Highly recommended

J’ai passé une nuit dans cet hôtel et il m'a fait une forte impression. C’était la meilleure nuit que j'aie passé depuis longtemps tellement l’hôtel est paisible. Tous les membres du personnel étaient charmants (très professionnels et sympathiques). J’ai été bichonnée. J’ai pris le petit déjeuner dans ma chambre : excellent. Tout était impeccable. Je recommande cet hôtel sans réserve .