Best Coleraine Hotel: Lodge Hotel, Spa & Sunday Carvery Guide

If Coleraine isn’t on your radar yet, it probably should be — this historic market town sits squarely on the Causeway Coast route, making it a natural base for anyone heading toward the Giant’s Causeway or the Antrim coastline. With over 40 accommodation options within reach, the area covers everything from humble guesthouses to a full luxury spa.

Hotels in Coleraine: Over 20 · Average nightly rate: £100 · Top-rated hotel (TripAdvisor): Bushtown Hotel & Spa · Lodge Hotel star rating: 3 stars · Lodge Hotel Sunday carvery: £29 for 5 courses

Coleraine’s accommodation landscape spans everything from budget chains to boutique resorts, with most options clustered near the Causeway Coast route.

Where to stay in Coleraine, Ireland?

Four accommodation options stand out for different traveller profiles: the Lodge Hotel for classic comfort, Bushtown Hotel & Spa for indulgence, Ibis Coleraine for budget-conscious visitors, and a broader category of affordable alternatives for those watching the purse strings.

Lodge Hotel

The Lodge Hotel has built a loyal following over the years — it’s been operating since the 1990s and holds a 3-star rating that reflects its reliable, no-frills approach to hospitality. According to Agoda (hotel booking platform), the hotel scores consistently high for its on-site restaurant and central location on the Causeway Coast.

Bushtown Hotel & Spa

When travellers want to push the boat out, many gravitate toward Bushtown Hotel & Spa. The property completed a major spa expansion in 2020, and it has since become the most-booked hotel in the Coleraine area, per booking aggregator data. With 39 rooms including suites, it sits at the top of the TripAdvisor rankings for the locality and offers a full menu of wellness treatments.

Ibis Coleraine

Budget travellers shouldn’t overlook the Ibis Coleraine Riverside, a chain property offering free WiFi, parking, and rooms that are comfortable enough for a short stopover. The location near the train station makes it practical for those arriving by rail or using Coleraine as a transit hub to explore the coast.

Cheap hotels in Coleraine

For those unwilling to spend above £80 per night, options include guesthouses like Cloyfin B&B and New Lisnagalt Lodge, both rated highly on Agoda (hotel booking platform) for location and amenities. Most budget options cluster near the Causeway Coast route, making them convenient for day-trippers headed to the Giant’s Causeway or Bushmills.

The pattern across these options is clear: Coleraine serves up genuine variety, from a 3-star family-owned inn to a 39-room spa resort, all within a short drive of Northern Ireland’s most iconic coastline.

How many stars is the Lodge Hotel in Coleraine?

The Lodge Hotel is classified as a 3-star property — a rating it has maintained since establishing in the 1990s. That classification places it firmly in the mid-range category, above bare-bones hostels but below the four-star boutique options further along the coast.

Accommodation details

Rooms at the Lodge Hotel come with the basics covered: en-suite bathrooms, television, and tea-making facilities. The property’s small scale — it is family-owned and operated — means service tends toward personal rather than corporate. Agoda (hotel booking platform) notes that guests frequently praise the helpfulness of staff, particularly for local recommendations.

On-site dining

The hotel’s restaurant and bar form a significant part of its appeal. The Sunday carvery, priced at £29 for five courses, is a local institution that draws both hotel guests and day-trippers from further afield. The fixed-price format makes it easy to budget for, and the quality of the roasts keeps people coming back.

The trade-off is worth noting: a 3-star rating means the property lacks the concierge services, room service breadth, or in-room amenities — such as premium toiletries or Nespresso machines — that guests at Bushmills Inn or Galgorm Resort have come to expect.

Who bought The Lodge Hotel in Coleraine?

In 2024, The Lodge Hotel changed hands — but the new ownership group has chosen not to publicly identify itself, leaving a gap in the public record. What is clear is that the hotel has remained family-operated under the existing team, which suggests the transition may be more about investment than a wholesale management overhaul.

Recent transaction

The deal reportedly closed in early 2024, according to local hospitality industry sources, but no formal announcement has been made through the hotel’s website or social channels. Without a named buyer, speculation about future plans — a refurbishment, a rebrand, or a change in dining direction — remains just that.

History of the hotel

The Lodge Hotel traces its roots to the 1990s, when it was established as a 3-star property targeting the growing tourist trade along the Causeway Coast. Over three decades, it has built a reputation as a reliable mid-range option, earning plaudits for its restaurant and its proximity to Coleraine town centre. The property’s longevity is notable in a market where many independent hotels change hands or close within a decade.

What this means: unless the new owners signal their intentions publicly, the Lodge Hotel’s regular guests have little to go on besides the reassurance that the current staff remain in place.

How much is Sunday carvery at Lodge hotel Coleraine?

The Lodge Hotel’s Sunday carvery costs £29 per person for five courses. That price point puts it in competitive territory with other mid-range Sunday lunches across Northern Ireland, though the inclusion of five courses — rather than the more typical two or three — makes it stand out for those who want to push the table.

Menu and pricing

The typical carvery spread includes a soup starter, a selection of roasts (beef, lamb, and turkey are standard), a variety of vegetables, and a dessert course. Vegetarian options are usually available on request. Children are charged at a reduced rate, and the hotel offers a set menu for groups of six or more to streamline service.

Value for money

At £29 for five courses, the carvery represents solid value for a sit-down Sunday lunch in a licensed venue. Nearby alternatives — a carvery at the Atlantic Hotel in Portrush, for instance — tend to charge comparable rates for fewer courses. The Lodge Hotel’s carvery has built a local following partly because of its consistency: the quality of the meat and the freshness of the vegetables don’t vary much from week to week.

Booking and availability

Given its popularity, advance booking is strongly recommended for Sunday carvery, particularly during holiday periods and the summer season when the Causeway Coast draws its highest volume of visitors. Walk-ins are sometimes accepted at the bar, but the dining room fills up quickly.

The implication: for visitors planning a Sunday arrival in Coleraine, locking in a carvery reservation at the Lodge Hotel — or confirming availability — before setting out is a small step that avoids disappointment.

Why is Coleraine famous?

Coleraine earns its reputation from geography more than celebrity. The town sits at the mouth of the River Bann, equidistant from Belfast and Derry, making it a natural waypoint for anyone driving the Causeway Coast. Its 400-year heritage — marked by the Coleraine 400 programme launched in 2013 — gives it a sense of place that newer coastal towns lack.

Town history

Founded in the early 17th century as part of the Plantation of Ulster, Coleraine developed as a market town and river port before transitioning to a service centre for the surrounding agricultural region. Its university campus, established in 1965, gave the town a youthful energy that distinguishes it from quieter villages along the coast.

Causeway Coast attractions

Most visitors who stay in Coleraine are using it as a base for the Giant’s Causeway, which lies roughly 15 miles to the north. The UNESCO World Heritage Site draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and Coleraine’s hotels capture a significant share of that traffic. Discover Northern Ireland (official tourism body) highlights the town as a practical hub for exploring not just the Causeway, but also the Glens of Antrim, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the sandy beaches of Portstewart and Portrush.

The pattern: Coleraine’s fame is borrowed — it is famous for what lies nearby rather than for anything within its own boundaries. That makes it a means to an end for most visitors, but a comfortable and affordable means.

For travellers who want a comfortable base without Portrush prices, Coleraine is the logical choice — and the Lodge Hotel’s longstanding Sunday carvery gives overnight visitors a reliable anchor meal to plan around. Those seeking spa treatments or premium dining should book Bushtown Hotel & Spa early, particularly during summer when the Causeway Coast’s visitor numbers peak.

Frequently asked questions