Belfast’s Merchant Hotel opened in 2006 in an Italianate- style bank that retains most of its heritage features, including sculptured figures & urns atop the building’s façade. You can avoid having to climb the steep exterior staircase at the front by going to the side door, past the black iron, gold- embellished fence. Inside, the ornate High Victorian style of this listed property includes a restaurant encircled by a magnificent frieze adorned with fruit & foliage & plump cherubs sitting on Corinthian columns.
The Merchant has 21 rooms & five suites, all lavishly decorated with antiques, original art & custom-made furnishings. All have a desk, bureau, overstuffed chairs, flat-screen TV & CD/DVD player. Our only complaint was the insufficient lighting, which made it difficult just to see the contents of our suitcase, let alone attempt to read a book or newspaper. The spacious bathrooms have heated mirrors & towel bars. In some rooms, the bathroom is a step below the bedroom floor, a potential hazard in the middle of the night. The hotel has a billiard room, two bars, a nightclub, an adjacent pub & an art gallery.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1022367
