Get theatrical in Dublin

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  Smart new dining at The Westbury, Dublin

  © The Doyle Collection

Those of us who remember the old name of Jurys Doyle sitting above many a good, but unspectacular, hotel in the UK, Ireland and the US, need to think again.

Not only has the hotel group been re-branded as The Doyle Collection, many of the hotels have been completely refurbished and, in many cases, renamed. Out go monikers such as the Clifton Ford and the Jurys Doyle Kensington, to be replaced by new names for smart new-look boutique hotels – The Marylebone Hotel and The Kensington Hotel in London have new bars, restaurant and freshly refurbished rooms and others have received similar treatment, such as The Bristol Hotel and The Dupont Hotel in Washington DC.

The flagship of this Irish-owned group has kept its Westbury name – but just about everything else has been renewed. The entrance, the lobby, the bar, the restaurants and – most importantly – the rooms are all as new. The new-look hotel combined with its perfect location, in the middle of Dublin’s smart shopping and pedestrian area behind Grafton Street, make an attractive city break combination.

The newest addition is Café Novo, a street-level bar and brasserie, and for something a little more formal, the new Marble Bar with its bright art deco feel and deep, leather armchairs is a lovely place to cosset away for a cocktail.

Possibly the most celebrated of the changes at the Westbury has been Wilde, the restaurant overseen by the former chef at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Michelin-starred John Wood. Wilde has excellent meat and fish dishes – our filet steak was outstanding, with nice touches like a choice of steak knives, and presentation was first class. The warm date and walnut brownie was wonderfully sinful.

Now's a great time for theatre-goers to head to the fair city, as The Westbury is offering special packages for the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival. Running from September 24 to October 11, the festival celebrates its 52nd Anniversary this year and promises a selection of exhilarating and unique theatre events.

The Westbury Hotel Theatre Package costs from €299 per couple and includes two premiere tickets to The Pitmen Painters, playing at The Gaiety Theatre from October 4-10, a two course pre-theatre dinner in Café Novo including a glass of house wine per person, overnight stay in a superior room at The Westbury and a full Irish breakfast for two guests in Wilde.

www.doylecollection.com

Location: Dublin