They say an army marches on its stomach and that is very much the case at The Clayton Galway. It has something of a reputation for being a business hotel, but there is much more to it than that. Located just off the M6 motorway, on the edge of Galway city, it is well supplied with conference and meeting rooms and the leisure centre is the ideal place to relax and unwind after a busy day.
With an experienced team of instructors, The Clayton leisure club is available to hotel guests, the compact fitness suite offers state-of-the-art equipment which caters for both the seasoned and leisurely gym user. You can enjoy a swim in the 20 metre pool which has an all-around depth of 1.2 metres, popular with families who are residents of the hotel. It is a very popular wedding venue — the team pride themselves on having the perfect offering to suit anything from a small intimate gathering to a large traditional wedding. Free parking, free WiFi, fast, friendly service, and a tempting reasonably priced menu means the Enclosure Bistro has increasingly become the choice for those living and woking locally.
The Enclosure Bar and Bistro is everything you would expect from a hotel bar. During the day the bar and restaurant are a hub of meetings and friends having lunch. By night the atmosphere is fun, it is a place to enjoy good food and drinks. Highly trained, friendly, and professional staff, a great selection of beverages, a relaxed atmosphere, and most importantly, good food. It is perfect for casual dining and meeting with friends, family, or work colleagues. The bar has more traditional elements to it than the rest of the ultra modern hotel. The bar counter takes pride of place in the centre of the room, catering for approximately 80 to 120 covers per night on average, with everything else gathered round it. There is one full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows providing ample natural daylight, and the dark wood creates a laid back vibe.
If you care about what you imbibe and want to sample a broad range of brewed delights then this seems to be the place to do it. If you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere and you consider yourself somewhat of a beer and whiskey aficionado, then look no further. This bar serves a wide range of cocktails, craft beers, and whiskeys, and some new Irish gins. There will be something to cater to your tastes and both the craft beer menu and the Irish whiskey menu are accompanied by tasting notes.
Recent upgrades have seen an improvement in the food offering. The evening menu takes inspiration from the classics, from chicken wings to chowder, all very competitively priced. The choice of mains ranges from steaks, to burgers, to fish and chips. The portions here are large — another reason, I suspect, for its repeat local custom, so go hungry. There are a few desserts on offer, well priced at around €6. They show a real commitment to using local suppliers too, something more large hotels should take note of.
As with any hotel, it is the staff who make or break a visit, and at the Clayton they could not be faulted. From reception to kitchen, they seamlessly take care of everybody with the greatest of good humour. This is a great local restaurant which continues to please with its varied, well priced, menu. They have recognised that an emphasis placed firmly on customer service, choice, and value will ensure the hotel's popularity. The staff are all enthusiastic and personable without exception — they clearly enjoy what they do. The Enclosure Bar and Bistro is a very welcoming retreat with competent, uncomplicated, cooking. Whether staying for business, pleasure, or holidaying with the family, the Clayton Hotel knows how to look after its customers.
Clayton Hotel Galway, Old Monivea Road, Ballybrit, Galway. Tel: (091 ) 721900. Email: [email protected].
