Set in the Boyne Valley, an area rich with tradition, the Headfort Arms offers true hospitality. Dating back to the mid 18th century it was originally the Marquis of Headfort’s town house and has been trading as an hotel for more than 200 years.
Since1972 it has been owned by Tom and Peggy Duff who have given it a lot of TLC while retaining its essential characteristics as a country hotel and heart of the community.
The Headfort Lounge is a popular place to relax with a drink, meet friends or take in a sporting event on the TV. The open fire, with beautiful antique copper on the mantlepiece, is a homely focal point, and food is available all day in the adjoining Café Therese, starting with breakfast.
The 45 comfortable bedrooms include some family rooms and a corporate wing, and the Duffs have a welcome policy of ongoing refurbishment and renovation. With son Vincent and daughter Olivia now part of the team, the hotel has seen the addition of extra bedrooms and spa facilities. The Vanilla Pod restaurant (see entry) is run very successfully as an independent entity and has always focused on local foods and artisan producers.
The Headfort Arms is one of only 26 hotels to have been awarded the ‘Guaranteed Irish’ brand and, in an interesting development in 2013, they established the Meath Food Trail to enable visitors to engage with local food producers.
Along with other offers (golf, family breaks) they offer a Meath Food Trail package which includes bed and breakfast in the hotel, a ‘30 Mile Menu’ dinner at The Vanilla Pod restaurant and visits to two of the member producers in the area, who include Ryan’s Farm, Boyne Valley Blue Cheese Goat Farm, Burkes Homemade Ice Creams and Kilbeg Dairy Delights (see entries). This is a brilliant intiative and it would make a great short break.
