Mystery Guest Review
Mc Crackens Bed and Breakfast, 124 Antrim Road, Belfast.
When we arrived we were greeted by Nick our host who cheerfully showed us to our double room. We were very surprised to find the layout of the room to be more like a hotel room than a B&B. The addition of complimentary quality chocolate biscuits beside the normal tea and coffee making facilities told us that this was'nt a run of the mill establishment. The beds were warm, soft and comfortable with medium to firm support which proved a real boost for my bad back. All rooms feature both W.C and Shower ensuite which are a necessity these days. Remote control colour television and radio alarm clock were standard. Decorated to a very high standard throughout.
After a good nights sleep we were ready for breakfast, and what a breakfast. Nick was bright and cheerful busily making breakfasts, he must get up with the dawn. The dining room with pine tables and chairs has a country kitchen feel with a high shelf along one wall cluttered with assorted pottery, clocks, candelsticks, lanterns and fishing rods together with various framed prints created the atmosphere of a quiet pub and gave us lots to talk about with the other guests, a lot of time has gone into the design.The traditional breakfast turned out to be huge, starting with Orange juice, breakfast cereal, tea or coffee, hot buttered toast with jam or marmalade, then the fry which consisted of potato bread, suasage, bacon, egg and soda bread together with tomato. We just could'nt finish it. As we finished eating our host came to talk to us. We explained that we only had two days to spend in Belfast and wanted to see as many landmarks as possible. Nicks local knowledge really came to the fore, he suggested a citybus tour and told us of various places of interest we could see on route to the tour collection point. He also provided leaflets of other tours to places like the Giants Causeway the organisers of this particular tour would collect from McCrackens at no extra cost. As a keen angler I was eager to learn about fishing in the area and was surprised at the number of places where fishing for both the angler and coarse fishermen is available. For those who come to Ireland for fishing and each year thousands do just that, the one place must visit is the River Moy in County Mayo (EIRE). Here Nick came up trumphs again, McCrackens arrange all in fishing trips including accommodation in tourist board approved self catering cottages in Balina beside the River Moy, and can even supply fishing equipment and tackle. As a result McCrackens receives a reccommended award.