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Cocktails in the garden weather has arrived! Enjoy our delicious Mad Hatters Martini cocktail for you to make at home with friends or family, or to relax and enjoy some 'me time'.

This cocktail will be served in a coupe glass, add ice to the glass and set it to the side to chill whilst you make your cocktail.

Add to your shaker:

• 15ml Mathieu Teisseire Vanilla Syrup
• 15ml Passion Fruit Puree
• 75ml Pineapple Juice
• 15ml Lime Juice
• 35ml Grey Goose White Peach Essence & Rosemary Essence Vodka
• 15ml Apricot Brandy

Add ice & shake

Remove the ice, double strain & serve! Option to add edible flowers to garnish.

Ingredients for the Shortcrust Pastry:

• 220g plain flour

• 115g butter cut into small cubes

• Pinch of salt

• 50g icing sugar

• 2 egg yolks

• 2tbsp ice cold water

METHOD

Add flour, butter, salt and icing sugar to a mixing bowl and rub together until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add eggs and water and work together to form a pliable dough. Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for 30 mins. Preheat oven to 180/160 fan assisted/ Gas Mark 4. Roll out dough to line a 9inch tart tin and trim the excess. Poke a few holes in the base with a fork then cover with greaseproof paper and place baking beads/rice/beans on top. Bake for 15 mins then remove beans and paper and bake for a further 5 minutes.

Ingredients for the filling:

• 1 x 397g tin of condensed milk

• 3 medium egg yolks

• Finely grated zest and juice of 4 limes

METHOD

Place 3 egg yolks in an electric mixing bowl and beat on high for 1 minute. Add condensed milk and beat for 3 minutes. Add juice and zest and whisk for 1 minute. Add filling to cooled pastry case and bake at 160 for 15 minutes. Cool and chill for 3 hours then serve with fresh cream, ice cream or fruit coulis. Toasted coconut also works well with the pie.

The Happy Couple

Tell us a little about how you met & talk us through the proposal

Thomas and Joanna met in London back in 2014 when working in the Savoy Theatre. Thomas was passing through in the middle of a midlife crisis, and Joanna was hard at work minding her own business, little did we know then but the show we were working on would influence the wedding venue we would get married at 8 years later. After a what could be described as a summer fling, and Thomas moving away to work somewhere else, we kept in touch and spent the best part of 5 years long distance before settling in Northern Ireland, so it was a good while before the proposal (in Joanna's opinion) but after a lovely snowy walk in Hillsborough Forest Park, Thomas had the ring in his pocket, bearing in mind at this point he had chickened out of asking the parents for permission. Turns out he would also chicken out on asking Joanna to marry him on the walk too, so he asked her later on that evening in bed, before the clock struck midnight, so he didn't have to ask Joanna on her birthday. 

Your Day, Your Way

Ceremony

Karen the celebrant was our celebrant for a humanist ceremony on site at The Rabbit. Karen gave us the most wonderful personal experience and shared our story to family and friends before a hand fastening where we literally tied the knot. A fun highlight was when the best man left the vows in the car and had to make a dash to the car park. 

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

We saw The Loft as it was just starting to be a venue for weddings. We were shown around by Jemma and the venue was beautiful. From the moment we entered the doors we could feel it was a place we wanted our special day, but what sealed the deal was when we saw a painting of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, it was the show we met on when working in the Savoy Theatre, we took that as a sign this was the venue for us. 

Favourite memory of your Wedding 

To pick a favourite moment from the wedding is a difficult choice and I'm sure it'll be diferent for the both of us. For Thomas, it was the food and getting a bloody good ripping into by the best man with his speech, oh and obviously getting to marry Joanna. For Joanna, apart from finally getting to marry Tom, was having all our friends and family together after covid and the moment we entered the reception room as a married couple, feeling all the love and joy throughout the whole room and feeling like a bit of a celeb. 

Shout Out To The Dream Team 

Cake

Hands Bakery

Flowers

Sage & Meadow

Entertainment

The Reilly's - Drinks Reception

Dave Martin & the Casino Cats - Evening Entertainment

Photographer

Lifting The Veil

Videography

Wheatfield Films

Wedding Dress & Accessories

Jill Jones Bridal - Wedding Dress

Silk Purse Sow's Ear - Accessories

Bridesmaids Dresses

Online

Groomswear

The Belfast Bow Company

Vintage Suit Hire Company

The Glam Squad

Makeup

Tara Doran

Hair

Hair Matters NI

The Happy Couple

How did you meet and how did the proposal go?

Our friend Rachael match made us! She knew Scotty from school and set us up. Scott text me first, took me a few months to consider (ha!). Rachael knew Scotty and I would be a good match and she was right, funny enough not long after we got a job with a dating agency! The proposal was really cute, under a floral arch at our house, my mum and Scotty had worked hard to put lights and flowers on it a few weeks after my birthday. No photo evidence though as it was 9pm just after I got home from a 13 hour shift!

Your Day, Your Way

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

There really wasn’t a question for me, I had seen The Loft online and I just knew it was perfect for us, luckily for me Scotty agreed upon viewing the venue. I loved everything about it, the décor, staff, absolutely everything was fantastic.

Favourite memory of your wedding

I would say when the ceremony doors opened and I could see everyone I love sitting together, and Scotty at the top of the aisle it was so magical. Scotty’s would be the moment his speech was over! He loved everything and would struggle to pick a favourite, but the food is high up there though!

Shout out to the dream team

Cake 

Cakes by Corri

Flowers

Rose Hip and Berry

Entertainment

Hit machine drummers and Drawmyguests NI

Photographer

Hammond photography

Videographer

Gerard Creighton Films

Wedding Dress & Accessories

Verona Bridal

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Oh Hello Clothing

Groomswear

Freddie Hatchet Belfast

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup

Rebecca Saulters Make up

Hair

HairbyLaura

Cook with us! Head Chef Donna Hughes has put together a delicious Marinated Rainbow Trout with Succotash and Salsa Verde recipe, perfect for cooking at home to wow dinner guests or for a date night.

(Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS:

4 FILLETS RAINBOW TROUT

100ML OLIVE OIL PLUS 2 TBSP MORE FOR COOKING

SUCCOTASH:

1 LEMON SLICED

2TSP GARLIC PUREE

½ RED ONION ROUGHLY DICED

400G SWEETCORN

200G CANNELINI BEANS

200G RED KIDNEY BEANS

200G BROAD BEANS

12 CHERRY TOMATOES HALVED

12 BABY POTATOES BOILED AND HALVED

1 SMALL PACKET OF DILL

LEMON JUICE

SALT AND PEPPER

SALSA VERDE:

½ SMALL PACK TARRAGON

1 SMALL PACK FLAT LEAF PARSLEY

2 GARLIC CLOVES

2TSP DIJON MUSTARD

3 TBSP SMALL CAPERS

150ML EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

1TBSP SHERRY VINEGAR

METHOD:

MARINADE THE TROUT FILLETS OVERNIGHT WITH THE OLIVE OIL AND SLICED LEMON.

FOR THE SALSA VERDE:

FINELY CHOP THE HERBS AND GARLIC. ADD THE MUSTARD AND CAPERS AND COMBINE WELL. STIR IN THE OLIVE OIL. ADD THE SHERRY VINEGAR AND SEASON TO TASTE

FOR THE SUCCOTASH:

SWEAT THE RED ONION AND GARLIC PUREE IN 1 TBSP OIL THEN ADD THE CHERRY TOMATOES AND COOK UNTIL SOFT. ADD THE SWEETCORN, POTATOES AND BEANS AND HEAT THROUGH SLOWLY (CANNED BEANS WORK WELL FOR THIS DISH)

HEAT 1 TSP OIL IN A LARGE PAN. REMOVE THE TROUT FILLETS FROM THE MARINADE, SEASON AND PLACE SKIN SIDE DOWN IN THE PAN. FRY THE FILLETS FOR 1-2 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY COOKED AND THE SKIN IS CRISPY.

ONCE THE SUCCOTASH IS HEATED ADD 1 TBSP CHOPPED DILL AND A SPLASH OF LEMON JUICE AND SEASON TO TASTE.

DIVIDE THE SUCCOTASH BETWEEN 4 BOWLS AND PLACE THE TROUT FILLETS ON TOP.

DRESS WITH THE SALSA VERDE AND SERVE.

Happy Cooking!

THE HAPPY COUPLE

Tell us a little about how you met & talk us through the proposal

Childhood sweet hearts…We met when we where 16 and 17. I (Stephanie) had moved to the school Richard attended for my A levels. We met at a 6th form night out. We have been together ever since. For my 30th Birthday in December 2022 Richard booked a trip to New York. We had been there for 3 out of the 4 days and it was my birthday. We decided to do the open top bus tour that stopped throughout the city. We stopped at Central Park and decided to have a walk around the famous park, Richard took me to a quiet area looking over the city and proposed to me! Safe to say he can't remember a single thing as he was that nervous!

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

Ceremony

We had our ceremony in The Boat House! I loved the atmosphere of the room and how it is completely separate from the reception venue. This made it feel like we had our own space for the ceremony that wasn’t our reception area.

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

I have always loved the aesthetics of The Loft and knew from the moment we got engaged that this was the place I wanted to get married! We went for an initial viewing, our first venue and came away booking the venue!

Favourite memory of your Wedding

Its very hard to decide your favourite memory of the day as it was amazing from start to finish. Having all our friends and family around us, great food and having our furry friends there to celebrate! A highlight of the day for me as a bride was having my horse Miller there for the photographs!

SHOUT OUT TO THE DREAM TEAM

Cake

The Busy Wisk Bakery

Flowers

Floral Unique

Entertainment

The Liberals Wedding Band/ Draw our Guests NI/ Rebecca Hall Harp & Voice

Photographer

Lyman Sky Photography

Videographer 

Lyman Sky Videography

Favours –

DIY! Chocolates and Horseshoes

Wedding Dress & Accessories

Perfect Day

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Wed2B

Groomswear

The Bank Mensware

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup 

Artistic Make Up By Leah

Hair 

Mandys Hair Upstyles

Let’s Celebrate at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat: Where Every Occasion is a Party!

Life is full of special moments that deserve to be celebrated in the most fantastic way. Whether you're blowing out the candles for a birthday, celebrating love on your anniversary, bidding farewell to the 9-to-5 grind at a retirement dinner, tossing your graduation cap high, starting your journey to “I do” with an engagement, or welcoming a bundle of joy with a christening, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick is where the magic happens. We're all about creating memories that will give you something to smile about for years to come.

Birthday Bash

Who doesn't love a good party? Birthdays are your time to shine, and our venue is ready to roll out the red carpet. We've got cosy spots for intimate gatherings and the swanky Loft for larger-than-life bashes. Our chefs will whip up a menu that suits your taste buds, while our team takes care of all the nitty-gritty details. You just have to focus on having the best time.

Anniversary Adventure

Celebrating your love story just got a whole lot better. Whether it's been one year or a lifetime, our romantic vibes, comfy rooms, and delicious food are the perfect combo for a memorable evening. Have a romantic dinner for two or throw a big bash - we've got you covered.

Retirement Revelry

Retiring is your ticket to freedom, and it's time to kick it off in style. Why not let us host your retirement dinner? Our chic venues set the scene for reminiscing about your work-life triumphs and getting excited for what's next. Share stories, savor mouthwatering dishes, and raise a glass to new adventures - all in an atmosphere that's nothing short of relaxed, yet sophisticated.

Graduation Celebrations

Graduating is a big deal, and we think you should celebrate in style. Whether it's your GCSEs, A-Levels or degree, your hard work deserves recognition! Our events team will work with you to create the perfect graduation party, complete with a delicious menu and a chic atmosphere that'll make this milestone unforgettable.

Engagement Excitement

Saying "yes" is just the start of a beautiful journey, and we're here to make your engagement party special. Picture an intimate get-together with family or a full-blown party with friends - our spaces can be tailored to fit your vision. While you enjoy the glow of your love story, we'll handle all the details.

Christenings

Welcoming a new life into your family is a beautiful moment and The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is the ideal spot for a christening celebration filled with love and joy. Whether you prefer an intimate gathering with close family or a bigger celebration with friends and relatives, our event planners will help you create a meaningful and beautiful day.

Our Promise

What makes The Rabbit the ultimate spot for life's celebrations? We're all about the little details that make your occasion special.

Stunning spaces: Take your pick from our range of beautiful event spaces, each with its own vibe to match your event.

Foodie heaven: Our restaurant has a rosette for culinary excellence and our chef's are ready to whip up a menu that'll wow guests.

Your event, your way: Your personal event coordinator will help create your best event yet! You can relax and let us do the work.

Comfy stays: Extend the celebration with a stay in our quirky cosy guestrooms and enjoy the laid back Balearic vibes in The Spa.

Attention to detail: We believe in the magic of the little things. Custom decorations, personalised favours, you name it - we've got it covered.

Unforgettable moments: Our goal is simple - create moments that you will talk about for years to come. Your celebration is unique, and we treat it that way.

THE HAPPY COUPLE

We met in Dublin 6 years ago. Chris proposed on a weekend away in Mount Juliet Estate. I had a strong feeling he was going to propose, and he had a strong feeling I knew, so neither of us spoke a word the whole way there! It was a gorgeous location to get engaged & we drove into Dublin the following day to pick the ring!

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

Ceremony

At the Good Shephard Church on the Ormeau Road. This is where Chris was Christened & also where his parents got married!

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

The venue was beautiful. We had guests coming from all over the world so we wanted somewhere that was closeby to Belfast City that they could spend a couple of days to enjoy, and also had a fabulous location to stay in.

Favourite memory of your Wedding

Looking around the room & seeing everyone we love coming from near & far to spend the day with us.

SHOUT OUT TO THE DREAM TEAM

Wedding Stationery

The Ivory Feather

Cake

Belfast Cake Boutique

Flowers

Floral Earth

Entertainment

Band were Hot sausage & mustard, DJ: Yeoo Dj

Photographer

Mark McCullough

Videographer

The Fennels

Wedding Dress & Accessories

Halfpenny London from The White Gallery in Newry and the Earrings were A.B Ellie

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Maids to measure

Groomswear

Bogart Belfast

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup

Jennifer Ireland

Hair

Sinead Williams

THE HAPPY COUPLE

Tell us a little about how you met & talk us through the proposal

We met through working in a cafe, we weren’t close at the start but after years of working together we realised we had a lot of similarities and became best friends! Baz asked me out on a date so we had our first date at titanic and it blossomed from there! For the proposal he took me out to my favourite restaurant and then back to our first date spot (titanic), got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife - the easiest yes ever! 

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

Ceremony

Our ceremony took place in our church Mount Zion in Lisburn

What made you choose The Loft to host your day?

When we were venue hunting the loft really stood out to us because the staff were so lovely and couldn’t do enough to cater to your needs and make the day special! We had ideas about different food etc and Donna the chef was more than happy to cook different styles of cuisines to make our day special! The venue speaks for itself in terms of beauty, we had very little to do in terms of decorating as the venue is so stunning as it is! As well as that there are many rooms for the guests to stay over in and a fantastic spa to relax in the next day!

Favourite memory of your Wedding

Our favourite memory was sitting back at the top table and seeing that everything had come together and that our dream day had came true! There were so many great elements to the day but having our family and friends home from all around the world and all together was really special.

SHOUT OUT TO THE DREAM TEAM

Wedding Stationery

Clockwork bubbles design

Cake

Busy Whisk Bakery

Flowers

Flowers by Wendy

Entertainment

DJNI and Holly Sax

Photographer

Kellie Scott

Videographer

Matthew Irvine (irvine wedding film)

Favours 

Etsy

Wedding Dress & Accessories

The Wedding Centre Randalstown

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

The Wedding Centre Randalstown

Groomswear

Freddie Hatchets

THE GLAM SQUAD

Makeup

Claire Morrow

Hair

Kelly Kenny