The five-star Culloden Estate and Spa has unveiled a £750,000 investment which has seen the complete transformation of two of the main public spaces on the ground floor. What was formerly The Mitre Restaurant is now the Lough Bar and offers guests panoramic views over Belfast Lough and a new menu boasting light fayre from traditional seafood chowder to steak sandwiches from Hannan Meats unique Himalayan Salt Chamber. The hotel’s new fine dining restaurant, Vespers, is situated where the Crozier Lounge once was and is a nod to the ecclesiastical history of the hotel which was originally built as an official palace for the Bishops of Down. The new seasonal menus have been created using local produce. Chairman of Hastings Hotels, Edward Carson said: “We have a continuous investment programme for all seven of our properties and the latest renovation of the Culloden represents a total of £5.5m spent on the Estate in the last four years. We are confident that the reconfiguration of the Lough Bar and Vespers Restaurant will ensure an even better guest experience. Great thought was put into the design and décor of both spaces and we are delighted with the result.” Garrett Power, general manager of the Culloden Estate and Spa, added: “Along with the new restaurant and bar, there has also been a significant investment in the conference and banqueting facilities with the iconic Stuart Suite, one of the largest ballrooms in Northern Ireland, redecorated with exquisite new mirror work, chandeliers and a new fountain at the private entrance to ensure a memorable arrival for guests. “We also have also introduced a new private dining option with the opening of the Robinson Suite. This sumptuous space affords guests unparalleled views of Belfast Lough, and comes complete with its own new state-of-the-art kitchen to allow our brigade of chefs to cater for high-end private dining events. This complements our existing banqueting options in both the Hollywood and Stuart Suites for prestigious events, including Art in the Garden, which is running throughout the hotel until Sunday.”