All eyes are on the north coast as the 153rd Open Championship prepares to take place at Royal Portrush this summer. Preparations are well underway for what is set to be not only an amazing experience for all those attending, but an amazing opportunity for the local area to show off what it is made of. As someone who spent most of my childhood summers up in the Port, I will never get sick of the buzz you get going up the coast, even if it's just for a weekend staycation or a Sunday walk on the beach. To accommodate the ambush of visitors from around the globe set to descend on Portrush and the surrounding areas for the golf, new hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs have been popping up across the last year - one of which is the Portrush Adelphi. Now I know it is not technically a new hotel, but it reopened earlier this year after being bought over by the Marine & Lawn group and has been totally transformed that when you see pictures of the former Adelphi, you’ll find it hard to believe it’s even the same spot. I’ll be the first to admit that I know very little about golf and you probably won’t find me on the green anytime soon but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy all the benefits of the Open coming to Portrush. We checked in on a rainy Saturday afternoon just for one night, and while Portrush was looking a bit doom and gloom in the drizzle, the hotel was a warm welcome from the minute you open the door. It may look unassuming from the outside but the boutique hotel has been completely revamped with stylish dark wood finishing and tartan wallpaper - you can tell a lot of love has been put into bringing it back to life. In keeping with Portrush’s golfing links, there is a subtle golfing theme that runs throughout the decor. It’s a nice nod without being too gimmicky or distracting from how lovely the space is. Between the reception seating area and the bar space, it almost feels like you are in an old stately home rather than on the Main Street of a lively seaside town - it’s not a massive hotel but I think that adds to the character. Probably most notably to me was how lovely every member of staff was throughout the entire day. From reception to bar staff to the restaurant and night porter, nothing was too much or too little for them and they really made our trip away that bit more special. We had a room on the first floor at the front of the hotel so we were able to look out and see the sea - a lovely novelty even despite the rain. In keeping with the theme of the hotel, our room was impeccably styled with moody navy walls being brought to life with the pink curved sofa at the bay window. I love a fancy bathroom and the Adelphi checked out with its floral wallpaper, emerald green shower tiles and gold finishing and lends itself greatly for a good mirror selfie. The hotel is ideally located right in the heart of Portrush so there is a lot to see and do right on its doorstep - the West Strand is only a short dander away, you’ve got The Playhouse and Kiwi’s Brew Bar next door and the harbour just around the corner so you couldn’t pick a better place to set up base. There was no dedicated parking, which can be annoying if you are coming with a lot of bags, but we were fortunate enough to get parked up the street. We decided to stay at the hotel and eat dinner in their Italian restaurant The Red Sail Room. With plush red seating and paintings of ships on the walls, it both ties in well with the vibe of Adelphi but doesn’t make you feel like you are in a hotel restaurant. I could tell a few other tables had just come in for dinner and weren’t guests which I also think is a good sign for a hotel restaurant. We washed down our lasagna and crab linguine with some top-tier cocktails before finishing the night off with a tiramisu and affogato because we were on our holidays - not a bad note to say about our food or our service. It was definitely a treat for us to choose for a date night but I’d definitely add it to my list to visit again when it comes to booking a nice meal in the Port. Unfortunately, the rain never eased off the entirety of our stay so our Sunday morning sea dip was quickly taken off the to-do list and instead, we lay on a bit longer in what we both agreed was one of the most comfortable beds we had ever slept in. For me, the Portrush Adelphi was a hole-in-one for style, service and location and I just know it will be a hit long after the Open too. Starting rates at Portrush Adelphi begin at £245 subject to seasonality & availability per room per night, including full Irish breakfast and VAT. All rooms are pet-friendly. Book direct at marineandlawn.com/portrushadelphi For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What's On newsletter.