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Four-star Douglas, Douglas

Empress Hotel

A late Victorian hotel of 104 rooms on Central Promenade, set back above the road, with a conservatory over Douglas Bay and a pianist in the bar on Saturday nights.

Book with the hotel for Empress Hotel (opens in a new tab) Fly to Douglas

Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.

Grading
Four stars, Visit Isle of Man
Rooms
104
Built
End of the 19th century
From the airport
About 20 minutes by car

The hotel

A piano bar on the Victorian promenade.

The Empress went up at the end of the nineteenth century on Central Promenade, the long Victorian seafront of Douglas. It stands raised and set back from the road, and the conservatory looks out over the promenade to Douglas Bay. The building has since been extensively upgraded inside, and the bedrooms newly refurbished. The hotel has three rooms for meetings and events, and the Brasserie has been refurbished too.

Evenings centre on the Piano Bar. A resident pianist plays every Saturday, and on up to three more nights a week in summer, and the bars are open to people who are not staying. Weddings and dinner dances fill the Prince Albert Suite, which holds about 180. The smaller Connaught Suite, next to reception, takes about forty for private dinners. The ferry terminal is about 700 metres along the promenade.

  • The Piano Bar Live piano on Saturdays all year, and on up to three other nights a week in summer.
  • The Conservatory A glass room raised above the promenade, looking straight out to sea.
  • Afternoon tea A deluxe afternoon tea is served, and a Sunday lunch in the Brasserie.

Dining

Brasserie, piano and the bay.

Restaurants and bars as listed by the hotel. Shown for information.

  • The Brasserie Brasserie Recently refurbished; Sunday lunch
  • Piano Bar Bar, casual dining Live piano on Saturdays
  • Lounge & Conservatory Drinks and afternoon tea Sea views over the promenade

Good to know

Before you go.

  • Leisure The small gym, sauna and beauty rooms are closed until further notice.
  • Noise Weddings and dinner dances, mostly at weekends, run until midnight and can be heard in some bedrooms.
  • Parking None at the hotel. Free parking on the promenade in front, with a permit from the ferry terminal.
  • Access A lift serves most bedrooms; a few rooms are up some steps.

Getting there

Flying to Douglas.

Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway is about 11 kilometres from Douglas, around 20 minutes by car; buses 1, 1a and 2 stop about 100 metres from the hotel. easyJet, Loganair and Aer Lingus fly in from London, Manchester, Liverpool and Dublin. Private jets use the same airport, where handling is compulsory and customs are on site.

Business & First Class Airline flights easyJet flies from London Gatwick and Loganair from London City, Manchester and Liverpool; Aer Lingus comes in from Dublin. Extra easyJet flights are added for the TT. Request a fare Private Jet Private flights Ronaldsway is an airport of entry with customs, open from early morning until about a quarter to nine at night, and later on request. Handling is mandatory: Jet Centre by NALJETS runs the FBO, and Three Legs General Aviation Handling also serves private jets. Request a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet to Douglas
  • Dublin 30 min
  • Edinburgh 40 min
  • London 50 min
  • Paris 1 h 20
  • Geneva 1 h 50

Questions

What guests ask first.

Does the Empress Hotel have a gym or spa?
Not at the moment. The hotel's small leisure facilities are closed until further notice.
Is there parking at the Empress?
Not on site. Free parking is available on the promenade in front of the hotel with a permit from the ferry terminal.
How far is the Empress from the ferry?
About 700 metres along the promenade.
Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Douglas?
Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Douglas, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.

Also in Douglas

Other hotels worth the trip.

All of Douglas

Staying at Empress Hotel?

Book the room, then the flight.

Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Douglas, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.

Book with the hotel for Empress Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Business & First Private Jet

Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.