O'Dea's Bistro in Portarlington

22/12/2024: The Santa's grotto at Solas exceeded our expectations. It is the first year for our 2 year old son really being excited about Santa and today was a magical memory for our family. We started off with perfectly brewed coffee at the cafe and then were met by a jolly and joyful elf who guided us in to meet Santa's animals. We then went through an amazing sensory tunnel of lights which my little boy really enjoyed, made magical reindeer food and decorated a cookie with Mrs Clause. There was also colouring and other craft activities for little ones to get involved in. Santa was a pleasure to meet. My son's jaw dropped, he was in awe. His gift was also a lovely book - great to get something educational that will last rather than a cheap plastic gimmick. Every elf we met along the way was so kind, they were enthusiastic, offering to take photos for us and it was clear that so much attention to detail had gone into this experience to make it magical by such a wonderful team. My little boy was too little to ride the free fair rides (included with Santa) this year, but they are an added bonus and he was quite happy to watch bigger kids go round and round! We will absolutely be back for many years to come. Good value for money compared to other Santa experiences out there. Handy parking. Ample comfortable seating in the cafe. Wasn't overbooked or feel crowded and we were never left waiting longer than 2 minutes for any of the activities. Was buggy friendly. If you're looking for a magical family day out at Christmas, look no further.

16/12/2024: The Santa’s Grotto experience at Solas is magical. As a local of the town I’ve seen the work that has gone into it and it really has paid off! A really enjoyable experience, well done to all involved ✨🎄