Overview

The Butler Arms Hotel is a 19th-century four-star hotel in Waterville, County Kerry, opened in March 1884 by the McElligott family and purchased by Martin and Mary Huggard in 1915. The Huggards ran it for four generations over more than a century, until it was bought by Paddy McKillen Jr's Press Up Entertainment Group in 2022.

The hotel is set on the seafront overlooking Ballinskelligs Bay and has long been one of Ireland's best-known country hotels, particularly for its connection to Charlie Chaplin - who first arrived in 1959 on the recommendation of his friend Walt Disney, and returned with his family summer after summer for over a decade.

In more recent years, the hotel hosted the cast and crew of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi during filming on nearby Skellig Michael, with Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, and director J.J. Abrams all staying at the hotel between 2014 and 2015.

Make a reservation here.

What You'll See

The hotel has 36 elegantly decorated guest rooms, including 12 junior suites, with 24 rooms offering Atlantic views over Ballinskelligs Bay. Reception areas and lounges are furnished with elegant leather chairs, traditional charm, and family photos that maintain the intimate homely feel.

Dining centrer on Charlie's Restaurant, a fine-dining room specialising in fresh seafood caught daily by local fishermen - oysters, lobster, mussels - alongside Roast Rack of Kerry Lamb and the hotel's famous Sticky Toffee Pudding. The Fisherman's Bar is known locally for serving top-class Guinness and the house-brewed Huggard Pale Ale, derived from an original recipe used at the bar by the family's great-grandfather.

Visitor Essentials

Waterville Golf Links, rated among the top 5 courses in Ireland, is one mile from the hotel. Free parking and free Wi-Fi are included. The hotel has historically closed from late October through the end of March except for special bookings - confirm seasonal opening dates directly before booking outside peak months.

Tips

Request a superior room with sea views or a balcony - these offer the defining feature of a stay, overlooking the Atlantic and Ballinskelligs Bay. Mark Hamill famously stayed in the room with the balcony overlooking the water, a detail worth mentioning if you want to follow in his footsteps.

The hotel makes an excellent base for the Skellig Ring scenic detour, Skellig Michael boat trips from Portmagee, and Waterville Golf Links. Book dinner at Charlie's Restaurant in advance, particularly in peak season and during the Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival each August, when the village fills up quickly.

The Charlie Chaplin statue and waterfront promenade are directly across the road from the hotel, making a post-dinner stroll along the bay a natural end to the evening.