Charlotte Dixon, owner of Elephant Rock Hotel
Charlotte Dixon, owner of Elephant Rock Hotel, Portrush has been awarded the prestigious title of Entrepreneur of the Year at the Ulster Tatler Influential Women Awards 2024.
A Portstewart native, Charlotte has lived across the water in Scotland and England, but has always maintained an unwavering passion for the North Coast. Completely dedicated to the success of Elephant Rock and the local economy in Portrush, Charlotte welcomes over 4000 visitors per year to the hotel and works with local suppliers and producers to showcase the best of the Causeway Coast.
Situated in the heart of Portrush, in a lively terraced row directly facing the Atlantic Ocean, Elephant Rock has claimed an iconic identity with its vibrant pink and grey exterior. Named after the iconic Elephant Rock just off the coast in Ballintoy and designed by Adrian Bailie of Adrian Interiors, Charlotte said:
“My ambition was to create a place to stay that was unique and reflects the vibrancy and beauty of the North Coast. We are fun and whimsical and don’t take ourselves too seriously! It is all about escaping the mundane and immersing yourself in the experience.”
Elephant Rock Hotel was opened in 2022, Charlotte joined forces with her mother to whom she credits for a lot of the hotel’s unique design inspirations, she continued:
“My mother played a significant role in the creation of Elephant Rock, she loves interior design and has always made bold choices - my own taste has been massively inspired by her.
“From day one, we agreed that we didn't want it to be boring, we wanted to create something unique, that would give consumers that important bit of escapism from the every day that we all seek on a holiday."
Joanne Harkness, Deputy Editor at the Ulster Tatler, said:
"The judges felt that Charlotte Dixon, Owner of Elephant Rock Hotel, Portrush took a leap of faith to fulfil her dreams and created a unique bespoke place that stands out from the crowds.
“Well done Charlotte on this fantastic achievement.”