Stampeding to Victory: Charlotte Dixon’s Elephant Rock Wins Big at Ulster Tatler Awards!

Charlotte Dixon, the proprietor of Elephant Rock Hotel in Portrush, has been awarded the esteemed title of Entrepreneur of the Year at the Ulster Tatler Influential Women Awards 2024.

Hailing from Portstewart, Charlotte has lived in Scotland and England but has always maintained a deep-seated passion for the North Coast. Her unwavering dedication to the success of Elephant Rock and the local economy in Portrush is evident, as she welcomes over 4,000 visitors annually and collaborates with local suppliers and producers to showcase the best of the Causeway Coast.

Situated in the heart of Portrush, Elephant Rock is distinctive with its vibrant pink and grey exterior in a lively terraced row facing the Atlantic Ocean. Named after the iconic Elephant Rock off the coast in Ballintoy and designed by Adrian Bailie of Adrian Interiors, Charlotte commented:

"My ambition was to create a place to stay that is 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, which opened in 2022, is a result of a collaboration between Charlotte and her mother, who greatly influenced the hotel's distinctive design. Charlotte explained:

"My mother was instrumental in the creation of Elephant Rock. She has a passion for interior design and is known for her bold choices, which have deeply influenced my own tastes.

"From the very beginning, we agreed that the hotel should be anything but boring. Our goal was to create something unique that offers guests the escapism we all crave during a holiday."