By Katrina Doran.

The Merchant Hotel is full of stories. If the cherubs in the Great Hall could whisper the opulent tales from the buildings past life as head office of the Ulster Bank in all its Victorian voluptuousness - what tales they could tell! And now in its current incarnation as a luxury 5 star hotel, the guests that have passed through its decadent doors all have stories of their own. The cherubs have perused it all.

On Saturday 31st July the hotel is about to start a whole new story with the opening of its 'New Chapter' housing the first ever luxury city centre hotel Spa, state-of-the-art roof top gymnasium, roof-top garden and authentic Jazz bar.

Berts Bar is reminiscent of celebrity hot spot Balthazar in New York and even though it is pristine and new - there are stories just waiting to be told in its leather-backed curved booths.

The "Rita Duffy Room", named after the renowned local artist, located on the first floor, enjoys panoramic views over High Street and can accommodate up to 120 people for gala dinners and stylish weddings. 40 weddings are already booked in to begin new stories of love and romance.

Wow is an important word in the tale of the Merchant Hotel and it is used with great emphasis on the top floor as you walk out onto the rooftop Jacuzzi (pictured left) with views over the Albert Clock and as far as Scrabo Tower in the distance.

The 38 new "Deco Decadent" bedrooms perfectly compliment the "Victorian Splendour" rooms, which have been so popular with guests since the lavish property opened in 2006. Each room features bespoke furniture pieces by iconic designer Corbusier and Eileen Gray and local designer Judith Cassidy, and while the décor is divine the bit that really had us cooing with delight was the make-up area, complete with Hollywood mirror which is discretely concealed in the wardrobe.

The state-of-the-art in-room entertainment system contains the best stories of all with a selection of children's bedtime tales narrated by the velvety-voiced actor Jimmy Nesbitt. Classic Irish fairy tales including the The Children of Lir as well as a few Dr Seuss tongue-twisters were recorded specially for the hotels younger residents but the Sugahfix gals are loving the idea of having Jimmy tell us a bedtime story!

The New Chapter is open to the public from Saturday 31st July 2010, for reservations please call 028 9023 4888 www.themerchanthotel.com.