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News that one of Dublin city centre's most noteworthy artworks, the beloved red squirrel mural beside Tara Street dart station, is being removed has hit the town hard.

The latest update from Lovin Dublin has our hearts sinking: the mural removal date has been officially confirmed along with the news that a new hotel will be built in its place. *Sigh*

The mural is set to be taken down on Tuesday, August 6, and is the latest in a string of Dublin creative spaces to be replaced with commercial infrastructure.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Portuguese environmental artist Artur Bordalo created the red squirrel mural, using a combination of painting and sculpture to create the beautiful 3D illusion.

The talented artist has created similar works in 24 fellow countries, which makes it even more shameful that one country is removing his masterpiece.

The work was constructed using rubbish and waste discovered around Dublin, like televisions, bicycle frames, used car parts, chicken wire and office materials.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The installation took a total of five days to make, and the creation was captured over two years by Irish filmmakers Trevor Whelan and Rua Meegan in their award-winning short, A Life of Waste.

Co-director and co-curator Trevor Whelan said at the time; 

“We wanted to make this film to illustrate the character, motivations and creativity of Bordalo II and to highlight the environmental dangers of our wasteful society."

"Together with an amazing, dedicated team, we overcame many obstacles to make this documentary and to bring the artist to Dublin to create one of his iconic sculptures," Trevor added.

“We are very saddened by the news that Dublin’s ‘Red Squirrel’ will be removed to make way for yet another hotel. The artwork has had a great impact on the city and has received a lot of love from both locals and tourists.”

Feature image: Instagram/@ispottedit

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Have you ever wanted to hire an upper class theatre buff who went to Trinity but insists they were accepted by Oxford to give you a posh walking tour of Dublin? It's a life goal, really.

Luckily for your dramatic side, The Westbury has now introduced complimentary theatre tours with the Abbey Theatre Tour Guide to explore the essence of Ireland's arts scene.

Guests staying at the hotel over the summer season can discover the city's most fascinating sculptures, theatres and galleries on a personal guided tour with James Hickson of The Abbey Theatre.

Image: Abbey Theatre

Strolling around the Georgian Quarter is the perfect introduction to the theatrical and cultural history of Dublin, and you definitely won't be bored with a theatrical man walking you around.

From stunning sculpture to beautiful buildings, discover some of the personalities, dramas, and places that have influenced its character and culture.

Whether you're a tourist or a loca, the iconic sights, forgotten tales and hidden gems bring an immersive story of Dublin to the tour.

Image: Ireland.com

The 90-minute tour leaves the Westbury hotel every Thursday morning of the summer at 10am, with James Hickson escorting guests along the theatrical route showcasing The Gaeity Theatre among others.

Anyone who embarks on the tour will also be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Abbey Theatre, ancient Irish storytelling and drama at the Setanta Wall and a tailored tour of theatrical art in the National Gallery.

A pitstop at the Oscar Wilde sculpture as well as Phil Lynott and Luke Kelly tributes will also be visited, with Hickson bringing Wilde's personality, wit and works to life. 

Highlights of the tour also include spaces dedicated to a variety of contemporary Irish and international artists, such as the National Library and the iconic Bewleys café.

To ensure the best possible experience for all, places are limited to just ten guests per tour so book as early as you can in order to join the ranks of Dublin drama.

Bookings can be made through the hotel on 01 6463333 or email westbury_reservations@doylecollection.com.

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If you're looking for designer desserts and sweet treats in a lavish location? Of course you are.

The Westbury is heralding the return of the National College of Art and Design-inspired Afternoon Tea, as long term supporters of arts, design fashion and culture.

Cakes and pastries which will be served at the luxurious Gallery restaurant have been created through the kaleidoscope of NCAD fashion students, and they look earth-shatteringly good.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Nestled between Dublin's creative quarter and elegant Grafton Street, the decadent Westbury hotel is the capital's premier luxury location and member of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Renowned for its commitment to supporting the arts, the Westbury is now celebrating five years of their partnership with the National College of Art and Design by launching their most fashionable Afternoon Tea to date.

These artistic cakes and treats will be available for a limited period, and guests of the serene Gallery can sample exquisitely designed desserts from rising stars in design,

Executive Pastry Chef at The Westbury, Ray Encarnacion, has skilfully made the presentation and was clearly inspired by the style and intricate detail of each fashion look.

Fashion design: Ciara Allen

The impressive orange outfit is infused with vibrant colour and was created by Ciara Allen. Ray was influenced to draw upon the bold colour choice by sculpting a sumptuous pistachio Bavaroise, hazelnut sable, and khalua fluid gel. 

Fashion design: Dora Oduro

Dora Oduro Newman's gorgeous dark design encompasses an oversize black dress with dupion silk embellishment and rivet studs, inspired by her multi-cultural experience.

As a result, Ray made a striking black and gold tartlet, with cherry gel, chocolate mousse and delish peach custard. We are shaking with the sugar cravings right about now.

Fashion designer: Gabrielle Malone

The all-white creation by Gabrielle Malone was inspired by fishermen's work attire and tools, and translates as a delicate Verrine made of white chocolate cremeux.

That gorgeous orange colour is passion fruit jelly, mixed with white chocolate and coconut-whipped ganache. Heaven help us.

Fashion design: Una King

Bivouac, Una King's poncho design, is based on the concept of temporary encampment. Ray created the stunning, elegant cake with delicious and light beer sponge, strawberry mousse, yoghurt cremeux and citrus Italian meringue.

The flavours…someone pick our jaws up off the floor please.

If you are what you eat, does that make us artists?

Designer: Elizabeth Omowumi

Last but not least, Elizabeth Omowumi’s voluminous hooded design is an oversized African print laser-cut jacket with knit cuffs, over a colourful African print-petaled shirt with knit collar.

Ray created a vibrant choux from blueberry compôte and lavender pastry cream to bring the style to edible life.

The pastry chef described how he crafted the unique array of desserts, explaining how rewarding the experience was:

"Meeting with the designers in their NCAD fashion studio and choosing from their amazing creations, deciding which would translate best as a dessert was an unusual but exciting opportunity for me.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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"There’s always a fine balance to be struck between how the cakes and pastries resemble the designers work, and how this will be interpreted by our guests," Encarnacion added.

"Gaining an insight into the students’ inspiration behind the designs was crucial to the interpretation of the designs, and I hope the designers and guests alike are pleased with the end result”

Guests can enjoy the bespoke NCAD Inspired Afternoon Tea for just €55 per person, or €70 per person with Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut or Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé.

If you want the full shebang with Dom Pérignon Champagne, the Afternoon Tea will cost a total of €90…it's totally worth it in our humble opinion.

The NCAD Inspired Afternoon Tea is available from June 7 until mid-September, but book in advance on their website to ensure a spot. 

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If you haven’t heard of Dylan hotel, you are sorely missing out. The Irish-owned five-star boutique hotel is renowned already for it’s red brick Victorian building, lavish decor and high-quality food, as well as it’s amazing proximity to the Irish city centre.

Tucked into a side avenue near Baggot Street, this gem is still relatively private despite it’s location, as if the building itself is housing a treat only a special few experience.

Dylan Bar has everything going for it, but we decided it was high time for us to try out their brand new Christmas afternoon tea menu: Spice and All Things Nice. We felt we deserved some five-star treatment, especially since the cost is only €45 for great service and even better food.

The design of the hotel is immediately striking; while it may be aesthetic Victorian brick on the outside, within the building is modern, contemporary design. We were seated by the fireplace by incredibly attentive staff, and after perusing their extensive afternoon tea menu, our eyes were swiftly on the prize: Christmas cocktails.

Their limited edition cocktail menu is inspired by the magical spices of the festive season; ginger, nutmeg, clove, star anise and cinnamon. It’s pretty mouth-watering stuff, if we do say so ourselves. Seeing as we value journalistic integrity, we had to taste as many as possible. *winks*

We definitely weren’t disappointed; their Winter Wine Warmer is an extravagant version of mulled wine, except far, far classier. Made with a mix of homemade citrus, star anise and clove syrup added to classic Merlot, the twist on the aromatic Christmas drink of the gods goes down a treat.

The Festive Pudding cocktail is a reimagined version of the classic winter dessert, made with allspice Guinness syrup, fresh orange and lime juice, old fashioned bitters, eggs whites and of course, Irish whiskey. Any connoisseurs of whiskey will adore this drink, trust us, it has a kick.

Next up on our list was the Apple & Cinnamon Crumble, made with Zubrowska vodka, goldschlanger, apple and lime juice, vanilla infused honey and topped off with a cookie crumble rim. Talk about being in heaven, the Dylan mixologists were infusing the atmosphere with subtle yet heartwarming Christmas vibes.

For those with a sweet tooth, chocolate appreciators can enjoy the Polar Express either hot or cold. Created with Hennessey V.S., Bailey’s Frangelico, and chocolate and vanilla cream, you’ll be rolled out of the place after one (or five…) of these.

Other divine drinks on offer include the Zenzero Negroni, which has the highest alcohol content so brace yourselves, and Before Santa’s Here for another whiskey.

Last but by no means least, their Summer in December is a rum and gingerbread syrup blend for a summer mood with a winter cheer, and they also include their version of an Irish coffee; the Dylan Christmas Coffee mixed with their secret spice syrup.

The designated drivers can also try a range of mocktails which are as good as the real thing. Dylan Bar also has refreshing bubbly, for any Prosecco queens out there, and a variety of tea and coffees. Heaven is a place on earth, and it’s located at Eastmoreland Place.

With all of these gorgeous drinks, we had almost forgotten about all the luscious cakes and sweet and savoury treats coming our way. Almost. They served us the carefully crafted food on a three-tiered plate, and we had a try of their spiced scotch egg, turkey and sage pie with cranberry chutney and pulled ham on granary bread and brie and cinnamon spice apple. 

The savoury selection was delicious, and we couldn’t leave without trying their sweet and subtly spiced buttery homemade scones and indulgent desserts. Pistachio slices, gingerbread cupcakes topped with whiskey icing and a meringue snowman with chocolate and nutmeg mousse were just a taster of what we were offered.

Sitting by the fire, breathing in the mulled wine and eating our weight in macaroons, we realised that we honestly need this lifestyle 24/7. It’s extra, it’s lavish, it’s Christmas magic, and everyone deserves a treat like afternoon tea at Dylan Bar. Don’t miss out, it’s only offered until the New Year so snap up a reservation while you can.

Enjoy the Spice & All Things Nice menu in the Dylan Bar until January 1 2019.

Call 01 660 3000 to make a reservation or email reservations@dylan.ie to have your Christmas injected with the warmth of festive food and drink.

Feature image: Instagram/@dylandublin

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On September 12th, American Horror Story will be taking to our screens for the 8th season. 

Little is known about the upcoming series, other than the fact that it will be titled Apocalypse and that it will be somewhat of a crossover between Coven and Murder House with a number of actors playing multiple roles in the one season – a process that worked incredibly well in the most recent season, Cult. 

In honour of the upcoming season, and as an avid and slightly strangely enthused viewer of the show, I've ranked the seasons from best to worst. Any guesses where Apocalypse will end up in this line up?

1. Asylum

Image result for american horror story asylum

Definitely the most frightening, disturbing and thought-provoking season of the series. 

The fate and demise of Shelley, played by Chloë Sevigny is the most horrifying of any character in the season, and the addled experimentation and nod to the most recessive underbelly if Nazi medicine in the character of Dr. Arden adds an especially twisted theme to the show. Sister Mary Eunice's possession, while undoubtedly scary, is a fun element to the show – particularly during her sexy rendition of You Don't Own Me. There is quite a bit going on in this series, with the side plot of alien abduction, visitation and micro bot nano technology, and the back stories of the various asylum patient, particularly Pepper. 

This is all before we get on to the main storyline, following Lana Winters, a journalist who is condemned to a stint in the very asylum she is seeking to expose. The overlying religious elements make this series particularly harrowing, along with the serial killer plot with Bloody Face. Ultimately, it portrays the mistreatment of vulnerable people in a time not too far from the one we live in. 

2. Coven

Image result for american horror story coven

An iconic series, and the one that drew many AHS fans to the show, Coven depicts a New Orleans witches haven, where young witches come to harness their powers. 

The battle to become The Supreme, the ruler of the Coven is the main thread here, but the sub-plot of historic racism and dark voodoo magic is the most sickening of the series. And don't get me started on Spalding, the perverted necrophile butler's storyline. The main character here is Zoe, who uses her powers to bring a frat boy Kyle, back from the dead after she murders his rapist frat brothers. A crankly old murderous ghost is resurrected, and his fave weapon is an axe.  A fight against evil ensues, including working against Papa Legba and the Delphi Trust – an illuminati-like organisation out to end The Academy and its' witches. Then it's on to the Trial of the Seven Wonders to crown the next Supreme ruler of the witches. 

3. Murder House

Image result for american horror story murder house

The series that started it all, the clue is in the name with this one. Ben and Vivien Harmon move into a very haunted house with their daughter Violet. Chaos ensues. 

Moira O'Hara, played by Frances Conroy and Alexandra Breckenridge, is one of the most intriguing characters, a ghostly housekeeper who appears young and lustful to men, mainly Ben Harmon, but old and innocent to women. Ben, a psychologist, starts to see patients in his home office, and through them we get a history lesson on some of LAs most notorious murderous crimes. Vivien becomes impregnated with the antichrists child, while Violet strikes up a romance with Tate, the ghost of a school shooter. The scenes of Tate's crimes are come of the most difficult to watch, as are those in which we see Violet self harming, adding a disturbing element more rooted in the real world than one of fantasy horror. We also get to see the demise of the houses previous tenants, and the crimes they committed, and it's the houses history that leads to the events of the current day.  

4. Roanoke

Image result for american horror story roanoke

After a random attack, a city couple move into a mansion built in the 18th century, and built in the middle of nowhere. The building's close proximity to the site of the Lost Colony of Roanoke on haunted earth makes it the scene of horror during the Blood Moon every year.

This series is cinematically engrossing due to it's odd presentation. Shot as a paranormal documentary series titled My Roanoke Nightmare in the first half of the season, the couple's experiences are reenacted by actors. For the second half, the documentary's cast and the original people to doc was about are brought back for the Blood Moon where (surprise surprise) further terror and slaughter await. It's definitely the most gory of all the seasons, and the sub-plot surrounding the 'hillbilly' family who live close to the manor is a vile depiction of poverty and sociopathy. 

5. Hotel

Image result for ahs hotel synopsis

Hotel was definitely one of the most curated and art directed seasons of them all – and with it came Lady Gaga stepping in to a lead role. Based on haunted downtown LA hotels likt the Cecil hotel, the art deco grandeur of the set was a decided treat. The show's vampire theme definitely didn't thrill me as much as the historical scenes, where we looked back into the past at the crimes of some of America's most notorious serial killers. As a true crime fanatic, the dramatisation of these terrible crimes was both horrifying and highly interesting. 

The interwoven plots of the past and present of the Hotel Cortez keeps you on your toes, and the fantasy aspect of the succubus theme is wild. Bonus points for the styling of Lady Gaga's character in this one. 

6. Freakshow

Image result for ahs freakshow

Freakshow was one of the best series concepts AHS has seen, but there was almost too much going on in this season to truly appreciate one plot line from the next. Also, the villain in this season kept changing, which was a highlight on the one had  as it meant that you were never bored, but it also removed the air of intrigue slightly, as one villain was foiled another sprung up in its place. The Morbidity Museum was utterly terrifying, and the entire show spoke to the distasteful human interest in things that are 'freaky.'

The subplots of suppressed sexuality and old-timey prejudice against anyone or anything that was different were the most enthralling, and while Dandy made for an incredible villain, his mother Gloria was easily one of the most twisted and pathetic characters (in a good way) the series has ever portrayed. 

7. Cult 

Image result for ahs cult

The most recent season of AHS comes in last, not because it was bad, by all means it was another amazing season, but because I, and a lot of AHS fans and forums, feel that it just wasn't executed as well as it could have been. The season follows the aftermath of the 2016 Presidential election, and the reactions of the residents of a small town in Michigan.

It delves into the rise of Kai, a seemingly alt-right leader who attempts to provoke rage in all things he does,. His cult of killer clowns terrorises the city, and the entire season highlights the connection between power and corruption. Despite the weird, borderline incest plotline, Billie Lourde shines in this season, and the filler episode with Len Dunham as Valerie Solanas is actually pretty cool, but I so wanted MORE from that thread, especially when mention of the Zodiac Killer arose.

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Calling all Downton Abbey fans! You need to add this hotel to your bucket list. 

This breathtaking, themed hotel is designed like an Edwardian mansion and has officially been ranked second on Travel + Leisure's ‘Top 100 Hotels in the World’ list for 2018.

And it looks amazing!

The five-star getaway, Ballyfin, is located in Co. Laois and is a refurbished boarding school with a total of only 20 rooms available for stay.

The old-fashioned hotel is picturesque and people are raving about their experience! ‘Ballyfin it was like stepping back in the past without the inconvenience of no electricity,’ said hotel guest Richard Grant.

Before the building was a school, however, ‘it was built as a Regency-era mansion for the Anglo-Irish Coote family’, according to The Independent. Each suite in the hotel is uniquely designed to reflect the original style of the house.

Yes, the Coote family are basically the real life version of the Crawley's. 

The American owner Fred Krehbiel thought it would be a great experience for people to enjoy during their stay, and we could not agree more! The businessman refurbished the property with his Irish wife Kay.  

Since it’s opening, Ballyfin has won numerous awards including AA's Irish hotel of the year for 2018.

Located near the Slieve Bloom Mountains, the hotel is only an hour and a half from Dublin city. So, not only are the rooms fabulous, but there is a beautiful vista of water, mountains, and greenery too.

Photo Credit: Ballyfin

Ballyfin is also ranked number one on Travel + Leisure’s list of ‘Europe's Top 10 Resorts’. Needless to say, there is a reason this hotel cannot stop earning awards. 

‘It’s a great place to fulfil all your Downton Abbey fantasies,’ the magazine said.

The gorgeous getaway sits on 614 acres of property and also has an indoor pool, spa, gardens, library, tapestry room, and conservatory. You can even request some time on the nearby lake, and one of hotel's butlers will row you out onto the water.

Fancy a stay at this top-rated, hotel? Book a night here. Prices range anywhere from €670-€1,350 per night depending on the time of year.

Of course, the hotel is also available for weddings and would be the perfect venue for Downton Abbey fans!

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If you are looking for the perfect getaway, then you have come to the right place. 

There's a Harry Potter themed hotel in a Georgian House in London, and the kids will LOVE it. 

The hotel rooms are not cheap, but you can't really put a price on pure happiness.

A family room (Wizard Chambers) costs £309 per night and a double room (Enchanted Chambers) costs £239 per night, but seriously, it will be worth  

The hotel is in a 19th Century building with winding corridors, loads of stairs, and some secret passages and doors. 

According to the hotel's website, the family room is "created to conjure a mysterious and gothic feel, each room features faux castle details such as stained glass windows, stone walls, archways, trunks, cauldrons, four-poster beds hung with velvet curtains and an abundance of other curious artefacts."

The description continues, with "wood burning stoves, cauldrons in fireplaces and tapestries complete the look."

We reckon this would be the BEST weekend away ever, and you'll even get a free (award-winning) breakfast.

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There's nothing better than trying out a new place right in the heart of the city.

With hotels like The Dean, The Morgan and The Gibson, you'd think we'd be spoilt for choice; but not so, as a new hotel is about to begin construction.

Pub chain, JD Wetherspoon, is opening a hotel in the heart of the city centre.

The hotel will open on Camden Street and the company has just announced that it will open in early 2019.

The chain is set to start construction in February 2018, and when built, it will create 200 new jobs.

Image result for camden hall hostel

JD Wetherspoon bought the Camden Hall Hostel site at the beginning of this year, and planning permission was granted by Dublin City Council in April.

The investment cost the business €15m, but with the site being on one of the busiest nightclub spots in the city, we can see it making a good birra dosh.

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Planning permission has been granted for a 155-bedroom hotel on the site of Andrew Lane's Theatre on Dame Street.

The application was made by Appalachian Property Holdings and the total investment into the land will be about €21m.

The bedrooms in the hotel will be 'pod-like', which have become popular in places like New York and Japan.

Image result for andrew's lane theatre

There will also be a reception area and coffee dock on the ground floor of the hotel.

Appalachian Property Holdings (which is owned by the same people as KeyWaste) hope to open the hotel by spring 2019.

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“Its primary target audience comprises of well-informed, contemporary and tech-savvy business and leisure individuals who want style, location and value for money,” the planning permission document states.

“This is reflected throughout the ‘limited service’ hotel with sophisticated technology assisting the guests from self-service check-in to compact sophisticated bedrooms, which provide guests with the ability to customise their own environment," the document added.

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We love a good day out in Tayto Park, and it's looking like it could get much better.

Because imagine after a day of screaming on rollercoasters and munching at The Twisted Chip, you can just sit back and relax in a spa instead of having to drive home?!

Tayto Park has applied for planning permission to build a seven story hotel on it grounds, and it looks super slick.

A computer generated image of the planned 7 story hotel in Tayto Park.

According to a statement, the proposed hotel will have 250 bedrooms which can cater up to 1,000 guests.

As well as that, it will feature a spa, meeting rooms and a function room for parties and special occassions.

Keeping in with the park's theme, the hotel would have a wooden exterior and hold views of the Cú Cúliann Coaster .

The development of the hotel would provide 150 jobs to the area during the construction phase, and 272 full and part-time jobs once building is completed.

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Now that it's the summer holiday season, it's time to start planning your next vacay.

And while booking a hotel for your summer getaway isn't the most important aspect of your trip, there's a pretty simple way to get a swanky upgrade.

Just think; a big room with a view beats out the box room that you have to travel five flights of stairs to get to, right?

adult, architecture, beautiful

According to experts, the best way to get an upgrade is to book your hotel directly through the hotel's website.

Many of us opt to use external booking sites, but it turns out that hotels actually reserve their best rooms for their own website.

Why? Because many third-party sites charge a 10-30 per cent commission to hotels which use their services.

A former hotel manager told The Sun: "A lot of hotels punish people for booking through third-party sites. They don’t like paying the commission and would rather you booked with the hotel directly.

bedroom, door, entrance

"The consequence is that you get the worst room within the room category you book a lot of the time," he added.

Many experts also noted that hotels will be more likely to give you "perks" if you book through their own website too, like free Wi-Fi or free breakfast.

Our advice? Check out the price-comparison websites beforehand to see which hotels fit in your budget, and then book through the hotel directly.

Now, you're sorted.

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Donald Trump clearly isn't a fan of One Direction, after he removed them from one of his hotels. 

The President kicked the boy band out after they refused to meet his daughter. 

This revelation comes courtesy of band member Liam Payne, who let the news slip in an interview with Rollacoaster.

 

A post shared by Liam Payne (@liampayne) on

Liam said that the POTUS phoned their room asking if they'd be happy to meet his daughter (either Ivanka or Tiffany, it's not clear which one), and their manager declined on the basis that the boys were asleep. 

“Trump actually kicked us out of his hotel once. You wouldn’t believe it. It was about his daughter. He phoned up our manager and we were asleep," said the star. 

"He said ‘well, wake them up’ and I was like ‘no’ and then he wouldn’t let us use the underground garage."

"Obviously in New York we can’t really go outside. New York is ruthless for us. So he was like, ‘OK, then I don’t want you in my hotel.’ So we had to leave.”

That's definitely not the best hospitality service, Trump!

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