A new function room has opened at a hotel in Co Antrim as part of a £1.5m renovation of the venue ahead of a reopening in the spring.
The Harbourview Hotel in Carnlough, formerly the Londonderry Arms, is now taking wedding bookings for the newly-completed MacCauley suite.
Then 80-plus guest suite is part of a redevelopment being undertaken by the businesspeople who bought the well-known hotel in 2024.
The group, which includes hotelier Adrian McLaughlin, whiskey distiller Darryl McNally and entrepreneur Carl Harrison, became the first new owners of the hotel in seven decades when they bought it off the O’Neill family in summer last year.
A photo of the Harbourview Hotel before it was rebranded
The hotel has passed through famous hands since opening in 1848. Winston Churchill inherited ownership of it at one point, and his deeds of ownership are displayed in the hotel’s Churchill Suite.
The new owners are describing the rebranded location as Ireland’s first “whiskey hotel”, and say they will serve over 300 whiskeys alongside classic cocktails.
Mr McLaughlin said: “As we near completion of the first phase of our redevelopment, we are excited to begin to see our vision for this historic property come to life.
“This hotel has been a cornerstone of the community for generations, and we are committed to preserving that legacy while shaping its future as a leading short break and wedding destination.
“The Harbourview Hotel offers the ideal setting to create countless cherished memories, with the assurance of a warm welcome, first-class service, and a top-quality experience.”
The new function room at The Harbourview Hotel
As well as the new function room, the hotel is also due to receive new flooring as well as a new bar and restaurant.
Paul Truscott, general manager of the Harbourview, said: “We are thrilled to now launch the MacAuley Suite and showcase what this fantastic space, and our dedicated team can offer for guests.
“As we open our availability for wedding bookings this week, we’re confident that our unique offering will be a strong pull for local couples, as well as those seeking a destination wedding in the heart of the scenic Causeway Coast.”
A number of hotels on the north coast are receiving renovations in the first half of the year, as the region prepares for the influx of golf tourists when the Open takes place at Royal Portrush in July.
Work was recently completed at the five-star Dunluce Lodge, which overlooks one of the fairways of the golf course.
The Atlantic Hotel was sold at the end of 2024 to the US firm AJ Capital Partners, which also owns and operates the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle Co Down. It’s also working on refurbishing Portrush’s Adelphi Hotel after snapping it up in 2022.
The tourism industry expects millions of pounds to be spent by golf tourists this summer, as they are drawn to NI as host of the world’s oldest golf major.