£2m Ballycastle Regeneration Paused Amid Antrim Arms Hotel Future Uncertainty

Ballycastle's £2m town centre regeneration is paused due to uncertainty over the future of the derelict Antrim Arms Hotel, with local concerns over safety, business impact, and heritage preservation.

Project on Hold Due to Antrim Arms Hotel Uncertainty

A £2 million redevelopment of Ballycastle town centre on the north coast has been paused amid uncertainty regarding the future of the listed, derelict Antrim Arms Hotel, which has been described as "dangerous," NI understands.

The Ballycastle Environmental Improvement Scheme (EIS) includes plans to enhance the town's Diamond area and nearby streets, with an original completion target of March 2027.

However, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has indicated that the future of the Antrim Arms Hotel remains a significant factor affecting the progress of the scheme.

An application to demolish the hotel, which dates back nearly 400 years, was refused in 2023.

Declan Wright, owner of the building, has expressed his desire to demolish the structure and replace it with a new development aimed at attracting tourists.

More than a year ago, the council installed cordons around the building due to concerns about its structural integrity.

Local business owners and residents have described the ongoing restrictions as an "eyesore" and an "economic burden."

Blue shipping containers outside the derelict Antrim Arms hotel. The sky is cloudy. A yellow sign reads 'diversion'. — Shipping containers were positioned outside the hotel in 2025 to protect pedestrians ahead of Ballycastle's annual showpiece event, the Ould Lammas Fair

'A complete nightmare'

Charlie McVeigh, owner of the Diamond Bar adjacent to the hotel, reported that the situation is negatively impacting his business.

"Some people coming into the town actually think we're closed, it's such an eyesore," he said.

Fairhill Street, located next to the Antrim Arms site, has been closed to traffic since October 2024. McVeigh noted the inconvenience this causes, stating deliveries must take a lengthy detour.

"It's a complete nightmare and it's hitting our footfall," he added.

"Day to day you just shake your head every time you come in through the door."

Charlie McVeigh is an older, bald man who is looking at the camera with a neutral expression. He is wearing a black, polo shirt with The Diamond Bar embrodiered on the chest. He is standing in front of a stocked bar, but the background is blurred. — The road's closure is causing The Diamond Bar to lose customers, its owner Charlie McVeigh says

Ciaran Dallat, who works in an interiors shop in the Diamond, said customers frequently inquire about the condition of the Antrim Arms building.

"It looks like no-one really cares and there's plants growing out of the roof and tiles missing - it's not even freshly painted," he told NI.

"They have signs on the fencing... but it's not hiding the fact that the building is falling apart and looks ghastly really."

Dallat expressed that the corner has significant potential and it would be "lovely" if the building's historic features could be preserved and repurposed.

Ciaran Dallat is a young man with short, light coloured hair and a beard. He is wearing a grey and black patterned shirt with a black t-shirt underneath. He is stood in the town's Diamond, but the background is blurred. — Ciaran Dallat says something needs to happen with the old Antrim Arms building

'There's going to be an accident'

A petition signed by approximately 2,500 individuals, including local residents, business owners, and schools, calls for urgent action regarding the building.

Claire Parker, a Ballycastle resident, highlighted safety concerns as her four children pass the site en route to school.

"There are slates falling off the roof," she said.

"It is a very dangerous structure and there is going to be an accident."

Parker acknowledged the Antrim Arms as an iconic and focal point of the town but emphasized its current state renders it unusable.

"Something needs to be done," she added.

"If it needs to be knocked down then so be it, but I think we all agree that it should be built within the same character as it was previously."

Claire Parker stands in front of blue shipping containers and is looking at the camera with a neutral expression on her face. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing a zip-up burgundy jacket. — Claire Parker is one of the people behind the petition

Funding and Project Challenges

A spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council stated that the Ballycastle Environmental Improvement Scheme aims to "create a more attractive, accessible town centre."

They noted the project is led by the Department for Communities with support from the council and has completed a successful Stage One design and public consultation process.

However, the spokesperson emphasized that a key unresolved issue is obtaining clarity on the future of the Antrim Arms Hotel, which remains a significant factor in advancing the scheme.

Heritage Society's Position

John Anderson of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society acknowledged local frustrations but strongly opposes demolition of the building.

"To have the Antrim Arms in that condition both for visitors and the inconvenience to local residents is perfectly understandable, but the people we elect have the power to fix it," he said.

"Legally the council have the power to strongly encourage the owner of the business to actually repair it."

Anderson noted that since planning permission for demolition was refused, it should be considered off the table.

"Unless of course it sits for another 10 years and falls down under its own accord but that should not be allowed to happen.

What should happen immediately is these containers be removed, the gable end wall propped which would open half the road and solve a lot of the locals' problems."

He added the optimal outcome would be "the repair and ultimate restoration of the building."

Courtesy of National Museums NI A black and white archive photo of the Antrim Arms hotel in Ballycastle. The hotel is a large Georgian-era building on a corner site. There is a cart pulled by two horses waiting outside the entrance. Three well-dressed men are sitting on the cart. — Parts of the listed Georgian-era building are believed to date back to the 1760s

John Anderson is an older man with a long white beard and circular glasses. He is wearing a grey hat, a rain coat and a green zip up jumper. He is standing just in front of the disused building but the background is blurred. — John Anderson said demolition has been refused and therefore should be "off the table"

Owner 'Frustrated' Over Delays

Declan Wright, director of the company owning the Antrim Arms, expressed frustration over the delays.

"Ultimately it's inconveniencing the town's residents, the road's been closed over a year now," he told NI.

"I want to knock it down, I want to build something new, vibrant, that'll bring tourists to the town and will look good in the Diamond but I can't get permission to do anything."

Wright explained that although the building operated as a hotel for several years, its layout is unsuitable for modern needs.

"I would wonder how much of it really is 400 years old because over the years, it's been moved, knocked down, extensions built."

He acknowledged that any solution may not satisfy everyone but emphasized the town's need for a new hotel with open roads, providing employment and attracting tourists.

"Any work in the Diamond... is inevitably going to involve diggers more rock breakers and that's going to mean even more damage to the building," he added.

"So I think until such times as the building is allowed to be built with foundations, it probably isn't the wisest thing to proceed."

Declan Wright is an older man with short, grey hair. He is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a black suit jacket and a blue and white striped shirt. — Declan Wright says he wants to knock down the current building and build something new

A close up of the front entrance of the former hotel. In the foreground is metal fencing. The portico of the building has decorative stone columns and the door is red with a Georgian style fan light above it. The words Antrim Arms are written in red above the door. The rest of the building is a dirty cream colour.

Department for Communities Statement

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said the department continues to engage with the property owner and local council to encourage appropriate measures to safeguard the building and ensure necessary repairs are made in accordance with its listed status.

They stated the department remains committed to working with all relevant parties to explore viable solutions to secure the building's future.

Currently, the director of the company owning the listed building has submitted a de-listing query, which the department is assessing.