Glenariff Inn Acquired by Marine Hotel Owners

The owners of a prominent hotel on Northern Ireland’s north coast have secured planning permission for a major expansion, coinciding with the announcement of a new business acquisition.

The Marine Hotel, located in Ballycastle, confirmed it had received the green light from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council for a significant development project.

However, co-owner Colum McLornan expressed frustration that the approval for 10 new bedrooms, 10 self-catering apartments, and a rooftop event space had come too late to capitalise on next year’s return of The Open golf tournament to nearby Portrush.

The sporting spectacle has driven a surge in hotel transactions across the region, yet McLornan cited longstanding infrastructure issues as the reason for the delay in the hotel’s expansion.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr McLornan revealed that the planning application had been submitted in October last year. Still, he faced setbacks due to deficiencies in the region’s water supply system. "Our planning application was delayed due to capacity issues in the water supply and NI Water pipe networks — something that’s well documented here in Northern Ireland," he explained.

Adding to their expanding portfolio, Mr McLornan and his business partner Claire Hunter have also recently acquired the Glenariff Inn in Waterfoot. The purchase, finalised at the end of August, will see the duo "develop options" for the new site.

In further developments at the Marine Hotel, the business has appointed Olga Henry as general manager. Ms Henry, formerly of Da Vinci’s Hotel in Derry, will oversee its operations as it embarks on its expansion plans. "We are excited to work with Olga in the years ahead as we develop both the Marine Hotel and our new site in Waterfoot," McLornan said.