Owey Enterprises Seeks Approval for Outdoor Seating Extension at Landmark Pub

Owey Enterprises, the owners of the popular Harbour Bar and Ramore Enterprises, has lodged a planning application with Causeway Coast & Glens Council seeking approval for an extension to the external seating area at the Harbour Bar, located at 5-6 Harbour Road, Portrush.

The plans include removing a section of kerb, creating a hardstanding, and installing a new timber bench alongside a 1.2m high timber fence.

According to the planning statement, the proposal would expand the beer garden by an additional 28 square metres. The wooden bench and fence would wrap around the southeastern edge of the site, utilising a former portion of the public road. The works will involve a new curb line and the extension of the pavement in the area.

The expansion aims to bolster the longevity of the Harbour Bar, a well-known tourist hotspot in Portrush, which plays a crucial role in the local hospitality sector.

The planning statement emphasised that supporting this project is crucial to preserving jobs in the sector, especially given the challenging market conditions. The Harbour Bar, already a significant landmark on Portrush’s tourism map, is seen as a vital asset whose growth and development should be encouraged.

Causeway Coast & Glens Council planners will now assess the application as it progresses through the planning process.

In 2023, at a meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, it was heard that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said it would not support a pavement cafe licence due to the size of the footpath outside the Harbour Bar.