Portrush Beachfront Complex Snapped Up Just Days After £3m Listing

In a swift transaction that has taken the property market by surprise, a luxury beachfront apartment and restaurant complex in Portrush has been sold mere days after being listed for £3.1 million.

Located on Causeway Street, the development boasts two opulent three-bedroom penthouse apartments with commanding views over Arcadia Beach. The lower levels of the property are home to the much-loved 55 Degrees North restaurant and café, a staple of the Portrush dining scene.

The property was sold by the Wilton Group, led by Australian property investor Justin Quirk, who has made Northern Ireland his home for over two decades. While Mr Quirk has remained tight-lipped about the details of the deal, including the identity of the buyer and the final sale price, he did confirm that the new owner intends to retain the existing restaurant rather than pursue redevelopment.

This news comes after the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council granted planning permission last year to convert the restaurant space into four apartments. However, after acquiring the building, Mr Quirk submitted a revised application in May to reduce the conversion to three luxury apartments—a plan that has now been shelved by the new owner.

“The buyer is going to retain it as is,” Mr Quirk stated. “They’re not property developers.”

Despite this continuity, the sale is expected to usher in changes at 55 Degrees North, with the current management likely to vacate the premises around the weekend of 14 September.

Mr Quirk is renowned for his meticulous restoration and redevelopment projects, most notably Wilton House in Belfast’s College Square North. The restored property, which reopened last year, has become a sought-after five-star accommodation, catering primarily to corporate clients.

“It’s doing phenomenally well,” Quirk remarked, praising the building’s high-end appeal. “It’s one of six five-star properties in Belfast.”

This story was first reported by The Irish News.