HISTORY, heritage and charm are set to be key features of Ireland’s first ‘whiskey hotel’ in Carnlough, Co Antrim.
Once owned by Sir Winston Churchill, the Londonderry Arms was bought over last summer by hotelier Adrian McLaughlin, master Irish whiskey distiller Darryl McNally and businessman Carl Harrison.
Since then, the trio have invested £1.75m in refurbishing the venue, repositioning it as a four star Irish whiskey destination and changing the name to the Harbourview Hotel.
Speaking to The Irish News, Mr McLaughlin admitted it was “tough” to change the name of the historic building.
“Had we not gone top to toe in terms of the work we’ve done, I think we would’ve needed to stay more true to the Londonderry brand.
“But because we have completely refurbished the hotel that gave us an opportunity to rebrand which I think people will understand.”
However, despite the venue’s extensive refurbishment Mr McLaughlin said he and the team are keen to keep its history “alive.”
Built in 1848 as a coaching inn by Frances Ann Vane Tempest, the Marchioness of Londonderry, the property was passed down through her family, and was eventually inherited in 1921 by her great-grandson, Sir Winston Churchill.
“We respect the people who have gone before us and we respect the history,” explained Mr McLaughlin .
“And we wanted to narrate that within the rebrand, so we are going to have the Churchill Suite, the Londonderry Suite and the Garron Tower Suite.
“We have a wall where we’ve told the history of the hotel in an artistic fashion, where all the coats of arms of all the families who have owned the hotel are set out including ourselves.
“We wanted to do that to demonstrate how much we respect and want the history of the hotel to be told, while also keeping the charm.
“The layout has also been kept the same, we haven’t knocked through any walls, so the charm stays, we’ve revealed things like terrazzo floors that we want to include in the design and red quarry tiled floors in the bar.
“We’ve made what I call deliberate mistakes – where we’ve taken old furniture, gotten it reupholstered and reglued but we’ve kept the patina and decided not to varnish them up.
“History, character and charm are bywords for what people can expect here.”
In addition to showcasing the building’s rich history, it is the hope that the hotel will unite the Irish whiskey community as the spirit will be another integral part of the venue.
History, character and charm to be at the heart of Ireland’s first ‘whiskey hotel’. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
“We’ll have about 300 different types of whiskey from day one and then we’ll grow that collection through the years,” explained Mr McLaughlin who is a co-founder of Outwalker Whiskey.
So far, the hotel’s collection consists of whiskeys from Ireland, Japan, America, Scotland, France and Wales.
Currently, their most expensive bottle is the recently released 46-year-old Irish single malt from The Old Bushmills Distillery. ‘Secrets of the River Bush’ is one of the rarest and the most expensive Irish whiskey ever released from the north coast distillery costing £10,000 per bottle.
“Because we own Outwalker and Limavady Whiskey we’re in the whiskey industry as well as tourism and hospitality industry so we feel an obligation not only to sell our own products but show how versatile whiskey these days.”
Technically, this isn’t the first time the hotel has been rebranded. In July last year the venue was transformed into the ‘Knockdara Hotel’ as part of Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee’s Netflix series How To Get To Heaven From Belfast.
“We took the hotel over on July 1 and Netflix came on board on the same day for about eight weeks,” recalled Mr McLaughlin.
“They shot episode one of series one of How To Get To Heaven From Belfast here, there was a complete overhaul, it was great craic and they painted the whole front of the hotel.
“Who knows it could become an iconic bar front at some point and time, we’ll see how we get on.”
Looking ahead to the opening, Mr McLaughlin says customers will have a “great experience” at the Harbourview hotel.
“We want this to feel like it’s part of the Glens of Antrim and you’re the visiting the Glens of Antrim, you’re visiting the coast road.
“Guests can expect a very friendly welcome, four star standard comfort and I think the history and charm gives you that warmth, glow and feel good factor.
“When you look at the Bushmills Inn or you look at the Old Inn, you should be coming here with the same expectation and we’ll deliver.”