From weddings to reunions: Adair Arms marks 180 years at the heart of Ballymena with call for memories

The Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena marks 180 years

The Adair Arms Hotel is celebrating nearly 180 years of continuous service in Ballymena, marking a remarkable milestone for one of Northern Ireland’s oldest hotels and a landmark that has stood at the centre of town life since 1846.

Founded by Sir Robert Adair and designed by renowned architect Sir Charles Lanyon at a cost of £3,650, the Adair Arms was built at a time when Ballymena was emerging as an important industrial and civic centre.

Since then, the hotel has witnessed almost two centuries of change — from industrial expansion and the arrival of the railway to world wars, social transformation and modern regeneration — while remaining a constant presence in the community.

As the countdown begins to its 180th anniversary, the hotel is marking the milestone not only by reflecting on its architectural and historical significance, but by placing the people of Ballymena — and their memories — at the centre of the celebrations.

A legacy rooted in the Adair Estate and the growth of Ballymena

The history of the Adair Arms is inseparable from the wider story of Ballymena itself. In 1626, King Charles I bestowed the Ballymena Estate on Sir Robert Adair, who was later appointed High Sheriff of County Antrim in 1630.

Over the centuries that followed, the Adair Estate played a central role in shaping the town’s development.

By the early 19th century, Ballymena was growing rapidly. Industrial mills including Lamont Linen, Morton’s Flour and Braidwater opened between 1830 and 1865, while the town’s population stood at approximately 4,000 in 1834.

Civic infrastructure followed, with the courthouse built in 1845 and the first meeting of the Board of Town Commissioners held in 1854.

The opening of the Adair Arms Hotel in 1846 coincided with this period of growth. That same year saw the construction of Adair Castle, later demolished in 1957. The arrival of the railway line and station in 1855 further connected Ballymena to the wider region, supporting trade, travel and economic development.

The Adair Arms Hotel in 1890

The Adair Estate continued to shape the town well into the late 19th and early 20th centuries. People’s Park was gifted to Ballymena in 1870, followed by the construction of the Broadway Bandstand in 1908 and the gifting of a water fountain to the town in People’s Park in 1909.

In 1904, land from the Adair Estate was sold to local tenants, further embedding its legacy within the community.

From industrial boom to global conflict

By 1912, Ballymena had become a centre of industrial employment, with the Braid factory established and housing 400 looms. However, global events would soon leave a deep mark on the town. During the First World War (1914–1918), more than 500 local men lost their lives, a loss felt in families across the community.

1912

The Adair Arms continued to operate during these difficult years and into the interwar period. In the 1930s, it became one of the first buildings in Ballymena to be converted to electricity, reflecting its role at the forefront of local modernisation. In 1939, the first meeting of Ballymena Borough Council was held, marking a significant civic milestone.

The Second World War (1939–1945) again brought profound loss, with over 150 local men from the community losing their lives.

Evolution, ownership and enduring resilience

Ownership of the Adair Arms has passed through many hands over the decades, reflecting its evolving role in the town. Samuel Eagleson owned the hotel in 1909, followed by Robert Preston Simpson in the 1950s. During the 1960s, under the ownership of Daniel Wherry, the first major extension was added to the building.

1920

In 1966, the Hastings Group purchased the hotel for £30,000, with Miss Muir appointed as manager. Despite the turbulence of the 1970s during the Troubles — when other hotels were targeted — the Adair Arms escaped damage, continuing to provide a stable and trusted presence in the town centre.

Further extensions were added in the 1980s, increasing bedroom numbers and function suites. In 1990, the McLarnon Group acquired the hotel, the same year it was formally classified as a listed building, recognising its architectural and historical importance.

The hotel later came under the ownership of the McKeever Group in 2010, followed by extensive renovation and refurbishment works in 2012, ensuring it continues to meet modern expectations while preserving its historic character.

180 Years of Memories: Celebrating the people behind the history

While its bricks and mortar tell one story, the Adair Arms’ true history lies in the lives celebrated within its walls.

For almost two centuries — since 1846 — the hotel has been woven into the personal stories of generations of families. From wedding days and milestone birthdays to family reunions and unforgettable nights, the Adair Arms has hosted moments of laughter, love and celebration that live on in memory and photographs.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, the hotel has launched “180 Years of Memories”, a community-driven campaign inviting the public to help preserve and share that living history.

The hotel is calling on past guests and local families to submit:

• Old wedding photographs

• Images from family celebrations or special occasions

• Personal stories or memories — including those passed down from parents or grandparents

Memories and photographs can be shared by:

• Sending a direct message to Adair Arms Hotel on social media

• Emailing marketing@mckeeverhotelgroup.com

To mark the occasion, prizes will be awarded for the top five photographs, encouraging people to dig out old albums and shoeboxes and reconnect with moments from the past.

A hotel at the heart of the community

For generations, the Adair Arms has been woven into Ballymena’s social and civic fabric. Its proximity to the courthouse made it a familiar meeting place for members of the legal profession, while business owners, farmers, planners and civic leaders regularly gathered there.

In more recent years, the hotel has continued to demonstrate its community role, opening its doors during blackout storms to provide warmth, device charging and a safe, welcoming space for residents affected by power outages.

Reflecting on the milestone, the hotel’s management team said:

“For the management team, the Adair Arms is more than just a job. We are extremely proud of the business, its long history, and — above all — the staff who have helped shape it over the generations. Their dedication, local knowledge, and commitment to Ballymena are what truly define the Adair Arms.”

The hotel remains a significant local employer, with many staff drawn from the surrounding area, and continues to host charitable, educational and cultural events, reinforcing long-standing partnerships across Ballymena and beyond.

Looking to the future

Ballymena itself has continued to grow, with the town’s population recorded at approximately 28,500 in 1998 and around 31,100 in 2025. As the town has evolved, so too has the Adair Arms.

By inviting the community to share its memories as part of the 180th anniversary celebrations, the Adair Arms is not only honouring its past, but creating a shared record for future generations — ensuring that the story of one of Ballymena’s most enduring landmarks remains rooted in the people it has served for nearly two centuries.

Timeline: The Adair Estate and Ballymena

• 1626 – King Charles I bestows the Ballymena Estate on Sir Robert Adair

• 1630 – Sir Robert Adair appointed High Sheriff of County Antrim

• 1830–1865 – Industrial mills established, including Lamont Linen, Morton’s Flour and Braidwater

• 1834 – Town population recorded at approximately 4,000

• 1845 – Courthouse built

• 1846 – Adair Arms Hotel built, designed by Sir Charles Lanyon (£3,650)

• 1846 – Adair Castle built (demolished in 1957)

• 1854 – First meeting of the Board of Town Commissioners

• 1855 – Railway line and station opened

• 1870 – People’s Park gifted to the town by the Adair Estate

• 1904 – Adair Estate sells land to local tenants

• 1908 – Broadway Bandstand constructed

• 1909 – Water fountain gifted to People’s Park

• 1912 – Braid factory established with 400 looms

• 1914–1918 – First World War; over 500 local men lost

• 1930s – Hotel among first buildings converted to electricity

• 1939 – First meeting of Ballymena Borough Council

• 1939–1945 – Second World War; over 150 local men lost

• 1950s – Robert Preston Simpson owner

• 1960s – First hotel extension added; Daniel Wherry owner

• 1966 – Hastings Group purchases hotel (£30,000)

• 1970s – Troubles period; hotel remains undamage

• 1980s – Additional extensions and new bedrooms added

• 1990 – McLarnon Group ownership; hotel listed

• 1998 – Town population approx. 28,500

• 2010 – McKeever Group ownership

• 2012 – Extensive refurbishment

• 2025 – Town population approx. 31,100