Antrim Arms fire in Ballycastle being treated as deliberate as police launch investigation
- Love Ballymena
- Apr 20
- 6 min read
A major fire that tore through the derelict Antrim Arms building in Ballycastle on Sunday evening is now being treated as a deliberate act, police have confirmed.
The blaze at the prominent Castle Street property was reported shortly after 8pm on Sunday 19 April, triggering a large-scale emergency response and leading to multiple road closures in the town centre.
Police confirm fire was deliberate
In an update issued on Monday 20 April, the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed officers are now investigating the incident as arson.
A PSNI spokesperson said:
“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire at a property in Castle Street, Ballycastle, on Sunday 20th April.
“The fire at the derelict hotel, which is being treated as deliberate, was reported to police shortly after 8pm on Sunday evening. Officers attended and closed a number of streets in the area while fire service personnel extinguished the fire. All streets have now re-opened.
Image: McAuley Multimedia
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and officers would ask anyone with information about this incident, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Coleraine on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1487 19/04/26.
“A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”
The appeal places a direct focus on potential witnesses or drivers who may have been in the area at the time the fire broke out.
Fire service confirms blaze extinguished and cause believed to be deliberate
A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson said:
“The fire at a derelict premise at The Diamond, Ballycastle has now ended. The initial call was received at 8.08pm last night, Sunday 19 April 2026.
“Firefighters were called to reports of a well-developed fire at a derelict premise. At the height of the incident over 42 Firefighters and personnel were involved in the operational response with Appliances from Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Portrush, Kilrea and Portstewart Fire Stations, including 2 Aerial Appliances from Northland and Springfield Fire Stations and a Command Support Unit from Kilrea Fire Station.
“The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition and the scene was handed over to the PSNI. Firefighters left the incident at 12.44am on Monday 20 April 2026.”
Large emergency response as streets closed
Image: McAuley Multimedia
The fire, which began shortly after 8pm, prompted a significant response from emergency services, with firefighters working into the evening to bring the blaze under control.
Police sealed off a number of streets around The Diamond and Castle Street while crews tackled the fire, with access restricted to allow emergency operations to proceed safely.
Those closures have since been lifted, with all roads now reopened following the extinguishing of the blaze.
A landmark building with centuries of history
Before the fire…
The fire has struck one of Ballycastle’s most historically significant buildings — a structure deeply woven into the town’s development over several centuries.
The current Antrim Arms building largely dates back to around 1760, replacing an even earlier inn believed to have existed on the same site, with some accounts suggesting origins stretching as far back as the early 1600s.
By the early 19th century, the hotel had become a defining feature of The Diamond, Ballycastle’s central square, anchoring the town’s social and commercial life.
Ties to the Earls of Antrim and Ballycastle’s growth
Image: McAuley Multimedia
Image: McAuley Multimedia
The hotel’s name reflects its historical connection to the powerful Earls of Antrim, one of the region’s dominant landowning families.
A major phase of redevelopment took place around 1840, when the building was rebuilt or expanded under the direction of the Earl of Antrim. For many years, the hotel was operated as part of the Antrim estate, cementing its role as a flagship destination for visitors and locals alike.
At its peak, the Antrim Arms was far more than accommodation. It functioned as a central hub for social life, hosting travellers, events, and gatherings in the heart of the town.
A vital stop in the coaching era
Before the arrival of railways and modern transport, Ballycastle was an important stop along regional travel routes — and the Antrim Arms played a key role in that network.
Directly across the street, the Boyd Arms existed largely to serve coach drivers and the staff accompanying guests staying at the Antrim Arms, underlining the scale of its importance.
Image: McAuley Multimedia
The hotel operated as a focal point for:
lodging for travellers
social gatherings and events
day-to-day town life
Growth into a major hotel operation
By the Victorian era, the Antrim Arms was already described as a “well-established” hotel, reflecting decades of successful operation.
Over time, it expanded into a substantial multi-storey property featuring:
dozens of bedrooms
dining facilities
a commanding presence over the town square
It remained a key part of Ballycastle’s tourism and hospitality offering well into the 20th century.
Closure, decay and mounting safety concerns
The building’s fortunes shifted dramatically in the modern era.
The hotel closed in 2007 after years of operation and has remained vacant ever since. Over time, it fell into serious disrepair, with visible structural deterioration.
It has since been listed as a heritage building “at risk”, highlighting both its historical importance and its fragile condition.
By 2024, concerns had escalated significantly:
masonry was reported to be coming loose
parts of the structure were deteriorating visibly
the building was described as posing a “significant danger” to the public
safety restrictions were introduced in surrounding areas
The focus of debate shifted from redevelopment to immediate safety, with growing concern over whether the structure could safely remain standing.
Planning deadlock leaves building in limbo
Image: Anne Kelly
Efforts to resolve the situation became increasingly complex, culminating in a prolonged legal and planning impasse between 2024 and 2025.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council sought legal action to compel the building’s owner, Maplemanor Properties, to repair or secure the structure.
However, the court refused to intervene, with a judge stating the owner was “stuck between a rock and a hard place”.
The difficulty lay in the building’s listed status:
demolition could not proceed without approval
significant repairs or alterations also required permission
heritage protections limited intervention options
As a result, the building remained:
structurally compromised
increasingly dangerous
but effectively frozen by competing legal and planning constraints
Demolition bid rejected despite safety concerns
In 2025, Maplemanor Properties applied for Listed Building Consent to demolish the entire structure at 75 Castle Street.
The company argued:
the building was a “dangerous structure”
partial repairs could cost over £1 million
demolition would be quicker and less disruptive than stabilisation
Image: Anne Kelly
However, planning authorities rejected the proposal.
Officials ruled that:
demolition of a listed building requires “exceptional reasons”
those reasons had not been sufficiently demonstrated
full demolition was not considered necessary by heritage advisers
The decision was reinforced by planning policies protecting listed buildings, historic townscapes, and the wider heritage setting.
Fire may reshape future of long-disputed site
Image: Anne Kelly
The deliberate fire now introduces a new and potentially decisive chapter in the building’s future.
With the structure already weakened by years of deterioration, the extent of damage caused by the blaze is likely to play a critical role in determining what happens next.
The balance between heritage protection and public safety — already finely poised — may now shift significantly, depending on structural assessments carried out in the aftermath.
Police investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
At a glance
Fire at Ballycastle’s Antrim Arms on Sunday 19 April is being treated as deliberate
Blaze reported shortly after 8pm; police reference 1487 19/04/26
Streets around Castle Street and The Diamond were closed during response but have now reopened
Public urged to provide dash-cam or CCTV footage to assist investigation
101 non-emergency number and Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) available for information
Building dates back to around 1760, with possible origins in the early 1600s
Former flagship hotel tied to the Earls of Antrim and central to town life
Closed in 2007 and has since fallen into severe disrepair
Described as a “dangerous structure” with falling masonry and safety concerns
Demolition bid rejected in 2025 due to heritage protections
Fire could now force a reassessment of the building’s future
