End of an Era: Ballycastle’s historic Antrim Arms Hotel deemed unsafe and facing demolition

The former Antrim Arms Hotel - a listed building in Ballycastle, County Antrim

The owners of Ballycastle’s former Antrim Arms Hotel say the listed building has become a “dangerous structure” and must be demolished.

Owners Maplemanor Properties recently submitted a Listed Building Consent application to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, seeking permission to demolish the entire building at 75 Castle Street in the seaside town.

The application added:

“A CARE (The Conservation Accreditation Register of Engineers) Structural Engineer suggested removal of gable wall by hand from a crane mounted basket, the cost of doing so is in excess of £1 million.

“The company does not have the means to do this.

“Hand removal of the gable wall also takes almost 10 months longer than full demolition and would cause very significant inconvenience to residents and visitors to Ballycastle.

“Given above, the quickest, most cost effective, and least disruptive course of action is to demolish the entire building, making the area safe for everyone.”

The site has been used as a coaching inn, brewery, distillery, bank and hotel since the mid-1700’s, and the first building occupied a site running from Castle Street to the Tow river.

Buildings have been demolished and replaced many times over the years, and the creation of Mill Street and Fair Hill Street reduced the site and form the current site boundary.

The most recent building work were two rear extensions in the late 1970’s.

An accompanying Design and Access Statement noted that, despite the disconnection of water, gas, and electricity, and the erection of gates, the building has been subject to “numerous break-ins and vandalism”.

“Storm Éowyn also caused damage to the rear,” the statement added. “The connecting corridor between the two 1970’s extensions was destroyed.”

“The building has had two structural engineer reports , both confirmed that the structure is unsafe.

“Council first advised of their engineers’ assessment in October 2024, within five days we had offered to have an asbestos survey completed and building knocked down.

“Now, some seven months later and after going to court twice, the same offer stands, but without a decision from council nothing can proceed.

“The two structural engineer reports concluded that the building was unsafe and could only be made safe by demolition.

“Doing nothing is not an option.”