Carmichael family closing Stables ahead of £500k refurb

The County Down property has been reacquired by the Carmichael who sold their portfolio of six pubs in 2006 before repurchasing four of the properties in 2011.

Landlord Keith Carmichael said the family will run The Stables in its entirety when the refurbishment project is completed.

“Although all our other pubs, including Pug Uglys, The Bryansburn Inn, the Esplanade in Ballyholme and The Groomsport Inn, are leased out to very good tenants, we have decided to operate The Stables ourselves,” he said.

Renovation work will get underway in the new yeae and should take five or six weeks to complete, said Mr Carmichael said.

“Rachael Robb, from John Robb Interiors, daughter of the original designer, has been entrusted on the project in recent months. The main contractor is McCue shopfitting.

“We are extremely excited and so looking forward to the project ahead.

“While the majority of the project will focus on the main bar and restaurant area, the function room will also be refurbished. This will offer the option of private dining and a facility to accommodate groups and family gatherings.”The

The bar and restaurant will create 40 full-time and part-time job opportunities when it reopens.

Operated by the former tenant Mark Beatty for the past three years, the business recently announced that it would be handing back the keys “due to the rise in cost of pretty much everything in the world right now”.

The post read: “Not as high-profile as the sad news about Michael Deane closing one of his restaurants, but unfortunately along the same lines, we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close our doors on Sunday, November 5.

“Unfortunately, due to the rise in cost of pretty much everything in the world right now, sadly it has become impossible to continue to keep our doors open.

“Over the past three years we’ve had some good times, met some amazing friends and had great craic with our regular customers.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t ride it out over December, but in the new year the Carmichael family will be doing a fabulous refurbishment and will be taking over again as the custodians of The Stables.”