Cookstown to get taste of 19th century Big Apple at new bar

Plans have been unveiled for a new Irish-American themed pub in Cookstown.

A £3m development at the site of the Central Inn on William Street will also see 23 new serviced apartments created in the centre of the town.

The firm behind the plans, Patrick Scullion’s Oakleaf Group,  already operates six hospitality venues, including Time Bar, Clubland and the Cherry Tree bar in Cookstown.

The £3m investment plans include a major refit of the Time venue, set to commence in July.

Its latest Cookstown venture, ‘The 40 Thieves’, is due to open in July, with the first phase of the serviced apartments on William Street set to be released in June.

The Central Inn, which dates back to 1969, will be relaunched as an Irish American style pub that will offer patrons “a taste of the 19th century Big Apple”.

Mr Scullion said: “Cookstown was once the social capital of Mid-Ulster with people travelling from all over Northern Ireland to attend the town’s bars and nightclubs, or the bustling Saturday market.

“Our aim is to do our bit to help restore the town to its former glory with significant investment in exciting new venues to entertain locals and attract visitors – and also, through the introduction of on-street living, to help revitalise the town centre and bring back that famous ‘Cookstown sizzle’.

“A vibrant town centre is essential for creating a thriving, inclusive community where residents can live, work, and play, so we don’t look at this as simply building apartments, but rather building a sustainable future for the area.”