Path cleared for new Marcus Hotel in heart of Portrush
A new £11m Hilton-branded hotel, managed by the team behind Belfast’s Crowne Plaza, is to be opened in a listed building in the heart of Portrush.
The Marcus Hotel, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, run by Andras House, will open its doors in 2025 restoring the building that sits on Main Street/Atlantic Avenue and creating up to 70 jobs.
It will feature 83 rooms, a cafe, restaurant and bar.
The site has been at the centre of a planning battle for around five years with the Historic Environment Division objecting to works on the site which was formerly the Londonderry Hotel.
Those behind the project said the opening will coincide with The Open golf tournament’s return to Portrush in 2025.
Predictions from Andras House economic statement reveal that the opening of the hotel will boost the local economy by £1.6 million, and visitor spending by £1.1 million annually.
The Marcus is part of the Tapestry Collection by the Hilton brand and will be the only site in the town by the international brand.
It will join a portfolio of more than 100 Tapestry Collection sites globally.
It is hoped the brand will appeal to international guests familiar with the Hilton name, and who want to enjoy nearby attractions including Bushmills Whiskey Distillery and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Giant’s Causeway.
Having served as a hotel and artisan bakery for more than 85 years between 1895 and the 1980s, the renovation project will return the site of this listed building to its former glory.
Rajesh Rana, director at Andras House, said: “I am very pleased to be commencing this exciting and high-profile project. We understand the importance of this building to the town of Portrush, with so much history and fond memories created here over the years, our architects and designers have responded by coming up with developing a scheme that will complement the old with the new. We will start work in September 2023, and this investment of £11 million will undoubtedly be a flagship project for the area.”
