AJ Capital partners, whose Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts, specialise in luxury hotels in top golf destinations, has snapped up the 28-beroom Adelphi Portrush Hotel ahead of The Open’s return in 2025.

No price was revealed for the purchase pf the four-star property on the seaside town’s Main Street.

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Summerhill Retirement Developments Ltd is exploring the feasibility of building a care home with assisted living apartments for over 55s.

A statement from Hastings  Group, which owns Stormont Hotel, described it as “a speculative planning exercise being undertaken by a third party”.

It said: “There is no impact on the staff retention of the Stormont Hotel. There will be no discussions in relation to redundancies or hotel closure and all future discussions related to such are subject to Summerhill’s feasibility assessment and continued interest.

“All existing accommodation and event bookings remain unaffected.”

While Hastings said there were no plans to close the hotel, the statement added: “The group does, however acknowledge the external interest in the site’s potential, its benefits and that of the Upper Newtownards Road locale.”

Planning firm Turley, which is conducting a pre-application community consultation on behalf of the applicant, described Summerhill as “a new independent investment-backed venture exploring later living residential opportunities in Northern Ireland”.

Turley said the new firm, incorporated in April 2022, is “led by a team that has decades of experience in later living residential and healthcare development”.

Should the Summerhill scheme go ahead it could eventually see the Hastings Hotels’ portfolio further reduced following the sale of the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle last October to US firm AJ Capital Partners,

It is also understood Hastings has been approached by at least two potential buyers for the Culloden Estate in the Holywood Hills, outside Belfast.

A spokesperson on behalf of Summerhill Retirement Developments Limited: “We look forward to engaging with the local community regarding our proposals for the development of a new retirement living complex on the Upper Newtownards Road.

“With Northern Ireland’s growing ageing population, we believe it is a timely decision to assess the feasibility of these residential and adaptive care proposals that aim to maintain people’s health and independence for longer.”

Further details of the proposed retirement living complex will be presented at a public exhibition event at the Stormont Hotel on Thursday August 18 2022 (3pm-7pm). Full details are on summerhillretirement.co.uk.

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Guests can enjoy Ginato gin serves, ice cream floats, wine, Prosecco and draft beer from the bespoke timber bar installation located on the stunning grounds outside the Cultra Inn. There is also Italian inspired food, including sharing boards and small bowls, with a new menu being launched each month. Putting a local twist on the Italian theme, a selection of gelato is available from Glastry Farm.

The five-star hotel has teamed up with Drinksology to create the Italian gin garden which offers lots of outdoor seating in the picturesque setting of the stunning 12 acres estate grounds.

Ginato Gin is the very essence of Italy, capturing the effortlessly chic, timeless, sunshine-drenched way of life distilled with the finest Italian grapes selected from the wine-growing regions of Friuli in the north of the country. The juniper is sourced from the rolling hills of Tuscany, and the citrus is picked from the sunny climate of southern Italy.

Niall Burns, General Manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa, above left, said: “We are delighted to bring a taste of Italy to the Culloden with Gin and Gelato – the ultimate summer experience. Guests can sit back and relax in luxurious surroundings whilst enjoying the magnifico selection of drinks and delizioso Italian themed menus using the very best of local produce.”

Gin and Gelato is running from June until September.

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Breaking the news on social media, her daughter Julie wrote: “It’s a very sad day for our family. My mum, the matriarch of Hastings Hotels, passed away peacefully at home.

“She had just turned 90 and last weekend enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea party at her home surrounded by her friends and family.”

Lady Joy, a teacher by training who once taught George Best, was a constant presence as her husband’s side as he built his hotel empire during the worst of the Troubles.

Her four children, Howard, Julie, Allyson and Aileen,  continued to work in the family business following Sir Billy’s death in December 2017, and she remained a director of the business until June last year.

Julie added:  “Now her party is over and her next heavenly party will hopefully be with my dad, Sir Billy Hastings.

“Mum will be sorely missed by us all and especially by the Hastings Hotels “family” of staff and customers, who knew her coming into the hotels with dad for nearly 60 years.

“Goodbye, mum. Go to dad and together look down on us and keep us right as you always did.”

An obituary from the  Hastings Hotels Group read: “Kathleen Joyce Hastings has died at her home near Killyleagh aged 90.

“Born in 1932 she was the youngest and last surviving daughter of Kathleen and James Hamilton, growing up in south Belfast.

“Fondly known as Joy, she attended school at Victoria College and became head girl.

“She graduated with a BA from Queen’s University Belfast and subsequently became a teacher at Lisnasharragh High School in 1959.

“Her most famous pupil was George Best.

“After 43 years at the helm of Hastings Hotels, Billy was awarded a knighthood, and Joy was proud to become Lady Hastings in 2009. They were married for 57 years before Billy passed away in 2017.

“Joy died on May 31 leaving Julie, Howard, Allyson and Aileen, nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.”

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In October AJ Capital paid the Hastings Group around £40 million for the hotel, which is located next to Royal County Down Golf Club, adding it to its existing portfolio of luxury golf hotels.

Rebranded last year as the Marine & Lawn Collection, it includes the Marine Troon, Rusacks St Andrews and Marine North Berwick, all in Scotland.

Now it is being reported that industry insiders have said the Nashville-based investor has been actively seeking to expand its Marine franchise in Northern Ireland, with a second deal to close to being done.

Speaking at an event in Belfast earlier this month, Philip Allen of AJ Capital namechecked both the Royal County Down and Royal Portush golf courses adding: “I don’t think you have to be a genius to work out where we might be looking next.”

Another US investor is currently developing a five-star luxury golf resort next to Royal Portush.

Planning permission was approved last year for 35 new suites at Ballykeel Beg House, which overlooks fourth fairway of the championship course, while  Dunluce Lodge would offer a coastal location next to a world class golf course.

It’s also understood that AJ Capital had originally entered negotiations to buy both the Slieve Donard and the Culloden Estate from the Hastings Group, but a Hastings spokesman said there were no ongoing conversations.

TRU Hotels, the US operator of the Lough Erne Resort in Co Fermanagh has also ruled out selling its prized asset.

It’s understood the group is preparing a major investment at Lough Erne in 2022.

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