A new 83-bedroom Hilton hotel is planned for Northern Ireland’s north coast town of Portrush.
An £11 million investment, the Marcus Hotel Portrush will, according to an economic impact assessment, create nearly 70 jobs during construction and over 40 jobs once opened in 2025. The hotel will be managed by Andras House, which also runs a Hampton by Hilton in Belfast and a raft of other hotels including the Crowne Plaza.
It will be branded under Hilton’s Tapestry Collection and occupy a listed site in the centre of the seaside town in what was formerly The Londonderry Hotel. Alongside the 83 rooms, it will also include a café, restaurant, and bar.
As well as being close to some of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions including the Bushmills Distillery and Giant’s Causeway, it is also hoped to be open to coincide with the 153 rd golf Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2025.
“Northern Ireland has seen a significant jump in tourism in recent years, with travellers coming from all over the world to experience the charm of this captivating country,” Graham Dodd, Managing Director, Development Ƶ & Ireland at Hilton, said. “Portrush continues to experience growing demand for high-quality accommodation that provides an authentic experience rooted in local culture, making it the perfect location for Northern Ireland’s first Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel.”
Rajesh Rana, Director at Andras House, said he was excited to be commencing the 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 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.”
Meanwhile, the Belfast Hilton, the chain’s largest hotel in Northern Ireland has been bought by a Swedish hotel investment company for around £40 million. Pandox will retain the Hilton brand under a franchise agreement and it will be run by Axiom Hospitality.
"The hotel is well-invested with a strong strategic location in the city center of Belfast,” Liia Nõu, CEO of Pandox, said. “The Ƶ is a one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic hotel markets and Belfast is an attractive destination with a rich business life, several universities, and many attractions, which drive demand from all important segments.
“We will also make certain targeted value increasing investments to further improve the hotel’s position and profitability.”
Pandox also owns the Leonardo Belfast hotel in the city.
