THE Old Inn Crawfordsburn, which has a history dating back to 1614, is set to go on sale on the open market after owner and renowned industry figure Danny Rice revealed he is retiring after nearly 40 years at the helm.
The thatched-roof property, set in 1.5 acres, was purchased by Mr Rice in 1982, and since then he has made significant enhancements which have enabled The Old Inn to become one of the country’s top hotels and a popular venue for weddings.
The hotel was awarded the prestigious accolade of AA Hotel of the Year in 2017/18 and includes 33 individually styled bedrooms, the 78-seater Lewis restaurant which has held 2 AA Rosettes from 2000 to 2019, two wedding suites following a £1.2m extension in 2015, and extensive gardens.
Planning has also been approved for further development to the rear of the property, which is not listed, to enable the expansion of the wedding business.
Mr Rice - who has also been responsible for the development of successful bars and hotels including Robinsons, the Balmoral Hotel, the Fly, the Priory, the Joxer, the Elbow and the Bush Ranger in London’s West End - said: “I've thoroughly enjoyed developing the Old Inn over the last 38 years with the support of my family and a great team at the hotel.
“I'm proud to see how the property has developed to become a prominent feature in the Northern Ireland tourism industry and popular destination for families and friends to come together for special occasions, but at the grand age of 80 it’s now time to take a step back and the new owner take the hotel to the next stage.”
The sale is being handled by Gavin Weir, head of hotels & leisure at Belfast property consultants GVA NI, who said: “This is a unique opportunity for someone wishing to build upon the legacy that has been developed over a number of years at this iconic hotel.
“It's rare opportunities like this become available on the open market, and we anticipate a significant level of interest from locally based hotel groups as well as parties based in the UK and Republic of Ireland, who will see this as chance to enter the local market and hit the ground running without the time delay and onerous costs that come with a new build project.”
