IRELAND'S first solar-powered hotel and spa complex, The Salthouse in Ballycastle, is investing £3.5 million in a new restaurant and a collection of ‘eco cottages’ which will create and sustain 30 jobs on the north coast when it opens early next year.
The directors say the decision to elaborate on the existing offering - which already includes a 24-bed hotel, six eco lodges, spa and restaurant - was prompted by a surge in demand for breaks there.
Planning has been granted for a new 110-cover restaurant, which will offer culinary delights featuring the best in locally-sourced produce, while The Salthouse’s existing a la carte restaurant will continue to serve up its renowned seafood dishes and classic mains.
Meanwhile The Salthouse’s proposed new 24 ‘eco cottages’ will collectively offer 32 bedrooms, and each will be built to the highest sustainability standards to ensure the hotel is beyond carbon neutral.
The Salthouse on the Dunamallaght Road is a joint venture between Nigel McGarrity and north coast property developer Denis McHenry.
Mr McGarrity said: “When we launched The Salthouse in 2019, we knew we were filling a void in the hospitality scene.
“Carbon neutral is a term that is being used more and more, by consumers and businesses alike. Our customers want it, they expect high environmental ethics from service providers and due to that demand, we have chosen to expand to meet their needs.
“Our new eco cottages and restaurant will elevate our offering and provide more choice for the ethically minded traveller, but it will also ensure we are loyal to our sustainability theme.
“A major recruitment drive is under way ahead of the expansion, and we look forward to launching to the public next year.”
An onsite wind turbine and solar panels have been integrated into the property's, design and the energy that they generate powers the hotel and eco cottages.
The property also has a ‘no single use' plastics policy while the water that services the hotel is from its own borehole.
