Ballycastle’s seafront Marine Hotel has been taken off the market, less than six months after being put up for sale with an asking price just shy of £5 million.
Claire Hunter and Colum McLornan put their four-star venue on the open market last September, seeking offers of £4.95m.
Despite reports of a deal being close for the 51-bedroom hotel, The Irish News can reveal the asset is no longer being sold.
But a major change is still in store for the Marine Hotel, with a new luxury operator set to take over the venue within days.
It’s understood Schulte Hospitality, which already runs the Slieve Donard resort in Newcastle, along with two other north coast hotels, is preparing for the handover from the start of March.
The family owned company, which has a huge presence in the US, has a close working relationship with AJ Capital Partners, which acquired the Slieve Donard in 2021.
AJ Capital later acquired the Atlantic and Adelphi hotels in Portrush for its growing Marine & Lawn golf hotel brand.
Founded by Ben Weprin, the Nashville based Adventurous Journeys owns around 50 hotels in the United States.
In recent years, it has steadily built up its golf hotel brand in Scotland and Northern Ireland, buying up eight properties to date.
While AJ Capital Partners has not added the Marine Hotel to its northern portfolio, its management operator partner is set to take on its third north coast property.
The property has been owned by Claire Hunter and Colum McLornan since they bought it out of receivership in 2013.
It currently employs around 80 people, with planning permission in place for 14 additional hotel bedrooms along with the conversion of the country club to 10 self-catering holiday units.
