We’re devastated by hotel’s closure

We’re devastated by hotel’s closure

21 October 2015

PORTAFERRY has laid the blame for the closure of its landmark hotel on the delayed reopening of the Exploris aquarium.

With confirmation yesterday that the aquarium will not reopen until next summer, the community has united to warn that its continued closure is killing local business.

The warning was made by a town devastated to see the doors of the 300 year-old Portaferry Hotel suddenly shut on Monday afternoon.

The move happened when the hotel’s tenant, William McAleese, announced he would cease trading on Sunday night, leaving 22 people out of work.

Although there had been some uncertainty about the future of the business in recent weeks, staff yesterday said they had been hopeful a solution would be found. And many of the workforce said they believed the closure of Exploris for refurbishment had had a part to play in the winding up of the business.

Portaferry Hotel’s longterm manageress Martha Tumelty said it was without doubt that the closure of Exploris had had a big impact on the town.

“The town was devastated by its closure and it was felt by all businesses,” she said.

“As the manager of the hotel I can say it did affect us, but we were not in trouble over it. The business was still feasible and was being run very well by its staff.”

James Sinton, from property landlord Beannchor, which leased the hotel to Mr McAleese, said he too had no doubt the aquarium’s closure for refurbishment had had a negative impact on trading.

Although he said the tenant had full responsibility for running the business, he said Beannchor had been endeavouring to contact Mr McAleese since Monday.

“We are a significant employer in the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland and we take our responsibilities very seriously,” he said.

“The closure of Exploris I’ve no doubt has had a negative impact on trading at the hotel and in the town of Portaferry and our company has been working with Friends of Exploris Trust to ensure a future for the aquarium.

“And we are also committed to working with the tenant to resolve these current issues at the hotel in order to ensure its speedy reopening.”

Portaferry councillor Joe Boyle said he was sickened by confirmation of the hotel’s closure, which he too blamed partly on Exploris.

“I think Exploris is definitely a factor in this,” he said. “If it attracted 120,000 visitors to the village, many of them spent money during their time here, including at the hotel.

“The Portaferry Hotel is an institution and saying it is closed is like saying Portaferry is closed, which it is not. This has made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.”

Strangford Assemblyman and Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt, said Portaferry tourism had faced the “perfect storm” in 2015 with dreadful summer weather coinciding with the closure of Exploris.  

“Many believe this led to the lowest footfall in the area for a decade,” he said. “To close the hotel now, before almost £1m is invested in a new Exploris, likely to bring 100,000 people to the locality, seems bereft of logic.”

A spokeswoman for Ards and North Down Borough Council said it was committed to the aquarium and was progressing plans for refurbishment work and new management arrangements to be in place for reopening by next summer.

She said the council was also working closely with the Department of Environment around capital funding for the refurbishment works.  

Council Mayor Alan Graham said the new council was in no doubt about the strength of public opinion in favour of reopening Exploris and confirmed officers were working hard to deliver on this.  

“In the meantime we have been giving what support we can to Portaferry in terms of event and regeneration activities,” he said.

“I met with representatives from various groups in Portaferry on Friday to discuss future projects and there are a number of very exciting initiatives being progressed that, along with the reopening of Exploris, will have very positive impacts for residents, traders and visitors over the next year.”