Bow Bells is quickly adapting to the restrictions

After a period of closure, Bow Bells had been acquired by local businessman Lewis Waterworth.

New life had been breathed into the venue which was added to an existing portfolio that includes nearby Pier 36 and Harbour and Company.

Bow Bells reopened on September 30 following three months of renovation and a £100,000 investment. The local favourite has been revived and transformed to a local produce hub, supporting artisanal producers both through its ingredients and direct sales to the public.

During the recent lockdown, the Waterworth family came up with ways to continue to serve the community through initiatives like ‘Pints at the Pier’ from Harbour and Company and their ‘Pier 36 at Home’ meal kits. This approach will be adopted by Bow Bells, which will continue to deliver home-style roasts, its famous pies and family-sized desserts to the public with cook-at-home packages. Takeaway coffee from the café’s new signature blend will also be available.

Sister venues Pier 36 and Harbour and Company will continue with their takeaway offerings, offering meals from their menus for customers to enjoy at home.

Owner Lewis Waterworth, said: “The announcement made is a really disappointing blow to the hospitality industry. Many of us are just finding our feet following the initial lockdown, so to be subject to new restrictions is difficult to take. The most recent developments regarding the sale of alcohol means our take-away pints from Pier 36 and Harbour and Company can’t continue. In Donaghadee, Bow Bells is much more than just a coffee shop. It is a place for people to gather and it is a source of nostalgia for anyone who grew up near the town. We had the honour of reopening the doors only two weeks ago and will now have to implement a new business plan for operating.

“Bow Bells will offer takeaway options of well-loved dishes including traditional roasts and meals that feed a whole family. We had expanded into retail for our other venues in months past and are now adding Bow Bells to the list. Local butchers and a few additional venues will also be stocking our pies and desserts.”

Ten jobs had been created at Bow Bells, with 80 in total employed across the three venues. The group is a large employer for the local area of Donaghadee and surrounding.

Lewis added: “We hope that this is indeed a temporary measure and we look forward to being able to invite our customers to sit with us again, soon.”

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