'I honestly thought the day would never come': Northern Ireland pub opens new restaurant eight years after rebuilding the business following devastating floods

A Northern Ireland pub has opened a new 110-seater restaurant eight years after being forced to rebuild its business in the aftermath of some of the worst local flooding in living memory.

In August 2017, the village of Drumahoe was among the areas hardest hit by devastating floods, with roads and bridges destroyed, cars swept into rivers and hundreds of residents forced to evacuate their homes as waters surged through the area.

Situated on the banks of the River Faughan, the Three Mile House was one of the businesses badly affected. At the time, the historic pub was in the middle of a major refurbishment to transform it into a modern bar and restaurant when rapidly rising floodwaters tore through the building.

“The bar was actually around 80% refurbished at that stage,” the general manager recalled at the time. “The only thing missing was the upholstery. We had been working on it all year and had a reopening date in mind for the first week of December 2017.”

The floods caused extensive damage throughout the premises, destroying seating, floors, electrics, radiators, timber, toilets and new equipment that had already been delivered. The off-licence was also wiped out, fully stocked ahead of Christmas, while the basement flooded, destroying decades’ worth of antique bar materials, furniture and stock.

But following an intensive clean-up operation and a full refurbishment of the 100-year-old building, the Three Mile House managed to reopen just five weeks later.

Now, more than eight years on, the business has taken another leap of faith with the opening of a new 110-seater bar and restaurant, Mavericks.

Owner Terence Villa said the opening marks both the revival of a name that holds strong memories for the local community and a major milestone in the pub’s long recovery journey.

“Mavericks was a well-known eatery in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the name resonates with many people in the area,” he explained. “We always wanted to bring it back to life — to reimagine its classic theme and bring it firmly into the modern day.

“However, following the devastating floods and given the scale of refurbishment required to the front bar at the time, the decision was taken to prioritise that work and hold back on developing the restaurant until the building was fully ready. Our priority was simply survival.”

However after extensive investment and nearly a decade of commitment, that long-held ambition has now been brought to life.

“We’ve invested more than £500,000 into the property overall,” Terence continued. “This latest phase has finally seen the completion of Mavericks Bar and Restaurant, which opened just before Christmas — something we’ve dreamt about for a very long time.

“Our aim was always to create a modern, high-quality dining experience, while staying true to the building’s history and its importance to the Waterside community.

"It’s taken eight long years, and there have been some major challenges along the way, but to finally see Mavericks open and welcoming people through the doors again is incredibly rewarding. There were times I genuinely thought the day would never come, but it has and we’re extremely proud of what’s been achieved.”

The opening also carried a note of sadness following the death of loyal customer and ‘familiar face’ at the Three Mile House, Julie Dunn.

Terence explained: “Julie was a kind and familiar face around the Three Mile House always full of warmth, laughter, and care for others. Not long ago, she organised a huge cancer fundraiser here, which summed her up perfectly.

"When plans for Mavericks were taking shape, Julie was meant to do the honours of officially opening the new bar and restaurant. Sadly, she passed away before that could happen, but her mum was there on the day to open it in her memory. She’ll always be part of the Three Mile family.”

The wider complex now employs around 30 staff, providing local jobs and continued investment in the area. The site also benefits from more than 60 on-site parking spaces, improving accessibility for customers.

Paying tribute to the local community for its continued support throughout the pub’s recovery, Terence added: “We simply wouldn’t be here without the backing of our customers, neighbours and local businesses. Their support helped us get back on our feet and kept us going.

“Mavericks now sits alongside the existing pub, offering a relaxed and welcoming restaurant setting that complements the traditional character of the Three Mile House. We see it as a real positive step forward for the area and an example of long-term commitment to a local business with deep roots in the community.

“We’d really love to see the local community come out and support us as we begin this next chapter and look to a brighter future.”