Iconic seaside hotel faces demolition after more than a decade lying derelict: Long-delayed apartment plan to finally get green light

Once, the Royal Hotel was regarded as the iconic face of Bangor, standing proud over the city’s bay and visible for miles around as a bustling symbol of the area’s status as Northern Ireland’s premier resort.

But since going out of business 11 years ago, the five-storey hotel has been lying derelict – and plans to turn it into high-end flats have been on hold due to NI Water’s worries that sewers wouldn’t be able to cope with the demand.

Now Bangor is to bid a final farewell to the building, as a move to knock it down is set to be passed by council planners next week.

The demolition should get the flats plan moving again, which will also see units for two shops and a restaurant constructed on the new development’s ground floor.

For years the Royal has been in an increasingly poor state, with surveys finding its internal support beams are corroded and unsalvageable – while hopes its beloved art deco-style exterior could be saved were dashed when engineers concluded the entire building needs to come down.

The new development’s front and side are to replicate the hotel’s design, however, meaning the Royal heritage will carry on in some form.

Council documents seen by the News Letter state that NI Water has agreed to drop its formal objection to the flats, as long as planners impose a condition saying that developers Expedia Capital Ltd have to work out a way of solving sewer capacity issues before they’re allowed to start construction.

Planners state the development “will assist the regeneration” of the centre of Bangor, while the restaurant and retail units will “complement the existing retail provision and contribute to the evening economy”.

A derelict pub that’s part of the same complex, the Windsor Bar, will also be knocked down.

Planners state the hotel was originally established on the Quay Street site in 1841, and 90 years later was heavily reworked to create the Royal’s now-iconic design.

Its combination of rooftop corner turrets and decorative pilasters with art deco ornamentation made it instantly recognisable to visitors and locals alike.

The luxury facility boasted a high-end restaurant that was regularly patronised by Van Morrison, while a famous stay from British wrestling star Giant Haystacks saw the hotel have to fold up its revolving doors so the king-size grappler could get in.

But the building started to really show its age as the 21st century rolled around, needing increasing amounts of maintenance work to keep it going.

Faced with expensive repair jobs, its then-owners concluded the Royal could only make money if they were able to rework and extend the building – but they were blocked by planners, and not long later the hotel was wound up.

Since 2014 the few people who have seen inside it have mainly been intrepid urban explorers who journey around abandon buildings, while the people of Bangor have grown increasingly impatient with the lack of movement on the site.

Ards and North Down Council’s planning committee is to vote on the demolition move next Tuesday night (1st). Planners have recommended giving it a green light.