'We are so excited for the next chapter': Northern Ireland hospitality group puts Belfast hotel and bar on market for £2.85million

The Ringland Group has put Belfast’s 1852 Hotel and the popular Town Square bar up for sale, with offers invited in excess of £2.85 million.

The Belfast hospitality and property development group has appointed CBRE Ireland to market the Botanic Avenue property as it looks to redeploy capital into a £17 million development pipeline that includes a new 76-bedroom hotel on Callender Street and a rooftop bar development on Howard Street.

Originally built as a dance school in the mid-19th century, the property has evolved into one of south Belfast’s best-known hospitality destinations, combining hotel accommodation with a busy food and beverage offering.

The 1852 Hotel comprises 21 bedrooms, including 17 double rooms and four quad rooms, as well as an 18-person group suite, giving the property a total sleeping capacity of 68 guests.

The sale also includes Town Square, a popular bar and outdoor venue known for its large terrace area and strong footfall throughout the year.

The property comes with planning permission for a further five bedrooms to be added to the rear of the building, offering potential for future expansion.

According to the Ringland Group, the business has undergone extensive operational improvements through the implementation of Lean management principles, creating what it describes as a highly efficient and profitable hospitality operation.

Peter Ringland, managing director of the Ringland Group, said the sale marked the next stage in the company's growth plans: "The 1852 Hotel has been a pleasure to own for the past decade, but the time is right to pass on the torch.

"This move allows us to focus our energy on our pipeline of new projects, including our new Bottleworks development on Callender Street."

The hotel’s operational success is mirrored by a staff retention rate that is virtually unheard of in the sector. The average tenure for the wider team sits at a remarkable 3.5 years, while the core management team - including general manager Andrew McWhirter - averages an extraordinary 9 years of service.

General manager Andrew McWhirter remains at the helm, flanked by his veteran management team including good manager Jeannie Jenkins, bar manager Stephen Reynolds and head chef Kamil Regdos.

Andrew explained: "This is an incredibly systemised business; we have worked hard to implement Lean principles across all departments, making it one of the most efficient operations in the city.

"We are so excited for the next chapter – we have built something very special here on Botanic, and we cannot wait to meet the next custodian of this historic building as I lead our team into the future. "

CBRE's Belfast and Dublin hotel teams have been instructed to oversee the sale process.

Paul Collins of CBRE Hotels said the property presented a rare opportunity for investors.

“We are excited to be selling this highly profitable hotel which has considerable upside potential, including the opportunity to add five bedrooms, with full planning consent already in place for this extension,” he added.

The sale comes as the Ringland Group continues to expand its presence in Belfast's hospitality sector through a series of new development projects.