Recommended Pubs and Restaurants in County Antrim
There are a total of 20 premises in this area.
The Bushmills Inn
72-74 Main StreetBushmills
BT57 8QG
(028) 2073 3000 (T)
www.bushmillsinn.com (W)
mail@bushmillsinn.com (E)
A short stagger down the road after sampling the joys of the Bushmills distillery (the world's oldest since 1608) and you will find THE place to have an excellent repast in a snug of your own in what used to be the old stables.
Dating back from the 1830's as a coaching house called The Antrim Arms, it still has peat fires & gas lighting in its many small lounges. Take a stroll up the double staircase past the permanent exhibition of paintings and down the long gallery. HINT! See if you can discover the little known secret in the library room.
The Halfway House
143 Carnlough Rd. Broughshane,
Ballycastle
BT43 7JW
(028) 2568 4225 (T)
www.halfwayhouse-ballymena.co.uk/ (W)
A major make-over, which has dispelled the homely darkness, leaves the lounge areas open and well lit. Still the great no nonsense good food as always. Pleasant and attentive staff. Available for weddings and outdoor events.
There is a pool table and dart board to one side of the bar. There is a poster listing this as one of the "Glens of Antrim" pubs (along with the House of McDonnell, The Central Bar/McMullen's, Lurig, Skerry Inn, Manners, McAuley's, Glencoy, Waterfall Bar, Glensway Tavern and the Greenhills). The owner and his wife are friendly and don't mind a chat.
PLEASE NOTE: The red post box outside is for mail deliveries to the pub and is often mistaken for a public post box!
The Central Bar
13-15 High StreetCarrickfergus
BT38 7AN
(028) 9335 7840 (T)
www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-central-bar-carrickfergus (W)
Very good refurbishment of an existing bar. A great view from upstairs, overlooking the 12th. century castle and Belfast Lough with its busy ferries and other marine craft. Friendly staff, the standard Wetherspoon's fair and the ales are good. Toilets on both floors.
The Spinning Mill
17-21 Broughshane StreetBallymena
BT43 6EB
(028) 2563 8985 (T)
www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-spinning-mill (W)
Excellent town centre pub with no music or TV's . The main bar in long and narrow with an upstairs bar and balcony. The front (listed) straddles an entrance to the beer garden with a third bar to the other side. Lots of brick, stone and reclaimed wood. Uplighters give a good airy feel to the place. Spot the leaded windows. Both bars have real ale with five hand pumps serving two guest beers plus two Hilden and one Whitewater (but the choice does change). Brilliant support of local breweries! Standard JDW fare but very tasty.
Tuesday Bell
Market SquareLisburn
BT28 1TS
(028) 9262 7390 (T)
www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-tuesday-bell (W)
This bar, a two storey premise, did not get off to a good start. The clientele has mainly changed and it is now quite a mixture of ages with its own eclectic mix of regulars. It has a large downstairs lounge with stairs and a lift leading upstairs to another large lounge. Toilets are in the basement. It is named after the market bell (now in the local museum) which announced Tuesday trading. Great staff and a good selection of ales from an extended five handpulls.
