Recommended Pubs and Restaurants in County Antrim
There are a total of 21 premises in this area.
Mary McBride's
2 Main Street, Cushendun
(028) 2176 1511 (T)
One of the smallest pubs in Ireland (The Glass Jar, Belfast, was the smallest but it was razed to the ground in 2001) and part of the National Trust. It has gone through a renovation that still leaves it with most of its charm. A great staging post to break the journey around the Glens of Antrim. Sadly the small public bar has now been opened into the main area and cannot be classified as "THE smallest bar".
A CAMRA Heritage Pub
(028) 2176 1511 (T)
One of the smallest pubs in Ireland (The Glass Jar, Belfast, was the smallest but it was razed to the ground in 2001) and part of the National Trust. It has gone through a renovation that still leaves it with most of its charm. A great staging post to break the journey around the Glens of Antrim. Sadly the small public bar has now been opened into the main area and cannot be classified as "THE smallest bar".
A CAMRA Heritage Pub
The Bushmills Inn
72-74 Main Street, Bushmills(028) 2073 2339 (T)
(028) 2073 2048 (F)
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(028) 2568 4225 (T)
A comfortingly dark bar and walk through lounge with varied seating, booths and a corner fireplace. There are lots of local memorabilia, including one of Joey Dunlop's racing helmets, and a real GPO red telephone box. The main lounge is used for food, but only Saturday and Sunday until 6 pm.
There is a pool table and dart board to one side of the bar and to the other is a separate small, low ceilinged side lounge. At the entrance is a selection of local guides . The bar has an off license. 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 Street, Carrickfergus BT38 7AN(028) 9335 7840 (T)
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 Street, Ballymena, BT43 6EB(028) 2563 8985 (T)
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. Winner of the first "MARKSALEHOUSE" award.