'I can’t keep throwing good money after bad when there’s nobody about': Community shock as north coast deli to close after 35 years as owner cites falling footfall and rising costs

After 35 years of serving quality food and bringing people together, a well-known Northern Ireland deli is preparing to close.

The Belfry Deli in Coleraine will shut at the end of the month, more than three decades after owner Paul McCafferty opened the business in November 1990 with just a £45 start-up grant — and a lot of determination.

“It was November 28, 1990 and I sold one thing, a jar of ground coriander for 79p”, owner Paul McCafferty laughed. “I remember the brand too, Rajah, a wee green tub. My mother said to me: “What have we done”! And I said: ‘Give me a chance, it’s only my first day’. I just knew it could work.”

However despite growing into a much-loved fixture in the Co Londonderry town, known for its artisan produce, fresh sandwiches and strong community ethos, Paul has now made the difficult decision to close the shop. He said a sharp downturn in footfall, coupled with rising overheads, has rendered the retail side of the business unsustainable.

Speaking to the News Letter, he explained: "The shop is closing in two weeks time on January 31 after 35 years of being in retail. This is mainly due to the downturn in footfall in Coleraine town centre.

“I also run a supply business that provides local Spars, Centras and other retailers with pre-packed products, and that side is actually thriving. But the gap between the retail business and the supply business has become too wide.”

He also pointed to increasing costs including rent, staff wages and rates, describing the pressure on small businesses as “very depressing”.

“I can’t keep throwing good money after bad when there’s nobody about,” he said. “I buy in high-quality cheese and meat from specialist suppliers, and when that goes out of date - which is happening more and more - I simply can’t afford to dump that quality product. That’s never happened in 35 years, but it’s happening now.”

The local businessman also highlighted the impact of Marks & Spencer relocating from the town centre to Riverside Retail Park on the outskirts of Coleraine.

“It's the retail downturn – that is why the shop is closing, it's so very sad for me,” he explained. “The moving of M&S from the town centre was also a big factor for me. They were round the corner and that was my type of customer who would pop into me after doing their shop. But M&S moved to the Riverside Park and the customers went with them.”

The closure of the deli will result in four redundancies, a decision Paul described as the hardest part.

“I’m so distraught that I’ve had to take this decision,” he continued. “Two of my staff have been with me for 35 years. That’s the saddest thing of all.”

Despite the shop’s closure, the Belfry Deli name will remain through its supply and catering operations from the Abbey Street premises. Paul will retain four staff, including himself, and continue to supply retail outlets and offer platter and catering services across the north coast.

“The emphasis for me has always been freshness,” he added. “If you buy a sandwich, you should know it was made that day – that’s why I get up at 2am. The catering side is doing really well and I’ve been asked to supply further afield, but I’m not interested. I want to serve this area, and I’ve always stuck to that ethos.”

Supporting the local community has also been central to the business. Over the years, Paul has sponsored Bann Rowing Club, Owen Roe GAA, Coleraine FC, Coleraine Crusaders, as well as schools and community groups. One of his proudest moments was sponsoring his former primary school, St Malachy’s.

“Seeing my name and logo on their football strips and hoodies was a special moment,” he said. “Serving and supporting the community is very important to me...Shop local and support local.”

Food has always been part of Paul’s story. In 1986, his parents, Anne and Jim, invested his father’s redundancy money from the textile industry to open the Belfry Restaurant on Church Lane — a bold move that would leave a lasting mark on Coleraine’s dining scene.

“It was a big gamble at the time, but it paid off,” he reflected. “What the Belfry Restaurant did back then was groundbreaking. It was a totally new way of offering food to local shoppers, visitors and staff. It offered affordable, high-quality food, and the queues were unreal because the food was so good. I took that baton and ran with it when we opened the deli.”

As the closure approaches, Paul paid tribute to those who supported the business over the years and urged loyal and new customers to pop-in one last time.

“My biggest biggest thank you goes to all my customers and family for their support, to my staff for their hard work, and to my suppliers for standing by us,” he added. “Our products are still out there, our catering service is still running, and the phoneline is still open. Please come and see us even if it is for the first and last time!”

Customers can continue to contact The Belfry via phone on 028 7034 29060 or through Facebook.