Work underway at Portstewart's £20m Merrow Hotel as community art competition is launched
Work is underway at Portstewart’s £20m Merrow Hotel – with locals invited to contribute to the venue’s design through a community art competition.
The development includes a 119‑bed hotel with spa and leisure facilities, restaurant and bar, wedding and conference facilities, nine hotel cottages, and a destination dining experience overlooking the Causeway Coast.
The current phase of works will focus on improving site access and associated infrastructure in preparation for the longer‑term development of the site.
Following completion of these works, there will be a period before the main hotel construction phase begins. This phased approach allows detailed design, operational planning, and wider development preparations to continue before the main build commences.
Speaking on behalf of the Merrow Hotel & Spa team, Mark Donnelly said: “These enabling works are an important early step in bringing forward the Merrow Hotel & Spa.
“While the roadworks mark the start of activity on site, and we are so pleased to finally reach this stage, further detailed work will continue ahead of the main construction phase.
“As with everything relating to the Merrow Hotel & Spa, we want to make sure these works are carried out with our neighbours and local community in mind. We are making every effort to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum.
“Should anyone require any further information relating to the works, or about the Merrow Hotel & Spa more generally, I would encourage them to visit our Facebook page, our website at www.merrowhotelandspa.com and please feel free to contact us directly.
“We would like to thank everyone for their patience and continued support, and we look forward to sharing updates in the coming months as work progresses to make the Merrow Hotel & Spa a reality.”
Having been almost 10 years in the making, husband and wife duo Vivienne and Colin Gilholm and the team behind the hotel want to acknowledge the role of the local community in getting the proposal to this stage.
“There were challenging times during the planning process when the support we received from local people and businesses really gave us the energy and belief to stay the course,” Mark continued.
“For that reason, we believe the next stage of the Merrow should be shaped by local ideas and artistry.
“As we prepare to bring this Causeway Coast destination to life, we are launching a competition to celebrate and showcase the wonderful creativity of the local area.
“Merrow Hotel & Spa has lots of inspiration to share and be enjoyed and we can't wait to see the creative identity of the local community at the heart of it all.”
The Merrow team is inviting creatives from all disciplines – applied artists, designers and storytellers – to submit ideas and pieces inspired by the area’s history, beauty, and spirit, capturing what the Causeway Coast means to them.
Winning entries will be featured throughout the hotel with opportunities to advance to potential contracts.
More information about the competition and details on how to enter can be found online at www.merrowhotelandspa.com/competition.