Hopes high for quick sale of the Coach Inn

The Coach Inn and Jockey Club is renowned for pulling in crowds to its discos and big-name DJ events.

The business which includes a successful restaurant, has been put on the market by owners the Quinn family with a guide price of £975,000 – along with their other businesses – Harry’s Bar at £475,000 and the £1.5m-priced Iveagh Movie Studios.

John Martin of selling agents Osborne King said he is very positive about selling the properties.

“There has been a good level of interest in all three properties and I expect the sale to go well,” he explained.

“It goes to show the market is alive and kicking,” Mr Martin added.

Sinn Fein councillor Brendan Curran said he hopes a new owner will be found soon.

“The sale creates uncertainty but we would certainly hope that these businesses will be secured by some other firm who will run them as efficiently,” he commented.

“Between wages and rates, they will have contributed a lot of money to Banbridge.

“For any of it to go from the town would be a severe blow. Mr Quinn (Snr) is known for being very good to his employees,” added Mr Curran.

Alliance Party councillor Sheila McQuaid said she hoped they would be re-acquired quickly. “They have made a great contribution to the town as a whole and both hostelries would be great favourites which serve beautiful food.

“Along with the cinema, they are part of the heritage of Banbridge and it would be very, very sad to see them go.”

Mr Quinn had renovated the cinema with the assistance of Banbridge District Council, she added. “He really started with nothing and worked very hard.”

Mr Quinn also ran vending machine business High Street Investments and arcade game business Treasure Island Amusements. He and his wife Julie were disqualified as directors for nine years over their conduct of the former late last year.

Dominic Quinn Snr is thought to have paid at least £1m for The Coach when he bought it from the Scullion brothers around 12 years ago.

Shanidar Ltd, which operated the pubs and cinema, entered in to a voluntary arrangement in 2009, with Mr Quinn Snr stepping down as a director last year. His son Andrew was then appointed.