Could Waterworld be up for sale soon? Future of derelict Portrush attraction to be discussed by Council's assets committee
The Waterworld building in Portrush is set to be discussed by an assets sub committee of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The water play area, which has been lying vacant since its closure in February 2020, will be discussed on May 6 during the Land and Property and Strategic Assets Sub Committee meeting.
The topic is listed for discussion in confidence under the title ‘asset realisation’. The term ‘asset realisation’ means the conversion of non-cash assets (such as property, stock, or machinery) into cash by selling or disposing of them.
In May 2025, at a Corporate Policy and Resources Committee meeting, DUP Alderman Mark Fielding asked for an update on Waterworld.
Ald Fielding reminded members at the time that Portrush’s defunct Dunluce Centre had been sold the previous year for £1.25 million, adding that constituents’ attention was now on Waterworld which had been closed for five years at the time.
Speaking last year, Alderman Fielding said: “I think five years is a long time and I’m sure there are reasons why it hasn’t been put on the market, but do we sell it in the open market or as an indoor water leisure facility? These are the questions that need to be asked.
“But at the minute it’s sitting there, there’s negative social media about it, with it being broken into and different things, so [is council] in a position where we can say we’re going to sell it?”
In reply in 2025, Director of Corporate Services, Moira Quinn, said officers planned to “progress with Waterworld”, alongside a number of other council assets.
Ms Quinn concluded: “At the minute our solicitors are working in terms of the title and perfecting that, so that whenever a decision is made and it has all come through Land and Property we can progress with that.
“We have a number of assets which are surplus to requirement and we’ll start working through those in terms of priority."
Waterworld first opened in 1986 and the Council-owned facility included water cannons, waterslides, jacuzzis, a steam room, a sauna, an aquarium, and a 10-pin bowling alley.