Preliminary Work to Begin This Week on £20m Merrow Hotel and Spa Development

Preliminary access works are set to begin this week on the £20 million Merrow Hotel and Spa development on the Causeway Coast.

The project, located beside the North West 200 paddock area, will eventually include a 119-bedroom hotel, restaurant, spa facilities, conference space and holiday cottages.

In a communication with us last week, Vivienne Gilholm of C&V Developments said that the initial access works would now commence, following discussions with the organisers of the North West 200.

She said: “We had hoped to have got started earlier this year, but the NW200 asked if we could wait until after this year’s race, so our programme is working alongside the NW200 and of course the busy summer road, with the main works starting in 2027.”

Developers behind the scheme say the completed complex could create around 100 full-time jobs, along with training and employment opportunities in hospitality and tourism.

The development is also expected to generate an estimated £5.5 million in annual visitor spend for the local economy.

Plans for the site also include providing a permanent home for North West 200 organisers, something supporters of the project say could further strengthen the event's long-term future.

Vivienne Gilholm has also described the development as a project that has taken close to a decade to reach this stage, saying it was only made possible by the backing and encouragement of the local community.

She said the next phase of the project should continue to reflect local voices and local input, with the team behind the development now launching a creative competition inspired by the north coast.

Artists, designers, makers and storytellers are invited to submit work that reflects the area's history, landscape and identity, with selected entries expected to be featured throughout the completed hotel complex.

The proposed development sits along the Causeway Coastal Route beside one of Portstewart’s golf courses and overlooks Rinnagree Point, with views across the coastline. The site is also located on the start and finish line of the North West 200 and close to the historic Portrush railway station clock.

Further information on the competition is available via the Merrow Hotel and Spa website.

The Merrow Hotel and Spa proposal has been viewed by many as one of the most significant tourism and hospitality investments planned for the north coast in recent years.