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Dungannon’s only hotel closes down!

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Closed. Bank House Hotel 68 Irish Street Dungannon has ceased trading. dd0315

DUNGANNON'S only hotel, the Bank House Hotel in Irish Street in the town centre has closed, the latest casualty of the economic downturn.
It is believed that up to 32 full and part-time jobs have been lost as a result of the closure of the Bank House Hotel, a severe blow for the workforce and the town.
The closure has come as a shock to many people in the local community.
“It was totally unexpected and all came about very quickly," said one local trader.
Two notices appeared either side of closed doors last week stating: "The Bank House Hotel with deep regret, wish to inform all our customers, guests and suppliers that our premises have closed."
The statement went on to say that Gift vouchers for the hotel would be "refunded on presentation to Northern Lights, Georges Street, Dungannon from Monday 16th January."
The speed at which the closure took place has left a number of organisations having to make contingency plans for functions that were scheduled to take place in the Hotel this week.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board had been scheduled to hold an information evening in the Hotel this evening, Tuesday January17, to outline the way forward for the appointment of independent members to the new Policing and Community Safety Partnerships. (PCSPs).
That event has now been cancelled.
According to a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Policing Board they received confirmation of the Hotel's closure on Thursday 12th January.
“Due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to cancel the event," said the spokesperson.
“With completed application forms due to be returned by 30th January with regard to PCSPs we have not been able to make alternative arrangements in the Dungannon area at such short notice. However we are holding a further information evening in the Town Hall in Enniskillen on the 25th January from 7pm to 9pm."
The spokesperson comfirmed that more than 50 people had turned up at the first meeting which was held in Ballymena on Thursday evening.
A major construction trade seminar had also been scheduled to take place tomorrow morning, January 18 and other arrangements have had to be made for this event.
Marketed as a boutique style hotel the family-owned Bank House Hotel opened for business in September 2007 after the property was acquired by local businessman, Seamus Little.
The Hotel quickly gained a reputation for the quality of its surroundings, excellent service and friendly staff.
A listed building that was originally constructed in 1897 a lot of money was invested in transforming the premises into a top class hotel with 17 superbly appointed guest rooms.
The Gold Bar, part of the hotel complex, adjoins the premises.
The renovation works which took place in 2007 ensured that many of the features of each of its transitions from home to business premises to bank were taken into consideration in terms of creating a unique and friendly atmosphere at the Bank House Hotel.
The Building has had a long and varied history, starting out as a home to the McGuone family before becoming a retail outlet for wines and spirits.
Then in the mid 20th Century it was purchased by the Munster and Leinster Bank and began operating as a high street bank.
The Munster and Leinster logo can still be seen above the main entrance of the door.
The building continued to be used as a bank by various banking companies until the 1990s when it was closed down and became vacant before it was bought over by the Little family and transformed into the Bank House Hotel.

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