Charity puts Co Down accommodation on market for £1m
It was first opened in the 1970s to offer respite breaks for those experiencing the worst of the Troubles in urban areas. It was later demolished and rebuilt, reopening in 2016 with 19 en suite bedrooms.
However, the Castle Place building had been shut since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and this week went on sale through selling agents UPS.
A spokesperson for the charity said: "We can confirm that Clare Lodge has been closed for five years and the Society of St Vincent de Paul has now placed it on the market for sale.
"Any proceeds from the sale of the property will be used in the northern region to help alleviate poverty."
A brochure for the property from UPS describes it as a 'substantial and modern commercial premises in the heart of Newcastle, Co Down — perfectly positioned with breath-taking views of the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea'.
It adds that the 'versatile property offers immense potential for investors, hoteliers, or developers seeking a landmark building in one of Northern Ireland's most desirable coastal towns'.
As well as 19 bedrooms, there is also a dining room, lounge and reception hall.
There are also three commercial units which had been knocked together to operate as restaurant, which has since shut.
The brochure states that each bedroom is 'fully furnished and finished to a modern standard, offering comfort and privacy for guests'.
Aaron Ferris, a selling agent at UPS, said it had drawn interest from three parties after being on the market since earlier in the week.
"It's perfectly set up for a boutique hotel with 19 bedrooms, all en suite, and a lot of them are family rooms, with a lot having sea views.
'There's a commercial element with three commercial units that were knocked into one and operated as a separate restaurant – but it would be very easy to have a bar or restaurant in it as part of a hotel in future.
"You couldn't built it any better than it is already for use as a hotel.'
He said that the town was busy in general, with other commercial units on the market attracting strong interest.
Mr Ferris said that an investment property on Central Promenade with a cafe and Medicare pharmacy on the ground floor and apartments above it, which is on the market for £730,000, had drawn offers for £610,000.
"There's a lot of viewers waiting in the wings before closing bids in July,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers flock to fill their trolleys with 20p plants as supermarkets slash prices by up to 80%
We reveal some top money-saving gardening tips below... GARDEN BARGAIN Shoppers rush to buy 20p plants as supermarkets slash prices by up to 80% and they'll transform your garden this summer SHOPPERS are flocking to stock their trolleys with bargain plants - and prices start from just 20p. A host of retailers are offering discounts worth up to 80% off on flora in store and online. 2 One shopper spotted plants for just 30p in their local Morrisons store Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook 2 The shopper also spotted plants for 20p at their local Sainsbury's store Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook Shoppers have spotted major bargains in Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Waitrose branches. Others have clocked major discounts at Home Bargains and The Range with up to 60% off. Posting on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, one savvy saver said: "Worth checking out all your local supermarkets at this time of the season - lots of major reductions on plants!!" The shopper went on to reveal how they found Salix flamingo and dianthus plants in their local Sainsbury's store for 20p each. The bargain hunter also clocked baby fuchsia plants at their local Morrisons shop reduced to 30p and mini Orchids at their closest Waitrose shop for £2.40 down from £12 - an 80% discount. Morrisons and Waitrose confirmed they have not launched plant sales UK-wide but that individual branches are allowed to reduce prices to clear stock. We have asked Sainsbury's if it has reduced prices on its flowers and plants across all its stores and will update this story when we have heard back. Waitrose and The Range are also all selling cut-price plants and flowers on their websites with up to 40% and 60% off, respectively. Shoppers can get pots of fuchsia plants for £4.19 down from £6.99 and Orlaya Grandiflora for £2.17 down from £2.89. The Range is selling flowers and plants with prices starting from £9. How to make sure you lawn looks green and lush all summer long We've spotted hedging trees on sale for £39.99 down from £64.95 (39% off) as well as Callicarpa berry shrubs for £39.99 down from £101.23 (60% off). If you're looking to buy cheap plants and flowers from your nearest supermarket or retailer branch, check if they have any on sale in the first instance by calling ahead. Most retailers have store locators online which you can use to find your nearest store, based on your postcode or town where you live. How to save money on plants, flowers and gardening Start by waiting for end of season sales when retailers slash prices on stock. It's worth joining up to retailer's loyalty schemes too, as you might be able to get discounts on plants and flowers. You'll also get points on your purchases which you can use to get money off future shops. B&Q, Sainsbury's and Morrisons all have loyalty schemes which are free to join. Buying plant seeds rather than mature plants means a bit more work is needed, but will generally save you money too. Rather than buying compost, you can create your own with organic waste like banana peels or grass you've mowed up. How to find gardening bargains Doing up your garden to enjoy on warm and sunny days needn't cost the earth. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a top deal on items for the garden… You can bag big savings on plants, shrubs and flowers, as well as gardening tools and furniture. Many retailers have flash sales across entire seasonal ranges – often these promotions tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout. Sign up to mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Use a price comparison site to search out the best value items. And keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items for your outdoor areas. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart online and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. And always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The National
3 minutes ago
- The National
Scottish cauliflower crisps to hit shelves at 50 Tesco stores
Growers Garden, established in 2019 and based in Fife, is now selling its new cauliflower crisps in more than 50 Tesco stores. The snack comes in three flavours: Black Pepper & Lime, Mango Chilli, and Smoky Chorizo. The company works with farmers across the east of Scotland to transform surplus and "wonky" vegetables into healthy, veggie snacks. READ MORE: Award-winning restaurant to be taken over by leading hospitality firm With the aim to reduce food waste and ensure more Scottish homegrown produce, the co-operative started as a collective of 16 farming families who have been growing vegetables for over four generations in the east of Scotland. It now includes growers from Perthshire and the Borders too. Tesco said the product was "a brilliant example of Scottish innovation". Marion MacCormick, chairperson at Growers Garden, said the company was "delighted," adding: "Our cooperative of Fife farmers came together with a shared aim to reduce waste by turning leftover or misshapen vegetables into something delicious and healthy, adding value to their leftover fresh produce, which is also supplied to Tesco UK-wide. 'The new flavours offer something a little different, and we're thrilled that Tesco shoppers across Scotland are already getting behind the concept since the range hit shelves this month.' Barry O'Donnell, buying manager for Tesco in Scotland, said: 'One of the best parts of my job is supporting local suppliers and helping bring their fantastic products to shelves across the country. "Growers Garden is a brilliant example of Scottish innovation. By working hand-in-hand with local farmers, they've created a tasty and nutritious snack that taps into what customers are really looking for - healthier, exciting alternatives to traditional crisps.' The snack can already be found in some Sainsbury's and Morrisons stores.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Scottish cauliflower crips to hit shelves at 50 Tesco stores
Growers Garden, established in 2019 and based in Fife, is now selling their new cauliflower crisps in more than 50 Tesco stores. The snack comes in three flavours: Black Pepper & Lime, Mango Chilli, and Smoky Chorizo. The company works with farmers across the east of Scotland to transform surplus and "wonky" vegetables into healthy, veggie snacks. READ MORE: Award-winning restaurant to be taken over by leading hospitality firm With the aim to reduce food waste and ensure more Scottish homegrown produce, the co-operative started as a collective of 16 farming families who have been growing vegetables for over four generations in the east of Scotland. It now includes growers from Perthshire and the Borders too. Tesco said the product was "a brilliant example of Scottish innovation". Marion MacCormick, chairperson at Growers Garden, said the company was "delighted," adding: "Our cooperative of Fife farmers came together with a shared aim to reduce waste by turning leftover or misshapen vegetables into something delicious and healthy, adding value to their leftover fresh produce, which is also supplied to Tesco UK-wide. 'The new flavours offer something a little different, and we're thrilled that Tesco shoppers across Scotland are already getting behind the concept since the range hit shelves this month.' Barry O'Donnell, buying manager for Tesco in Scotland, said: 'One of the best parts of my job is supporting local suppliers and helping bring their fantastic products to shelves across the country. "Growers Garden is a brilliant example of Scottish innovation. By working hand-in-hand with local farmers, they've created a tasty and nutritious snack that taps into what customers are really looking for - healthier, exciting alternatives to traditional crisps.' The snack can already be found in some Sainsbury's and Morrison's stores.
