More than 300 whiskeys, tastings designed especially for enthusiasts and even events devoted to Ireland’s signature spirit: on the Antrim coast, a historic hotel has decided to take its passion for whiskey far beyond a well-stocked bar. In Carnlough, the Harbourview Hotel now presents itself as Ireland’s first “destination whiskey hotel”.
The concept is merely the latest chapter in a story that began almost 180 years ago. Once a coaching inn that became the renowned Londonderry Arms, the property had several owners, including Winston Churchill, before being completely reimagined. Now rated four stars by Tourism Northern Ireland, it aims to become a genuine destination for travellers keen to discover Irish whiskey culture while exploring the spectacular Antrim coast.
An Irish hotel designed entirely around whiskey
More than 300 whiskeys are available in Carnlough
The Harbourview Hotel has not simply added a few local bottles behind the bar to support its new positioning.
The hotel now has a collection of more than 300 whiskeys, with Irish expressions naturally taking pride of place.
The experience comes in a range of forms: themed tastings, flights allowing guests to compare several whiskeys, cocktails, talks and occasional events devoted to the history and production of this iconic Irish drink.
Distillers and industry specialists may also take part in events held at the hotel. The aim is to turn a conventional hotel stay into a true immersion in the world of whiskey.
A dedicated space, the Whiskey Room, is one of the concept’s central features. During its assessment, Tourism Northern Ireland gave particular recognition to this space, which was considered one of the hotel’s most original elements.
Ireland’s first “destination whiskey hotel”
A concept that aims to go beyond a simple tasting
The Harbourview presents itself as Ireland’s first “destination whiskey hotel”.
The distinction matters. The idea is not simply to offer an extensive whiskey list, as many Irish pubs and hotels already do, but to make this culture an integral part of the visitor experience.
The hotel’s programme therefore regularly includes tastings, dinners and talks devoted both to the great historic houses and to the new distilleries contributing to the revival of Irish whiskey.
Whiskeys produced elsewhere in the world may also be featured, notably to compare methods, styles and flavour profiles.
The project also benefits from particularly noteworthy expertise: one of the owners, Darryl McNally, is himself a master distiller and a recognised figure in the Irish whiskey industry.
A historic hotel built in 1848
The Harbourview was once the Londonderry Arms
The Harbourview’s unusual character also lies in the contrast between its new concept and the age of its walls.
The building dates from 1848. It was originally built as a coaching inn by Frances Anne Vane Tempest, Marchioness of Londonderry.
For generations, the property was known as the Londonderry Arms Hotel and became a Carnlough institution.
It remained a place to stay for more than a century and a half before changing hands in 2024. A consortium comprising hotelier Adrian McLaughlin, distiller Darryl McNally and entrepreneur Carl Harrison then set about restoring and repositioning the property.
The Londonderry Arms ultimately became the Harbourview Hotel, with the ambition of preserving its historic character while creating a far more distinctive visitor experience.
The hotel was once owned by Winston Churchill
A remarkable chapter in its history
Among the many stories associated with the building, one is particularly unexpected: Winston Churchill once owned it.
The property passed through several generations of the Marchioness of Londonderry’s family before being inherited in 1921 by Sir Winston Churchill, her great-grandson.
The future British Prime Minister did not, of course, turn the place into a permanent residence on the Antrim coast. Yet this family connection remains a distinctive part of the building’s history.
The property then passed into other hands and was notably run for several decades by the O’Neill family, before being acquired by its current owners in 2024.
£1.75 million invested in transforming the property
All 35 rooms have been completely renovated
The transition from the Londonderry Arms to the Harbourview Hotel was not simply a change of name.
About £1.75 million is said to have been invested in the property’s transformation.
Its 35 rooms have been renovated, while several of the building’s historic features have been retained or brought back into prominence. Original elements, including certain floors, have thus been incorporated into the new décor.
The aim was to strike a balance between the atmosphere of a historic Antrim coast property and the standards expected of a contemporary hotel.
This work was officially recognised in May 2026.
The Harbourview Hotel earns four stars
Tourism Northern Ireland recognises its transformation
On 13 May 2026, Tourism Northern Ireland awarded the Harbourview Hotel four stars under its Quality Grading Scheme.
The assessment notably praised the room renovation, the quality of the welcome, the food offering and the original character of the Whiskey Room.
The accolade marks an important development for the building: under its former identity, the hotel was rated three stars.
For its new owners, gaining a fourth star validates the extensive refurbishment programme undertaken since the 2024 acquisition.
It was also named Northern Ireland’s best hotel in 2026
Another accolade just months after its transformation
The Harbourview had already attracted attention a few weeks earlier.
In March 2026, The Times and The Sunday Times selected it as the best place to stay in Northern Ireland in their UK guide to the best addresses.
The successive recognition of the concept by the press and then by Tourism Northern Ireland has given the small Carnlough hotel striking visibility for a property that had existed in its current form for only a short time.
The hotel has also been used as a Netflix location
The creators of Derry Girls transformed it for a series
Even before its full transformation, the property had already undergone a rather unexpected metamorphosis.
In 2024, Netflix took over the site for How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, the series created by Lisa McGee, creator of Derry Girls.
For filming, the hotel was temporarily transformed and renamed the Knockdara Hotel. Part of the first episode was filmed there.
This appearance now adds a pop-culture dimension to a building already associated with almost two centuries of local history.
A spectacular setting on the Antrim coast
The Harbourview is in the village of Carnlough
The property’s other major asset has nothing to do with whiskey: its location.
The Harbourview is in Carnlough, a small coastal village at the entrance to the Glens of Antrim. The hotel faces directly onto the seafront and stands on one of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular driving routes.
The area offers access to Glenarm, Cushendall and Cushendun before continuing towards the major sites of the north coast.
The Harbourview can therefore serve as a stop on a road trip between Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway, while offering an experience very different from the region’s larger tourist hotels.
Whiskey is becoming a tourism experience in its own right in Ireland
The Harbourview is part of the revival of Irish spirits
The Harbourview concept arrives at a particularly favourable moment.
After several decades dominated by a limited number of producers, Ireland has seen a growing number of distilleries and whiskey-focused visitor experiences in recent years.
Distillery tours, tastings, museums and specialist routes are now part of the tourism offering in many parts of the country.
In Carnlough, the Harbourview simply takes the idea a little further: visitors no longer come only to see a whiskey attraction before moving on; they can now spend the night there.
