Dunluce Centre in Portrush: Deadline looms after site is put up for sale

The Dunluce Centre closed its doors in 2013 due to falling visitor numbers

For more than 20 years, the Dunluce Centre in Portrush, County Antrim, was a shelter of entertainment for families visiting the north coast on a rainy day.

Its viewing tower and turbo tours made it one of the area's top tourist attractions.

But it closed its doors for good in 2013 due to falling visitor numbers.

Now the building and its lands are up for sale on the open market with a guide price of £910,000.

It is a lot of money, but it is still less than a third of the £3.3m it cost to build the attraction in 1993.

The building has cost the council more than £40,000 per year to maintain since it closed - so why has it taken so long to put it up for sale?

Norman Hillis is an Ulster Unionist Party councillor with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, which owns the site.

"To be honest I expected something to be in it the very next year after it closed," he said.

"The money isn't the key factor, it seems strange to say that, but getting the right person to do the right thing on that site is really the key thing.

Norman Hillis said it was time to look forward with regard to the site

"You could get far more money if you were to put a supermarket or something in there but that's not what we want.

"We want something that will boost the local economy, tourism, and hopefully the residents will enjoy as well.

"It's really regrettable it's taken this length of time to get something done - but let's look forward rather than back."

The site's future will become clearer on Monday when the deadline for expressions of interest from buyers is due to close.

The building has cost the council more than £40,000 per year to maintain

Business leaders in Portrush say the right tenant could improve the fortunes of the entire north coast.

Clare McIntyre, vice president of the Causeway Chamber of Commerce, said it was important that the site was put back into use.

"We would consider this to be a key gateway site into Portrush," she added.

"It's a fantastic business opportunity for perhaps a boutique hotel, a wet weather facility or an office premises.

The site's future will become clearer on Monday

"We need to see this site being utilised.

"That would bring sustainable wealth and wellbeing to the people of the town, and would help boost business in the north coast area.

"That's how important this site is."