Bangor back on the map
For many the name Bangor stirs up fond childhood memories but the small seaside town bore the full brunt of the economic slump as visitor numbers fell. Redevelopment in recent years hasn’t helped in the immediate aftermath of the credit crunch however with the completion of improved infrastructure and public works the town is once again back on the map as one of Northern Ireland’s best tourist draws.
A changing tide
In the past five years centre director of Eddie Irvine Sports Thomas Fegan has seen the business grow from two karting tracks within a massive warehouse on the Balloo Road to a centre, used by 3,000 people per week, packed full of innovative entertainment ranging from bubble football and Formula 1 simulators through to padel tennis facilities and foot pool. He says that infrastructure investment and redevelopment in Bangor has propelled it back to being one of the “jewels in Northern Ireland’s crown” and made it attractive to a wider audience from corporate businesses through to families and overseas tourists.
As the President of Bangor Chamber of Commerce, Thomas knows full well the work that has gone in to turning the tide for Bangor. “The raw ingredients that made Bangor such a big draw are still here but engagement about how we utilize and better those ingredients is finally happening in a more uniformed way. Bangor, like many seaside towns, suffered financially in recent years but that in a way gave people an incentive and a kickstart to get it back on its feet,” he said.
“I believe other boroughs are now envious of the major events that are being held in Bangor with the potential to draw in some 60,000 people on a given day and the Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with the newly merged Ards and North Down Borough Council to ensure that the needs of such events are being met locally. Also that the events are beneficial in showcasing Bangor and our local businesses to a wider audience. Where before we may have had short-sighted visions going forward, we now hope to establish a long-term business plan that will see Bangor expand its potential further.”
Thomas welcomed the completion of the public realm works and the recent granting of planning permission for a budget hotel, as well as firm movement on the long-standing plans to redevelop Queen’s Parade in to prime real estate. However, he admits that more still needs to be done to improve on Bangor’s fortune suggesting that signage directing visitors to more locally-known parking facilities and a park and ride between Belfast and Bangor, allowing visitors accessing the sweeping coastal beauty spots to also visit the town conveniently, are conversations that could be had.
Connectivity is key
“Bangor and wider Northern Ireland has done a fantastic job in projecting itself overseas and in recent years there has been a notable difference in the number of visitors coming here to enjoy or diverse range of culture and heritage,” says Alex Irvine, Tourism Development Officer of Ards and North Down Borough Council.
“In recent years we’ve had major worldwide events like the World Police and Fire Games in 2013 made possible by the relatively new world class facilities at Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex. We’re accommodating cruise ships on a regular basis and tourists are travelling from across Europe and further to soak up our unique Christian and Ulster Scots heritage, as well as our fantastic museums.
“Proximity is a big driver for Bangor. The investment in infrastructure such as roads, bus routes and trains makes access to Bangor from 
Belfast and the other side of the Ards Peninsula quick and easy. As well as a big driver in the increase in visitor numbers. We no longer have a wait and see approach. Bangor is actively seeking how it can accommodate the wider tourist.
“I think the dynamic of tourism is changing slightly, people are bringing their families along to corporate events, others want to experience more variety when they take a city break and Bangor is open to that. Someone travelling to explore Bangor’s Christian heritage sites can bring their young children to the newly refurbished Pickie Fun Park and let their teenagers blow off steam at somewhere like Eddie Irvine’s. There are a diverse ranges of services now gelling together to enhance the experience for the visitor.”
Changing scenes
Bangor also boasts Northern Ireland’s most visited local authority museum with over 75,000 people passing through its doors last year. “In the past three years we’ve seen a huge change to all five permanent exhibition spaces and I think it’s our local outlook telling local stories and featuring local people that make us unique,” said North Down Museum manager, Heather McGuicken. “Tourists new to Bangor tend to visit the museum to get their bearings, find out about the place and set out their agenda from here. In the last number of years connectivity between other landmarks and businesses have been key.
“We complement our service with the likes of the nearby walled gardens and we work with the local authorities to improve the service of the visitor. Our biggest compliment is that we have a lot of repeat visitors but I think that accounts for a wider improvement. People come back to Bangor for more than one thing, we have an improving package which is appealing to all ages.”
Overseas visitors
Sitting in Pickie Fun Park, which reopened in 2012 following a £2.6 million investment, local man and tour guide of 10 years David McAirn, says that he regular encounters “genuine shock” from customers re-visiting Bangor after 10 or 20 years. “As a tour guide the season used to run for about four months in the summer but in the last few years it’s most, if not all, of the year that people are coming here,” he explained. “People come from Mexico and Brazil to explore the Christian heritage, others from Canada and America are exploring their ancestry and even those from as close as Co Antrim have never tapped in to the variety of attractions which Bangor offers. The peace process has had a big impact on Bangor and a recurring theme is people who are re-visiting expressing genuine shock at how things have changed in the last two decades.
“I think a lot of the success is down to proximity. We’re sitting now in Pickie Park, a few yards away is the beautiful Marina and we’re a short walk away from Bangor Abbey. Bangor is lucky in its size and how closely its major landmarks rest. Business and tourism now complement each other. It’s as easy now to fill an agenda for a group of foreign students as it is for older person’s coach trip.
“However, we can’t get complacent 90 per cent of tourists I encounter are coming from overseas, that’s fantastic and a great credit to the bodies who have made it possible but we must maintain and better it if we want to keep Bangor’s progression going.”
Room to grow
Sue and Paul Toner only took over the reins at the poplar Shelleven Guest House in April, they were impressed with what Bangor had to offer but it was Bangor’s potential, they said, that was its selling point.
“We did a lot of research in areas across England and in Northern Ireland before we settled on Bangor and that’s because we believe it’s only getting started,” said Sue, who has a background in hospitality at the renowned network of holiday villages, Centre Parcs UK.
“There is a lot of room for improvement but Bangor is on the up. Almost instantly we noted the need in Bangor for an indoor theatre/concert space, another improvement could be the nightlife attractions. What impressed us was that these were things that were being discussed, there was a willingness from local businesses through to local council to improve. The level of redevelopment and investment in Bangor has been impressive and we wanted to be a part of that journey.
Paul, who is originally from Co Down in his youth, said that Bangor was finally learning how to market its unique selling point, the people, to a wider audience. “Friendliness, politeness and humour is something that Northern Ireland does better than anyone. It’s always been here but we now have the facilities and network in areas like Bangor to use that to our advantage. I think with Bangor’s progression those finer touches can push it forward not only as a tourist attraction but as one of the leading destinations.
“Everyone appears to be on board with the progression. We know that Bangor needs more bedroom space when we have huge events which can draw crowds up and above 40,000, we don’t see other similar businesses as a competitor, we want to ensure that Bangor can cope with its success and can draw people back again.”
