Reopening plans for iconic Mayo hotel revealed
by Caoimhín Rowland
Vesada Private Limited, the owners of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, has revealed they intend to secure planning permission next March to refurbish the centre with the intention of reopening to the public the following year.
The hotel, bought by the Dublin-based group in 2017 for €464,000, had been owned by the Geary family since 1964 before falling into receivership in 2011.
The hotel is currently home to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war, under 100% occupancy, due to a government contract.
Pontoon Bridge Hotel was renovated in 2006 to the tune of €12 million.
Vesada Private Limited has a large property portfolio in Mayo, including the Achill Head Hotel, self-catering cottages in Mulranny as well as Kenny’s Guesthouse in Castlebar.
Director Des Connelly envisions “a modernising of the outside of the hotel, the front walls, then every second pillar taken out in the ballroom.”
The hoteliers have ambitions of making the hotel Mayo’s premier wedding destination once again.
“We want to take full advantage of the view over Lough Conn,” Des Connelly remarked.
This would include the implementation of balconies from the rooms overlooking the lake as well as a glass façade in the ballroom to maximise the unique setting Pontoon Bridge Hotel possesses.
The hotel currently consists of 58 bedrooms with the capacity to accommodate 320 guests,
Refurbishment plans aim to increase the capacity and upgrade the hotel to add more rooms, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.
Vesada Private predicts a 12-month renovation project commencing from spring 2024, which would see the hotel open to the public in 2025.
Connelly explained: “It’s all dependent on planning of course, but we have other investments in Mayo and it’s a great place to do business, the people make it easy to invest here.”
To open the hotel to refugees, a waste treatment plant was required for the site and Vesada Private have “ticked those boxes” for the council.
“We hope to be see Pontoon Bridge Hotel reopening to the public in 2025,” he added.
Meanwhile, work on the redevelopment of nearby Healy's Hotel has been stalled for some time.