Status : closed
745, Antrim Rd, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, County Antrim, BT39 0AP
[Photo: Airport 2000 disco, The Airport Inn, Templepatrick.]
Formerly Barnett’s Inn, two years ago it was smartly refurbished, remodelled and given its new name. The designer was John Robb, the builders The Rice Brothers and together they have certainly made a fine job of it. Immediately you enter the car park you are met by a small security building modelled in the shape of an Airport Control Tower. A large fountain greets you to the left of the small runway that leads into the bar. The long plush Lounge leads you down to the main bar, whilst to your left is the built on Restaurant, designed with flair and style and capable of seating over 100. A nice idea here is that it can be partitioned off, to cater for smaller parties. To the right of the Bar are modern little snugs and to the extreme right a door will lead you into the very modern Public Bar. All decor and styles combine beautifully together.
In sharp contrast is the separate Disco section, where the airport theme idea really comes into play. As you enter the VIP Lounge, a 14 step staircase studded with twinkling Tivoli Lights is built in such a way to resemble an escalator whilst along the walls on either sides are the symbols of the great world Airlines. The disco itself is very well furnished throughout, but the eyecatching novelty here is unquestionably the Light System above the Disco floor, shaped like Concorde complete with dipping nose … A beguiling place appropriately called Airport 2000.