315 Ballyclare Rd, Newtownabbey BT36 4TQ
In 1919 John Corr from Maghery on the shores of Lough Neagh opened a small slate – roofed pub on a y shaped corner where the Glengormley, Ballyclare and Larne Roads met. In time it became a local landmark and the meeting of the roads in turn was called appropiately Corr’s Corner. There it stood for over 45 years until 1964 when a road widening scheme and a large roundabout resited it on the Ballyclare Road side. Today it’s a thriving pub, as the founder’s son also called John, will tell you – busy for Lunches, Teas and Dinners.
It is clear to be seen that he takes pride in his pub. He has just completed a tasteful refurbishment of the entire premises and has managed to include many items of historical interest from old pubs of the North which have long shut their doors. The main Bar walls are hung with mirrors advertising the merits of spirits of a century ago, like Dunville’s, McConnell’s and Mitchell’s Whiskeys. A frosted glass advert for Powers Gin came from Paddy Smith’s pub beside the Courthouse in Antrim and behind the main bar counter there is a
[Photo: The bar at Corr’s Corner, Ballyhenry.]
huge Schweppes Mirror measuring 12 ft by 4 ft. Behind the Bar in the small adjacent Saloon is a beautiful beaten copper background with scenes from ‘Shooting Times’ which cost the pricely sum of £100 back in 1964 … What would it cost now?
A separate entrance will take you into the tastefully furnished Corriander Room with its collection of old hunting pictures (H.W.Standing) and a painting of the Auld Corr’s Corner by Barbara Allen. Upstairs is the carvery or, as John delightfully calls it ‘THE CORRVERY.’ It could easily be called The Rowel Friers Room for some of his finest works like The Toast, Celtic and Rangers, Music in the Street, The Punters, Here’s to you .. adorn the walls. By the way, every picture in the House is an original. There’s not a Print to be seen.
As I write there is a lot of talk in the papers about bottled water and the cost of water today, but John has no worry in this matter for he is ahead of his time in the water privatisation stakes. After hearing for many years of an underground lake beneath the Bar, he brought in William Leech, a water diviner from Doagh, who pointed out the spot where boring should take place. Another diviner confirmed the same spot. John then commissioned Civil Engineers John Gault Associates to commence boring and they eventually found the lake at a depth of 130 ft. A pump was installed and for 14 days, 24 hours a day, 1,200 gallons of water an hour were pumped out. Afterwards they tested the level of the underground lake, and to their amazement it had only dropped a few feet. After extensive biological and chemical tests, the water was discovered to be wholesome and pure and was finally pumped into the Hostelry. So no wonder a popular order here is now ‘A Bottle of your famed House Water, waiter, please.’ John can take pride in his beautiful restyled pub which is one of the most tasteful around, and which continues to carry on the heritage of bygone days. As he says, ‘There is only one Corr’s Corner.’ As well as owning a large number of Off Licences, John is also an Active restauranteur, for his Sleepy Hollow restaurant in nearby Ballycragy (formerly a cottage and Golf Driving range) is a popular haunt for discerning diners.