1 Harbour Rd, Portrush BT56 8DF
At the centre of what is known locally as the Bermuda Triangle (the other two points are the Harbour bar and Rogues) the Ramore Wine Bar is vintage Portrush, sophisticated, efficient and versatile. It was started in the last decade of the 1700’s as the Ramore Hotel and the original deeds stamped with a very impressive large gold seal are now in the hands of the present owners. The name associated with the Ramore for two generations was the McNally family who took over from the late twenties and did much to establish it as one of the popular pubs ‘at the other end of the town from Barry’s’ as its location was described to us. Two fires, in the late sixties and early seventies respectively, meant a virtual rebuild and the present premises are very much bottom of the town and top of the market. With the emphasis heavily on food, the Ramore Wine Bar today attracts family customers and has the 20-30 age group as its regular clientele. The downstairs bar is split level and as might be expected can offer a very big choice of wines to go with the excellent food. Upstairs, there is a small bar to service the restaurant. The decor is strikingly simple and effective throughout, with black and cream predominant and the black upholstery particularly cool; black and white photographs and posters of 1920’s Paris underline the impression of the era of the lost generation of the jazz age of Scott Fitzgerald and the young Hemingway.
The Ramore Wine Bar is a family business, the Caithness family running it with affection and efficiency. Their philosophy is sound: Keep the decor uncluttered and let the people decorate it; give good service and good value. The formula seems to work because the Egon Ronay and Michelin guides have named the Ramore Wine Bar as highly recommended. It’s little wonder the Bermuda Triangle has claimed so many victims.