74-76 Ballymoney St, Ballymena BT43 6AN
There’s no doubt about it, the judges of the Bushmills Bar of the Year Award Scheme are to be congratulated on their discernment and powers of selection. The 1988 Co.Antrim winner, the Grouse Inn, Ballymena, is something a bit special, a pub that commends itself to your taste as soon as you set foot in it.
There are actually three bars here, the Grouse, the Bailiff’s Parlour and the upstairs Poacher’s Inn, not to mention the cute little public bar that seems to have been left anonymous, and the delightful little off-licence tucked in between.
The Bailiff’s Parlour is an extension of the Grouse, separated by sliding doors, and used both for overspill situations or private parties. With its parquet flooring, blue velvet horseshoe chairs, upholstered settees, chaises longues, and fine paintings by W.J.Thompson, this room has the feel of a squire’s country residence, a rest room of the landed gentry.
It’s the main Grouse Lounge Bar though, that compels your interest. Several illuminated coloured glass scenes show various hunting creatures and situations – a hare, a grouse (of course), a fox, and a hunter, with his dog, shooting duck.
The ambience of the bar restaurant is enhanced by the orange lighting of the suspended imitation oil lamps, the ceiling fans, the dark wood panelling round the walls and the lovely hexagonal blue velvet snugs. It’s perfect, right down to the embroidered coat-of-arms.
The various articles on display are worth highlighting, especially the old letter boxes and pillar boxes which are now quite difficult to acquire. There’s a very rare King Edward VII one which came from the Falls Road in Belfast, and needed to have its colouring altered to the more usual postbox red!
A fine brass cash register from the thirties, and a gramophone with speaker horn from the previous decade are conspicuous, as is a cast iron village pump in pristine condition. Candlesticks, cannons, lanterns, horses and rocking chairs, all of brass and only ornaments, of course, decorate the oak shelves round the panelled walls.
Upstairs in the Poacher’s Lounge is one of those old style red phone boxes, complete with fully operational phone. The pictures on the walls are superb, particularly the woodcock and duck shooting scenes. Look for the Victorian sweet-scented tobacco tins, and the collection of swords and pistols. The lovely green snugs here, with brass rails, green stools, and velvet curtains, are an open invitation to a relaxing evening in style, perhaps with restaurant service from 6.00-10.30, or in the night club from eleven to one in the morning, on the dance floor.
Opened in 1986, the Grouse rapidly established itself as the pub in Ballymena and Eugene McKenna is to be complimented upon his tasteful design and finish. Remember though, it’s an over 21’s proper dress pub, or you’ll have the bailiff after!