58 Mill Street
Ballymena
BT43 5AE
Designed by local man Jimmy Fullerton, the new style George Buttery Bar is the outcome of a very thorough renovation and extension done three years ago.
St. George on his horse slaying the dragon with his medieval lance, greets you in the form of a large beaten copper mural in the lobby, as you pass down to the roomy, comfortable bar, with four ceiling fans whirring softly overhead.
The design is basically that of wooden stair banisters, newel posts surmounted by white globe lights, and black decor thrown into high relief by red. It’s a split level bar with six large open snugs in the higher level and four below. The divisions are of the stairwell balustrade type mentioned earlier, running down to the darkwood newel posts which are a feature also on the bar counter.
One of the busiest bars in town, the George serves food from 11:30 to 2:30 and caters for all ages. Upstairs is the Derby Lounge, so called because one of the end walls looks very similar to racecourse starting stalls.
Waiting to welcome you at the top of the stairs is a jockey, a life size model, and the lounge bar itself is like a picture gallery of famous racecourse action scenes. The black and red of downstairs is echoed here in the red carpet, and black wood furniture.
You’re backing a favourite and going with the odds when you are in Ballymena and visit the George Buttery and Derby Lounge.