Sanda pub now open - or is it a restaurant?

[ctb]

We stopped at Sanda on the way back from Ballycastle last Monday. The aforementioned dodgy sign ("island open for residences only") outside the pub has gone. There are 3 or 4 moorings in the bay for which they charge £10/night. Cider was £4/pint. They also had Guinness and Tennents in the fridge.
When we landed a young Belgian lady dressed in a chef's outfit greeted us and we asked if there any issue with going for a walk up the hill and to the lighthouse. We were told there was no issue.
Monday was a beautiful day and we sat outside the pub while we were brought 3 pints.
Looks like the whole thing has moved up market. The inside has been overhauled and I think the loos have had quite a bit of work. There was an expensive looking tartan rug on the floor. The loos had individual small towels like you'd expect in a posh hotel.
We were their first customers and it had been open for 2 days at that point.
I suspect they see it more as a restaurant than a pub.
They've added some enormous red plastic arm chairs to the garden and some dodgy plastic sheep garden furniture.

So not quite like it was before, but better than it was in the interim (i.e. shut) IMHO.

 

[Spyro]

We stopped at Sanda on the way back from Ballycastle last Monday. The aforementioned dodgy sign ("island open for residences only") outside the pub has gone. There are 3 or 4 moorings in the bay for which they charge £10/night. Cider was £4/pint. They also had Guinness and Tennents in the fridge.
When we landed a young Belgian lady dressed in a chef's outfit greeted us and we asked if there any issue with going for a walk up the hill and to the lighthouse. We were told there was no issue.
Monday was a beautiful day and we sat outside the pub while we were brought 3 pints.
Looks like the whole thing has moved up market. The inside has been overhauled and I think the loos have had quite a bit of work. There was an expensive looking tartan rug on the floor. The loos had individual small towels like you'd expect in a posh hotel.
We were their first customers and it had been open for 2 days at that point.
I suspect they see it more as a restaurant than a pub.
They've added some enormous red plastic arm chairs to the garden and some dodgy plastic sheep garden furniture.

So not quite like it was before, but better than it was in the interim (i.e. shut) IMHO.

Bit upmarket for you lot then.

 

[Williefromescapade]

Way too upmarket!!!

I had a wee look at their new website. They're now calling what used to be three self catering cottages a "hotel" and the going rate is around £100 per night per person! Dinner around £40 per head. Be interesting to see if it catches on. Depends if it's any good I guess. Time will tell.

 

[bikedaft]

went past in march

food more expensive, tho good. limited beer selection, but we were thirsty so wasn't an issue

we anchored, which surprised them as they initially tried to charge us the £10 but think they just had not noticed

german chef, seemed a good bloke

spotted possibly the owner skulking about avoiding eye contact, tho could have been anyone

wandered all over the island no issue (we were ready to debate land access act 2003!)

quite liked the blue sheep and red chairs

 

[DaveS]

So you had no problem finding room to anchor? Would that still have been the case had the moorings been occupied?

 

[bikedaft]

So you had no problem finding room to anchor? Would that still have been the case had the moorings been occupied?

no, big bay

 

[awol]

Plenty of room.