About Us

Hastings Hotels is the largest independent hotel group in Northern Ireland with six luxurious properties across the province.

This family owned company was established in the late 1960’s and its founder, Sir William Hastings, is still at the helm today as Chairman. Over the past twenty years has introduced all four of his children to the group in the roles of Managing Director, Sales Director, Marketing Director and Events Director. It has not been an easy forty years for Sir William and his group of hotels, and despite numerous setbacks and obstacles over the years, the company has continued to grow and grow.

History

Sir William Hastings founded Hastings Hotels in 1968 by with the purchase of the Stormont and Adair Arms Hotels. In 1971 he bought a group of six run-down railway hotels, but “the troubles” were at their height and very few tourists dared to venture to Northern Ireland. Many of the hotels were heavily bombed and destroyed.

In fact the Slieve Donard hotel in Newcastle was at one point nicknamed the ‘Titanic’ as it was feared it would sink the whole group! Ironic really, as the Slieve is the only remaining hotel of the original six which operates as a hotel today, and in 2006 it underwent a huge expansion and £15 million investment with the addition of over 50 new Resort bedrooms and a state of the art Spa which was designed in conjunction with world spa consultants, ESPA.

Download a more detailed and fuller history of the Hastings Hotels group.