Popular Ballymena bar up for sale after owners of nearly 40 years announce retirement

The Front Page Bar has been making its own headlines in the centre of the Co Antrim town for a lifetime, and has been a pub since the turn of the century.

An award-winning venue, it has become popular with celebrities, locals and visitors of all ages, from 18 to 80 year olds.

Proprietors Stephen and Marie Reynolds took to social media on Monday to let their customers know that they felt it was time to call last orders and pursue dreams of travelling.

A Facebook post from The Front Page said: “A bit of news for everyone.

“Following 34 fantastic years at the helm of The Front Page Bar, Marie and I have decided it’s time to retire and allow someone else to continue to build upon the excellent, award-winning, hospitality venue that we, together with the help of everyone at Team Front Page and all of you our loyal and visiting customers, have helped create over many years.

“Staff have already been made aware. Marie and I aren’t getting any younger and there are areas of this wonderful world that we would love to explore while we’re both still, young, fit and able.

“The sale of The Front Page will go public today and Marie and I just wanted to make all of you aware ahead of the sale.

“In the meantime however, it’s business as usual at The Front Page for now with another busy week ahead planned.

“Thank you everyone for your ongoing support as always. We’ll keep everyone updated with ongoing developments.”.

In 2018, The Front Page was recognised as being one of Hospitality Ulster’s Top 100 hospitality venues in Northern Ireland and has been a past winner of NI Community Pub of the Year.

Its name is derived from its position next to the former newspaper office and its interior décor is complemented by a display of framed newspaper “front pages” depicting many of the famous headlines of yesteryear.