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Bangor needs to find itself again now it has city status

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Bangor has been awarded city status for the Jubilee. Credit: Peter Morrison

May 21 2022 11:00 AM

It’s welcome to Bangor, the city by the sea. The north Down town is a town no more.

And while the newly conferred city status — bestowed as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations — has been met with some surprise from those who live there, it could provide the perfect raising of the anchor to allow Bangor to set sail for a brighter future.

A few miles outside Belfast, fabulous beaches along the way, a marina and a superb seafront set up... all the ingredients are there to lift Bangor from the shadows of other seaside resorts like Newcastle and Portrush, which have always attracted more visitors.

But the town, now city, is in need of major investment. It has fallen behind as a great place to visit.

Bangor certainly has a Royal history. In 1903, Edward VII visited with Queen Alexandra following a tour of Ireland as part of his Coronation celebrations.

In 1961, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Bangor Castle and had lunch at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, before the duke raced in the regatta.

Over the years a lot of that history has been lost. The challenge now is one of rediscovery. Looking to that past to build for the future.

That mantle now falls to local enterprise and Ards and North Down Council.

There is no cash windfall for receiving city status, but the prestige will be a feather in the cap.

Dressing Bangor up in a top hat and tails to replace that cap should be the priority.

First it has to find itself again, and that starts with the right investment to attract new hotels, new shops, new attractions and new visitors who may have bypassed the tarnished town in search of the more golden-looking sands of Newcastle and the Mournes.

In the short term the fish and chips can now be served on the finest china plates. But it’s only a matter of time before people realise their dinner tastes the same as it did before, and they won't want to pay more for the service.

Opportunity has been granted, potential has been seen, now it has to be realised.

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