MEMBERS OF North Ayrshire Council’s Licensing Board recently held their meeting on the site of the planned £2million development at the Seamill Hydro.  As part of their expanding business, the Hydro will be home to the new Firth Pavilion which is set to open in Spring 2017 and will replace the current marriage suite, the Brisbane.  The board met on Friday afternoon after a site visit as the alterations were the only items on the agenda for this month’s meeting.  All of the amendments were passed at the meeting.

One of the directors at the Seamill Hydro, Steven Sweeney, explained what these would mean and what the Firth Pavilion would offer in the long run.  He said: “The Firth Pavilion plans were previously passed last year and this will be a very large investment, in excess of £2million.  “This is a new vision for guests, with an iconic building with views across to Arran attached to a very high quality hotel.

“The meeting on Friday was to discuss minor alterations, such as moving Sunday sales of alcohol from 12.30pm to 11am and for the possibility of a pop-up bar to be used.” Steven and his team hope the Hydro will tempt people down to the Ayrshire coast and away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow.  He added: “We hope to have kerb appeal and this will be a big thing for promoting the hotel in Ayrshire.

"Sadly, after 40 years, the Brisbane Suite will be no longer. It’s a shame but people want vision and seeing Arran gives us that.  “We want to make sure everything is done right and work will be starting on the shell at the end of September.”  With work to be completed by April of 2017, the famous hotel is already taking bookings for the new suite.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Since the Seamill Hydro licence holder proposes a large construction project, with many individual changes to the licence, the Licensing Board undertook a site visit to the premises on Friday, August 7.

“As there was only one application to be considered – due to the council’s summer recess – and considering that all members on the Board will be at the Seamill Hydro anyway for the site visit, it made sense to hold the Licensing Board meeting there afterwards.”