The Bal up for sale

Links234

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=720152

Saw that this place is on the market, and I don't really know how much pubs go for in general but it seems cheap to me.

I hope someone with some taste buys it and knocks it :pac:

I've got a particular loathing for the place, it's an absolute eyesore and normally I'm not one to even comment on how good a place looks, but this place just looms, it's tacky and I'd really love to see someone to do something decent with it. it was like an attempt to put an upmarket Dublin superpub in Galway, it just didn't fit in with anything around it. even if they took out that looming glass front, that'd be a huge improvement.

the keen edge

I don't think the exterior looks overly bad; the interior is a bit tacky alright.
I never was inside the place, I wonder did it ever do much trade?

Hard to know how much would buy it, those AMV can be misleading.

Regardless, probably millions of euros lost on this business venture, is it in NAMA?.

ben.schlomo

the keen edge wrote: »

I don't think the exterior looks overly bad; the interior is a bit tacky alright.
I never was inside the place, I wonder did it ever do much trade?

Hard to know how much would buy it, those AMV can be misleading.

Regardless, probably millions of euros lost on this business venture, is it in NAMA?.

Hmm, that dont make no sense!

I actually think its a nice pub but the fact that Salthill isnt a nightlife area rules it out for everything bar the summer really, unless you turn it into something that has a particular novelty or attraction.

the keen edge

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Hmm, that dont make no sense!

There are a few photos of the interior on the OP's link.

Its got that cheap hostel look about it.

ben.schlomo

the keen edge wrote: »

There are a few photos of the interior on the OP's link.

Its got that cheap hostel look about it.

Id go with spacious, open and bright but its all relative i guess.

gordongekko

I think it cost 1.1 million to buy the old bal and 1.6 to build the new bal. I'm sure a certain famous publican will be in the running to purchase it.

snubbleste

Isn't Galway overpopulated by pubs as it is?

TristanPeter

I love that building! At least there was imagination used, compared to Lohan's for example, which I believe to be the worst of the worst architecturally-speaking (exterior), especially given their prime location. It's a pity The Bal is not facing the prom. The huge glass windows would really make the most of the views. My friend's father built the place (Duane Construction) and if I remember correctly, he said two Swedish or Dutch architects designed it. It would make a really cool house.
I think Duane Construction built Lohan's too come to think of it.

emptybladder

€2.9m down to €350k? Eeek!

http://www.connachttribune.ie/galway-news/item/690-salthill-pub-on-the-market-for-fraction-of-cost

I reckon it'll sell for around 700k to 800k.

NoPasaran

You know I've walked past that a few times and never actually looked up...

The building would be great if it were actually facing out onto the water, it's exactly the type of structure you see in those locations. Where it is though is just a bit odd.

snubbleste

"Salthill has had a major revival in recent years, and it is very much a destination now"

Eeden

snubbleste wrote: »

"Salthill has had a major revival in recent years, and it is very much a destination now"

That's the bit that stood out for me too!

BeardySi

Always thought someone must have mixed up the plans for Lohans and the Bal, each would be much better in the other location...

Never liked the place personally, it always felt rather soulless...

ronnie3585

It's a monstrosity and an eyesore, second only to the Bailey Point.

If I had won the Euromillions I would buy it and knock it.

jkforde

emptybladder wrote: »

€2.9m down to €350k? Eeek! http://www.connachttribune.ie/galway-news/item/690-salthill-pub-on-the-market-for-fraction-of-cost I reckon it'll sell for around 700k to 800k.

heard from a good source the other night that it cost over 4 million to buy & build but never made money no matter who tried to run the place. they should gut it and install one of those free fall \skydiving simulators with the huge fan at the bottom, it'd be great fun .... for a while at least!

fergiesfolly

Had The Bal been built on Lohans site, it would have been a screaming sucess, imho.
Open, airy pub in a prime location with large windows offering panoramic views of the bay would have gotten a good passing trade all day long.

Paddyfield

I went to the Bal for Sunday lunch 3 or 4 years ago with my kids. The server said he'd be with us in a few minutes. Despite grabbing his attention on 2 more occasions, he never took our order. We left after 20mins of waiting and went elsewhere.

Greaney

I think it was a sports pub, or that was the idea. The place was full of telly's. I went for a drink there..... once:rolleyes:

Missyelliot2

Is that where O'Connors used to be?

Eeden

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

Is that where O'Connors used to be?

No, it's next door to O'Connor's.

dilallio

O'Connors is still there. The Bal is between O'Connors and the Post Office.

I never liked the look of the new Bal and thought it impractical for Salthill.
Salthill can get very quite, particularly in Winter. During quite times, it's important to be able to run a pub with one bar person. Not easy when the pub is split over 3 floors.

audman

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

Is that where O'Connors used to be?

El_Dangeroso

In fairness the whole of Salthill is a catalogue of architectural horrors.

Can't think of one building that has a single bit of aesthetic merit.

snubbleste

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

In fairness the whole of Salthill is a catalogue of architectural horrors.
Can't think of one building that has a single bit of aesthetic merit.

Surely BurrenMount has some redeeming features?

Eeden

snubbleste wrote: »

Surely BurrenMount has some redeeming features?

audman

What about the Baily Point guys? Serving a huge purpose in the Salthill area, always seems to be very busy! I'm
convinced it was built as a prop type replica for the MI6 building in James Bond.

El_Dangeroso

snubbleste wrote: »

Surely BurrenMount has some redeeming features?

Of course, I stand eternally corrected :pac:

Arnold Layne

ronnie3585 wrote: »

It's a monstrosity and an eyesore, second only to the Bailey Point.

If I had won the Euromillions I would buy it and knock it.

And rebuild the old Bal

its me_330

OMG that is hideous. I had some brilliant nites.in the old bal years ago when we went to salthill. What were they thinking building this eyesore. Have to go bak to salthill soon. Is salt and pepper chipper there?

Eeden

Yeah, it's still there.

nineteen66

it was a proper pub in the 80's,if u asked for a beer you got smithwicks,a pint was Guinness and it was harp with a dash of lime during the salthill festival.if you wanted a coffee the jar of Maxwell house came out.......

Missyelliot2

nineteen66 wrote: »

it was a proper pub in the 80's,if u asked for a beer you got smithwicks,a pint was Guinness and it was harp with a dash of lime during the salthill festival.if you wanted a coffee the jar of Maxwell house came out.......

I actually was served Satzenbrau - think it might have been out of date!

thesandeman

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

I actually was served Satzenbrau - think it might have been out of date!

Think you should have went to the pub about eight doors up the road if you were looking for Pils in those days ;-)

Missyelliot2

thesandeman wrote: »

Think you should have went to the pub about eight doors up the road if you were looking for Pils in those days ;-)

Satzenbrau was the brew there (and in O'Reillys!)

c_man

gordongekko wrote: »

I think it cost 1.1 million to buy the old bal and 1.6 to build the new bal. I'm sure a certain famous publican will be in the running to purchase it.

Dish the goss

nuac

gordongekko wrote: »

I think it cost 1.1 million to buy the old bal and 1.6 to build the new bal. I'm sure a certain famous publican will be in the running to purchase it.

Mad prices and costs.

I recall that the old Bal changed hands in the late fifties for a reputed £4,500.

that modern Bal is hideous.

Some architects go overboard on the glass. It jars with the rest of Salthill

pleasant Co.

nuac wrote: »

It jars with the rest of Salthill

lol :pac:

gordongekko

nuac wrote: »

Mad prices and costs.

I recall that the old Bal changed hands in the late fifties for a reputed £4,500.

that modern Bal is hideous.

Some architects go overboard on the glass. It jars with the rest of Salthill

im sure on a lovely summers day it must be lovely to be able to sit there staring out those windows enjoying the wonderful views of..... Caesars Palace or.... The solicitors office or....the chemists

Missyelliot2

Unfortunately, Salthill is a bit rundown (probably like a lot of seaside places), but it just looks tacky - especially when you consider the hideous Baily Point, Banba Hotel, the Eglinton Hotel, the (old) Oasis, and the casino palace across from the Bal.

Nothing could entice me there....sorry to say

thesandeman

It looks like they built The Bal back to front. If it was facing the other way there would be great sea views from the top floor.
I would rather pay 350grand for the old Bal than have to knock the current monstrosity and have to start again.

nineteen66

the original pubs proper name was The Ballinasloe Inn,i think.

thesandeman

That would be correct. Before they knocked it down down the temporary delivery guys for the distributors used to show me the dockets with 'The Ballinasloe Inn' on them asking where it was, so I guess it was also the company name or something as well.
Forgot about that till you mentioned it.

Lapin

I thought it was "The Ballinasloe House".

thesandeman

Lapin wrote: »

I thought it was "The Ballinasloe House".

Yep you're correct actually.
I think it used to be painted on the wall as you went down the side.

Are those houses still there? There was a sign in the pub way back saying not to disturb them.
Amazing the things you don't even bother noticing when you're in a familiar place.

Andrea B.

Has anybody heard if it went at auction on 12th, and if so, what price?

gordongekko

Andrea B. wrote: »

Has anybody heard if it went at auction on 12th, and if so, what price?

it was withdrawn but currently under negotiation.

Greaney

gordongekko wrote: »

it was withdrawn but currently under negotiation.

I was watching the auction on line, the bidding didn't go above 325k (didn't make it's reserve) so the bidder has one hour after the auction to negotiate with the seller.

Ger8

Sold

Ludikrus

Ger8 wrote: »

Sold

How much?

Ger8

Ludikrus wrote: »

How much?

320. Or somewhere close to that.

nineteen66

Who bought it?