Bangor by the Sea, Bangor, Bangor (2026)

14/09/2026

🚲 𝗣𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗦, 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 ☀️

More than 100 riders took part on Saturday as both the school and public Park Pedal rides at Ward Park were booked to capacity, with organisers describing it as possibly their best event yet!

The first ride welcomed 50 cyclists from 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 and 𝗦𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹’𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 as the chosen Park Pedal Pioneers.
Organisers praised the pupils’ excellent cycling skills, enthusiasm and impeccable manners, describing them as a credit to their schools. 👏

The public ride also reached its capacity of 50 participants, reflecting the enthusiasm for family-friendly cycling opportunities in the area.

Questions about setting up school bike buses have also encouraged Park Pedal’s plans to grow these networks across Northern Ireland. 🌳🚲

Police Ards & North Down joined as support riders, with one young cyclist memorably describing their electric bikes as “catch the criminals” bikes! Even the Ward Park geese earned a thank you for making room for everyone. 🪿😀

Park Pedal CIC thanked the community and programme partners, Ards and North Down Borough Council and Ards and North Down Cycle Campaign, for helping make the events such a success.

𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀? Look out for familiar faces in Park Pedal’s footage and let us know how you enjoyed it! 🎥🚲

For more information about Park Pedal CIC, check out the link in the comments section:-

13/09/2026

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗩𝗘. 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗢𝗥’𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬
Across these four images, the dove connects Bangor’s monastic beginnings, Victorian generosity, city status and waterfront renewal. A small bird with a remarkable presence in the story of this place.

That connection reaches back to St Columbanus, whose name means “little dove”. Pictured with the bird resting on his shoulder, he spent years at Bangor Abbey before carrying its tradition of faith and learning into continental Europe. His legacy gave Bangor an international significance that continues to be celebrated today.

Centuries later, the dove found another home in the intricate ironwork of the Coates Memorial drinking fountain, erected in 1895 by Bangor Corinthian Sailing Club in memory of Mrs Arthur Hill Coates.

Look closely beneath its dome. Among the flowers and curling foliage, doves spread their wings above the larger herons displayed in decorative shields. They are easily overlooked, yet form a beautiful part of a memorial that has accompanied generations of Bangor life.

The dove appears again on the "Letters Patent" conferring city status on Bangor. A white dove representing St Columbanus sits within the decorative border, carrying a reminder of Bangor’s ancient heritage into one of its proudest modern milestones.

Now the dove is set to become a defining image of the new waterfront.

The Dove, the centrepiece of Colin Davidson’s ECLIPSE trio, will bring monumental bronze hands and light together to cast a dove-shaped shadow across Marine Gardens. Alongside The Swan at Pickie and The Crab at Eisenhower Pier, it will celebrate Bangor’s identity through an ambitious new work of public art.

Its message of peace, resilience and renewal will have particular resonance as the waterfront opens a new chapter.

With the restored Coates fountain expected to return in the coming months on its new granite plinth, the dove will be present in both a treasured historic landmark and a striking contemporary centrepiece.
Visitors will be able to discover it in the smallest decorative detail and experience it on a spectacular scale.

𝗜𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.

13/09/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗦:
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗚𝗡’𝗦 𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗪𝗞𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦

For months, the "Save Marine Gardens" campaign has challenged Bangor Marine over paid parking, pollution, mature trees and commercial use of the waterfront.
Its own boulevard proposal now deserves some equally direct questions.

𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻?
The campaign opposes an 81-space paid car park while proposing more than 100 spaces across Queen’s Parade and the West Pavilion area, therefore accepting parking revenue to support the development's viability.
That undermines any suggestion that charging motorists or generating commercial income is inherently objectionable.
The campaign’s own "Boulevard" proposal accepts both.

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀: 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲?
Before claiming the environmental advantage, campaigners should publish which existing mature trees their boulevard would retain and which it would sacrifice.
“Save the trees” cannot meaningfully test Bangor Marine’s proposal if the campaign’s alternative escapes the same examination.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
Parking along Queen’s Parade and beside the West Pavilion would still bring vehicles and manoeuvring close to the new Marine Gardens. Relocating those movements does not establish that their impact would be smaller.
Where is the comparison demonstrating that the boulevard would perform better?

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀
The repeated emphasis on a “125-year lease” risks stirring fear without explaining the arrangement. The council remaining head lessee is compatible with Bangor Marine holding an underlease; neither amounts to a sale of the land. Proper scrutiny concerns the agreement’s terms, restrictions, and safeguards. And the campaign’s boulevard proposal would also require a legal basis for Bangor Marine to operate paid parking and receive the income. The same scrutiny should apply to both.

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸?
The boulevard proposal appears to increase risk by requiring drivers to park and passengers to enter or leave vehicles alongside live traffic lanes. Cyclists and motorcyclists could face additional hazards from opening doors and vehicles pulling into or out of spaces. Families heading towards the gardens would also have to cross the road while motorists negotiate parking manoeuvres. These potential conflicts raise serious questions about whether the layout would be less safe than a dedicated off-street car park.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲?
Its alternative suggests the central dispute concerns protecting this particular grassy strip while accommodating commercial parking elsewhere.
That is a legitimate position. But campaigners should explain why impacts invoked against Bangor Marine become acceptable, or manageable, within their own design.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗸.
Paid parking is condemned, then proposed. Commercial income is criticised, then accepted. Pollution is challenged, yet the alternative still accommodates cars beside the gardens. Trees are central to the campaign, but its own potentially greater tree losses demand an answer.

Protecting this particular strip is a legitimate aim. Presenting the impacts of one scheme as unacceptable while failing to account for comparable impacts in your own Boulevard proposal invites an obvious charge of hypocrisy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.

11/09/2026

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡:-
𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣?
Back in May, Bangor Marine put out an unusual invitation for a local individual, group or organisation to express an interest in becoming a 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 for the new Marine Gardens bandstand.

The successful participant was to work alongside 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀, offering someone locally the rare opportunity to help influence a permanent feature of Bangor’s regenerated waterfront and potentially be credited as part of its design story.

Expressions of interest closed on 𝟭𝟰 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲, but there appears to have been no public update since.

So we were just wondering: 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, and was the opportunity followed through?

We often hear plenty of criticism about design choices once plans appear, so it would be interesting to know what level of interest there was when people were actually given the chance to get involved and help shape one.

10/09/2026

𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗜𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗: 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗢𝗥’𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞
The full planning application to redevelop Pickie Fun Park was published today, revealing plans for a substantial refresh of one of Bangor’s best-known family attractions.

The two-hectare waterfront park would combine new attractions with upgraded Pickie favourites, while placing greater emphasis on all-weather use, accessibility and year-round activity.

Highlights include a new-look Pickie Puffer, with a larger train, an upgraded and partly realigned track, and an accessible carriage.
A new tunnel would feature screens capable of creating themed journeys for seasonal events and special occasions.

The amusement area would gain new rides, including a Pirate Ship, alongside a separate pool for zorbing and mini duck floats. The existing Water Flume would be relocated towards the southern end of the park.

Pickie’s familiar 18-hole crazy golf course also stays, but would receive a complete makeover with new obstacles, landscaping and holes themed around Northern Ireland landmarks including Harland & Wolff, the Giant’s Causeway and Donaghadee Lighthouse.

Visitors would enter through a new open plaza and ticket/coffee kiosk, while the existing café would be extended and opened up more towards the lagoon. The present maintenance building would also be partly converted into an indoor events space, helping Pickie offer more during winter and poorer weather.

A quieter nature and sensory area is proposed for the higher part of the site, linked by an accessible elevated walkway and complemented by new planting, picnic areas, seating and natural play features. Changing Places facilities and improved accessible routes also form an important part of the scheme.

And one important feature remains: Pickie would continue to be free to enter, with visitors paying only for the individual attractions they choose to use.

The redevelopment aims to retain Pickie’s familiar seaside character while giving it a broader, greener and more accessible future as part of the wider Bangor Waterfront regeneration programme.

09/09/2026

💀𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗢𝗥…
The former Dicksons Garden Centre on Cootehall Road is about to get a very different lease of life this October, when OnTheSkull Emporium arrives in Bangor with a huge Halloween pop-up shop and haunted walkthrough. 👻

Visitors can expect:

🎃 Costumes, masks and Halloween decorations
💀 Horror props and large animatronics
👹 A dedicated haunted walkthrough
🛍️ Free entry to the Halloween shop
🚗 Free on-site parking

The haunted walkthrough costs £5 per person and includes a spooky gift worth £5, with no advance booking required.

🕙 Opening weekend, 3 & 4 October: 10am to 9pm
🗓️ 5 to 31 October: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm
📍 79 Cootehall Road, Bangor BT19 1UP

💻 OnTheSkull also has an online shop, packed with Halloween decorations, masks, props and plenty more suitably spooky stuff.

👇 Find the online shop link in the comments😈

Who’s brave enough to take on the haunted walkthrough? 👀👇

08/09/2026

AURORA: THE BOROUGH’S FLAGSHIP LEISURE AND AQUATIC ASSET

Bangor Aurora deserves a bit of time in the spotlight.
More than a decade after opening, it has firmly established itself as 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵’𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁, and the latest figures show just how much value it continues to deliver.

During 2025/26, Northern Community Leisure Trust’s North Down facilities recorded almost 𝟵𝟱𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 visits, while measured social value reached a record £𝟰.𝟴𝟴 million, up 𝟮𝟱% on the previous year. That equates to around £𝟭𝟮𝟲 per participant and places the Trust in the top quartile nationally.

Yet, the vital community work driving these numbers is where the real impact lies. Programmes support Active Ageing, people living with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, cancer rehabilitation, autism, mental wellbeing and disability sport, alongside schools, young people and a wide range of community organisations. Active Ageing participation rose by 𝟰𝟲%, while disability participation increased by 𝟱𝟯%.

Aurora itself also achieved an “𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁” 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 in November 2025, the highest grading within the leisure industry’s recognised quality assessment scheme.

Where 𝗔𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 is in the scale and quality of its facilities:

🏊N.Ireland’s only 50m, 10-lane international-standard competition pool

🤿 A dedicated 25m diving pool and elite diving centre

👥 Spectator seating for around 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬

🌊 A substantial leisure-water complex with flumes, wave pool and water attractions

🏟️ An eight-court sports hall alongside a specialised Performance Development Centre

That combination gives Aurora an importance well beyond Bangor, or indeed the Borough. It can host major competitions and high-performance sport, while at the same time serving thousands of local families, children, older people, clubs and community groups.

There is always plenty of discussion about what Bangor and the wider borough still need, but it is just as important to recognise and celebrate the quality of what we already have.

𝗔𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵’𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁, 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽.

08/09/2026

𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡: 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗’𝗦 𝗕𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘

The new Food Warehouse by Iceland has officially opened at Lesley Bloomfield Retail Park in Bangor.

The store, located beside Harry Corry, is the largest Food Warehouse in Northern Ireland, offering an extensive selection of frozen food, household favourites, big brands and bulk-value packs.

Another welcome addition to Bangor’s retail offering. 🛒

07/09/2026

𝐀 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑

The Viking Vela made a spectacular appearance between the trees at the bottom of Main Street this evening, shortly before departing Belfast Lough.

Built in 2024, this impressive cruise ship measures around 784 feet in length, has 499 staterooms and can accommodate up to 998 guests.

Quite a sight from Bank Corner! 🚢

06/09/2026

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗢𝗡 • 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗘
It is now one full year since construction began on the new Marine Gardens at Queen’s Parade, with work getting underway on 5 September 2025.

Back then, the long Queen’s Parade surface car park still dominated the waterfront, the McKee Clock sat in its familiar surroundings, and the old promenade, acres of tarmac and three dilapidated water features were still in place.

A year later, the site is unrecognisable.

Much of the work has happened beneath the surface, with new drainage and sewer systems, piling, groundworks and the reuse of thousands of tonnes of old material.
Above ground, the McKee Clock events space, pavilion structures, terraces, sunken gardens, widened promenade and new paths are now taking shape.

The project has experienced delays and will now open in stages. The McKee Clock events area is expected to reopen this November, with the larger central section following in spring 2027. The proposed western playpark and car park remain subject to planning.

A familiar piece of Bangor is changing before our eyes. One year into construction, the outline of a very different waterfront is beginning to appear.

Bangor by the Sea

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