Newry duo behind £325k Warrenpoint coffee venture

Two Newry businessmen have invested £325,000 to open a speciality coffee house and breathe new life into one of Warrenpoint's best-known seafront buildings, creating 13 new jobs in the process. OCCO Coffee House, founded by Neil Cole and Gareth O'Connor, opens its doors at 56 Seaview on Thursday 5 June.

The building, widely known locally as Coles Corner, was acquired in November 2024 by Warrenpoint developers Margaret and Conrad Haughian of Conrad Developments after the property had spent many years in probate. The restoration project preserved much of the original fabric of the building, including its 150-year-old staircase, historic stonework and original features, while bringing it up to modern standards.

Interior design was handled by Aoife Mulvenna of Fada, an award-winning designer whose work has featured in a number of well-regarded hospitality spaces in Ireland.

OCCO's coffee menu has been developed with Bell Lane Coffee, an award-winning Irish speciality roaster, in what is the brand's first permanent speciality coffee partnership in Northern Ireland.

To mark the opening, the first 300 customers each day from 4 to 6 June will be offered coffee for £1.

The business has already attracted significant online attention ahead of opening, with 6,500 Instagram followers and more than 1.2 million video views generated.

Co-founder Neil Cole said: "Our vision from the outset was to create something that felt worthy of both the building and the town. Warrenpoint is one of the most beautiful places on the island of Ireland and it is important to Gareth and me that OCCO would contribute to that story by creating a space that locals can be proud of and visitors will travel for.

"This isn't simply about opening a coffee shop. It's about creating jobs, supporting local suppliers and helping showcase everything that makes Warrenpoint special. The response before we've even opened has been overwhelming. This level of interest gives us confidence that people are excited to see high-quality hospitality experiences continue to grow in the area."

Co-founder Gareth O'Connor added: "We've spent countless hours thinking about every detail of the customer experience, from the coffee and menu through to the design and atmosphere. Whether someone is grabbing a coffee before work, meeting friends, visiting Warrenpoint for the day or exploring the Mournes, we want OCCO to feel like a place that people naturally return to again and again.

"In the months ahead, we're looking forward to introducing a programme of community events, creative collaborations and cultural experiences designed to further strengthen connections within the local community while attracting visitors from across Ireland and beyond."

Margaret Haughian of Conrad Developments said: "Bringing this building back to life has been a labour of love. For many people in Warrenpoint, Coles Corner holds special memories and it has been incredibly rewarding to see it transformed from a long-derelict building into a vibrant new coffee destination that will play an important role in the life of the town."