FE McWilliam Gallery & Studio reopens today
28/07/2020
FE McWilliam Gallery and Studio reopened in Banbridge today (Wednesday July 29) and is safely welcoming back visitors to enjoy its award-winning permanent display of McWilliam’s work, outstanding exhibitions, craft shop, gardens, food and drink.
Dedicated to the memory of local sculptor Frederick Edward McWilliam, one of Ireland’s most influential and successful artists, the free-to-visit gallery and studio, which has been closed since March, will be open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Described by the Irish Times as one of the island’s ‘hidden gems’ and a “remarkable” facility, top travel expert Pól Ó Conghaile at the Irish Independent has also described the gallery and studio as a ‘hidden gem’ while heaping praise on its award-winning restaurant, Quail’s.
The FE McWilliam Gallery and Studio was established in 2008, two decades after the sculptor’s death, to house works his family bequeathed to the people of Banbridge, including the contents of his studio, a replica of which sits in the garden.
The son of a local doctor, McWilliam was born in the town in 1909 and his work spans most of the major artistic movements of the 20th century.
Featuring a permanent display of McWilliam’s work, temporary exhibitions of Irish and international art, a craft shop, café and Banbridge Visitor Information Point, the FE McWilliam Gallery and Studio is popular among visitors from across the island.
Armagh’s Navan Centre reopens on 30 July with the ultimate new experience.
28/07/2020
Armagh’s Navan Centre, which tells the story of one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, the Navan Fort, safely reopens to the public from Thursday July 30 with a new and exciting fresh take on its 2,000-year-old history.
Now free to enter for the month of August, the popular visitor attraction, located just two minutes from Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital, Armagh City, is currently at the centre of a new global focus after researchers uncovered new evidence of “absolutely huge” religious structures dating back to the Iron Age.
Long popular with visitors from across the island, the Navan Centre will be open from Thursdays through to Sunday every week with a new and exciting programme of outdoor interpretative events which celebrate its pivotal place in history, its Celtic past and the stories of warriors, knights and legends.
Exploring how the area’s native countrymen and women lived, what they ate, wore and how they spent their days with practical demonstrations, talks and interpretative events, Navan Centre & Fort provides visitors with one the best, unique family days out.
Lidl Northern Ireland Harvests New Crop of Home-Grown Artisan Producers
23/07/2020
Lidl Northern Ireland is serving up a real taste of home this summer by adding a brand new range of home-grown products from artisan food and drink producers across Northern Ireland.
Showcasing the best of Northern Irish produce, the selected products will be available across all 202 Lidl stores on the island of Ireland as part of the retailer’s ‘Kick Start’ local supplier development programme.
The new products, which include succulent smoked meats, award-winning apple cider vinegar, hearty meat pies, healthy ready meals and premium Irish gin will hit shelves on Thursday 30th July and will be available for a limited time.
Now in its third year, the Lidl Kick Start Programme is designed to help small and medium size local food and drink producers grow their brand, build their supply network and reach new customer audiences with the potential to open up new export opportunities. Previous Kick Start success stories include Noisy Snacks based in Newtownards, Copeland Spirits distilled in Donaghadee and Refuge Hot Chocolate brewed in Belfast as well as many more.
Galgorm Unveils New Spa Attractions as Part of £2 Million Expansion Project
21/07/2020
Northern Ireland’s premier luxury hotel and spa destination, Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, has unveiled its new, dramatically enhanced Thermal Village and Spa provision, representing an investment of more than £2 million into the popular Resort’s tourism credentials.
Work on the expansion project commenced in March this year after closing its doors in line with government safety restrictions.
The newly-reopened Resort now boasts a suite of new attractions for spa guests, including a 10 metre infinity pool on the shores of the River Maine, a 200m2 Palm House relaxation area encompassing 6 heated loungers, and a brand new Salt Room for halotherapy experiences.
With over 90 per cent of its Thermal Village and Spa offering located outdoors, Galgorm has also installed two group hot tubs and saunas, three additional private hot tubs with waterfall views and six brand new riverside cabanas.
Hop to it… The Rabbit Bar & Restaurant Opens with Enchanting New Dining Experience
07/07/2020
Galgorm Collection has officially revealed the name of its new-look boutique hotel, ‘The Rabbit’, formerly known as the Templeton, and announced the opening of its brand new Rabbit Bar & Restaurant on Friday 17th July.
Burrowed in the heart of the picturesque village of Templepatrick, Co Antrim, The Rabbit Bar and Restaurant exudes sass, with a chic interior, bespoke lighting and eclectic décor for an unforgettable dining experience. Taking centre stage is The Rabbit’s show-stopping bar, adorned with glistening bronze, where expert mixologists shake up the finest libations.
With a menu inspired by the American Deep South, featuring seasonal, local produce and the finest cuts of meat, The Rabbit is the perfect den for couples, friends and families to escape, with a menu designed for sharing.
The Rabbit Bar & Restaurant seats up to 180 and boasts a large outdoor terrace for al fresco dining, offering stunning views of the property’s newly installed garden.
Galgorm Collection acquired the former Templeton Hotel last year and is currently undergoing a £7 million investment. Extensive refurbishment work has been undertaken to upgrade the hotel’s 24 guest rooms and develop a new outdoor spa offering, due to open later this year. The Rabbit Bar & Restaurant refurbishment represents an investment of £2.5 million into the property.
Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort Among UK’s First Hotels to Secure New AA COVID Confident Mark
07/07/2020
Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort has become one of the UK’s first hospitality businesses to secure the new AA COVID Confident Mark for its health and safety commitment ahead of reopening on Friday 24th July.
The UK-wide accreditation certifies Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort as having all the necessary assessments, safety measures and staff training in place to reopen safely and in line with all official guidelines.
Backed by all the UK’s top industry bodies, the scheme is designed to support the hospitality industry in reassuring consumers as restrictions ease.
Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, which is the only independent hotel in Northern Ireland to make the AA grade, recently published its own full safety guidelines and hygiene commitment. The Resort is also in the process of obtaining Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good To Go’ consumer safety standard, which is supported by Tourism Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation.
Greenisland Flowers in full bloom after securing new supply deal with Lidl Northern Ireland
29/06/2020
Top Northern Ireland horticulturalist Greenisland Flowers is blooming today after securing a new supply deal with Lidl Northern Ireland to ship more than four million stems of freshly cut tulips, lilies and scented stocks to its 202 stores in Ireland and Northern Ireland
With over 40 employees, the Portadown-based company which has two sites across six hectares in Craigavon has been growing retail-ready fresh flowers for over 18 years and this latest contract will take its longstanding relationship with Lidl Northern Ireland up to 2022.
Its partnership with Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket goes back to 2012 when it started supplying stems to its growing regional store base. Since establishing in 2002, producing just 250,000 stems, the company has grown its operations to this year supply more than four million stems to the retailer.
Belfast Chamber and Ardmore to host free resilience workshop for businesses
29/06/2020
Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce has joined forces with leading integrated communications agency, Ardmore, to deliver an online workshop featuring one of the most powerful global influencers in the retail industry, Cate Trotter, aimed at helping local firms claw their way back to recovery post Covid-19.
The free webinar, “Understanding Your Customer in a Post-Lockdown World”, takes place on Thursday 2 July at 5pm and will deliver new insights, practical solutions and advice to aid new growth and a more sustainable future for businesses right across Northern Ireland.
A respected expert in retail, current trends and technology, Cate Trotter has helped major brands such as Facebook, Nike, Chanel, Samsung, Mercedes-Benz, Levi’s and EE power their way through change and new innovations and will be bringing her expertise to Belfast as part of this major business support event.
Hosted by Belfast Chamber chief executive, Simon Hamilton, the panel includes Ardmore’s top marketing and creative strategists Paul Bowen, Ed Henderson, Paul James and Alison O’Neill to help guide businesses through the challenges ahead.
Northern Ireland’s FE colleges launch new drive to promote business recovery through part-time learning
15/06/2020
All six of Northern Ireland’s Further Education colleges have launched a major drive to help put part-time learning, skills, and business support at the heart of economic economy.
Located in all key economic centres across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Bangor, Ballymena and Enniskillen, the six colleges employ more than 5,200 staff, support over 78,000 part-time students and provide business mentoring and services to over 10,000 businesses including Terex, Ryobi, Microsoft, Selective Travel and First Derivatives.
Last year, more than 78,700 students of all ages were enrolled on more than 1,660 part-time courses and training programmes across the region, as well as a range of accessible Higher Education options.
Now, as part of a new drive that helps to put the Northern Ireland FE sector at the forefront of the post Covid-19 recovery, the colleges have come together to launch a major campaign to raise awareness of the wide range of quality part-time and online learning opportunities available to support people and businesses rebound from the crisis.
Rushmere Shopping Centre & Retail Park plans drive-in movie weekend as retail prepares to rev up in June
02/06/2020
Rushmere Shopping Centre and Retail Park said today it expects a significant increase in the number of shops reopening this month following the government’s announcement that non-essential retail outlets could reopen from June 8.
One of Northern Ireland’s largest retail destinations, Rushmere said it was also planning a drive-in family movie weekend later this month as part of a series of new initiatives to welcome customers safely back. Further details will be announced on its social media channels later this week.
The centre has remained open for retailers of essential items such as food, pharmacy and pet supplies since March, with Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Home Bargains, Boots, Specsavers, Holland & Barrett, Post Office, B&M Bargains, Pets at Home and Pound Stretcher all remaining open. Homebase reopened earlier this month.