NEWS

All geared up to take part in the Dragon Boat Race on the River Lagan in Belfast in aid of the NI Hospitality School. Monday 19 October 2026 Businesses from across the Ballymena area have joined forces to raise £12,500 for the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, swapping their workplaces for dragon boats in a spirited charity race on the River Lagan. Ten teams took to the water for the fourth annual Dragon Boat Race, combining friendly rivalry with fundraising to help people

(L-R) New managerial appointments at McKeever Hotels: Jonny Bailie, Scott Smyth, and Kris Cunningham Tuesday 13 October 2026 McKeever Hotels has appointed three general managers to lead some of its best-known hotels in Northern Ireland, with new leadership at Dunadry Hotel & Gardens, Dunsilly Hotel and Corrs Corner Hotel. The appointments see Jonny Bailie take charge at Dunadry Hotel & Gardens in Antrim, Scott Smyth become General Manager at Dunsilly Hotel, also in Antrim, an

Galgorm Collection has announced a five-year partnership with Ballymena Runners. Pictured alongside Georgie Briota, centre, Business Development Manager at Galgorm Collection are, Raymond Ruck, Chair of Ballymena Runners and Teresa Mark, Committee Member. Sunday 11 October 2026 Ballymena Runners have secured a new five-year partnership with Galgorm Collection, providing long-term sponsorship for the 370-member club and its popular all-female Ballymena Belles 5 Mile race. The

Alex O’Hara, centre, from The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection, was crowned Cocktail Bartender of the Year at the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. Alex is pictured alongside judges, from left, Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Paula McIntyre, celebrity chef, Paul Flynn, MCM Spirits and Giffards and Ryan Brown, Edward Dillon. Monday 05 October 2026 A Galgorm bartender has been crowne

The former Halifax bank building on Main Street, Larne at the centre of a proposal for a new coffee shop and galateria. Wednesday 30 September 2026 Plans have been submitted to turn Larne’s former Halifax bank into a coffee shop and gelateria. An agent acting on behalf of Assemble Brunch Company has applied to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a change of use at 33 Main Street. The proposal would bring the vacant premises back into use as a coffee shop and ice cream bus

Having fun during Galgorm Collection’s recent employee family fun day. Families attended from across Galgorm Collection’s establishments. Thursday 17 September 2026 Treasure hunts, pirates and mermaids brought Galgorm colleagues and their families together for a day of activities recognising the contribution of the hospitality group’s workforce. Team members, partners and children from across Galgorm Collection gathered at Galgorm Resort’s Great Hall on Sunday 13 September f

Suzanne Garuda of Garuda Design and Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast are pictured as the world-famous visitor attraction announces the completion of the first phase of an investment programme in its event spaces, with the iconic Titanic Suite reopening this week following a major refurbishment. Titanic Belfast’s Grand Staircase event suite is reopening this week after a major refurbishment, as the venue prepares to host 60 events between September and Dec

CGI of newly approved five bedroom extension at Oranmore Guesthouse in Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has approved plans for a five-bedroom extension at Oranmore Guest House on Galgorm Road, Ballymena, despite NI Water raising concerns over capacity. The proposal will provide additional guest accommodation in a single-storey detached block within the established grounds of the property. However, while planning permission has been granted, a condition attached t

Councillor Tyler Hoey, Chairman of Mid &East Antrim Policing and Community Safety partnership is pictured with Elena Brewer, Training Officer at ASCERT; Sergeant Wickham-Thomas, Neighbourhood Policing Officer, PSNI; Christina Li, ASCERT and Colin Robinson, Training Services Manager at ASCERT. A new free training programme aimed at helping bar, restaurant, club and off-licence staff deal confidently with alcohol-related risks is being rolled out across Mid and East Antrim this

CGI of new multi-purpose berthing facility for cruise ships to the city at land on Airport Road West in the Harbour Estate. Belfast’s facilities for welcoming cruise passengers are set to be expanded after councillors approved amended plans for a multi-purpose berthing facility within the Harbour Estate. Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee gave the application from Belfast Harbour Commissioners the green light on Tuesday evening, 18 August. The development, on land at A

Northern Regional College lecturer, Colin Wright, who has been shortlisted for a prestigious hospitality award. A Northern Regional College lecturer who is helping train the next generation of chefs has been shortlisted for one of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality awards. Professional Cookery Lecturer Colin Wright has been named a finalist for Lecturer of the Year at the 2026 Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards, recognising his work developing students’ culi

South Antrim MP Robin Swann South Antrim MP Robin Swann has renewed calls for a reduced rate of VAT for Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector after the UK Government announced fresh business rates relief for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England. The Ulster Unionist MP said the new measures for England highlight the need for similar support tailored to Northern Ireland, arguing local businesses continue to face rising costs while competing with significantly lower hosp

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Anna Tait, owner of Ahoghill based business EJs Country Kitchen who had secured grant funding from an earlier round of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme. An Ahoghill family-run food business that expanded its kitchen and introduced new dining experiences with the help of a rural development grant is being highlighted as more local businesses are encouraged to apply for funding of up to £7,500. EJs

The newly refurbished bedrooms at The Lodge Hotel in Coleraine after family-owned McKeever Hotels completed a £1.8 million investment to modernise the hotel and enhance the guest experience. A £1.8 million investment has transformed all of the bedrooms at The Lodge Hotel in Coleraine, with owners McKeever Hotels saying the refurbishment is designed to meet growing demand for high-quality accommodation on Northern Ireland’s North Coast. The major upgrade comes just a year afte

The Halfway House Country Pub The Halfway House Country Pub outside Broughshane has been recognised among the very best rural pubs in the United Kingdom after receiving a Highly Commended honour at the Grand Champions of the 2026 Countryside Alliance Awards in London. The prestigious recognition was announced on Wednesday, July 8, at the House of Lords, where the Carnlough Road venue represented Northern Ireland after being crowned Countryside Alliance Northern Ireland Champi

The Glensway Bar in Martinstown The owners of the Glensway Bar in Martinstown have issued an emotional appeal to the local community, warning that the future of the village pub is at risk unless customer support increases. In a candid message shared with customers, the family-run business said it has spent months debating its future amid mounting financial pressures, describing the post as both “an immediate warning” and “a cry for help”. The appeal comes as many independent

Brendan Gallagher, Key Account Executive, Diageo; ​Steven ​Davidson, Commercial Investment ​Manager, Diageo; Megan ​Armstrong, General ​Manager, ​Belfast International ​Airport; ​Chris ​Annon, Company Director, Mount ​Charles. Passengers travelling through Belfast International Airport are increasingly choosing a final taste of familiar Irish brands before take-off, with sales of Guinness, Rockshore and other Diageo draught products surging by 53% at the airport’s Northern Qu

L-R: Shannon Brown, Spa Manager, Salt Spa; Carl McGarrity, Director of The Salthouse Hotel; and Elizabeth Dillon, Guest Experience Manager, The Salthouse Hotel. A £5 million investment has transformed one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive hospitality destinations into a fully realised luxury wellness retreat, with the opening of a major new spa creating 30 additional jobs and completing the final phase of development at The Salthouse near Ballycastle. The launch of the n

Lidl Northern Ireland has officially entered the hospitality sector for the first time, opening the doors of its new public house and off-sales, The Middle Ale, in Dundonald. The retailer’s first-ever pub welcomed its first customers on Thursday, marking a significant expansion beyond traditional supermarket retailing and creating eight permanent jobs in the process. Located beside the existing Lidl store in Dundonald, the new venue gives customers access to Lidl’s full range

More than 200 hospitality and food service businesses have closed across Northern Ireland since the beginning of the year, industry leaders have claimed, as support grows for a proposal to cut VAT to 10 per cent in a bid to protect jobs and struggling local firms. The Northern Ireland Food to Go Association (NIFTGA) has publicly backed South Antrim MP Robin Swann’s call for a Northern Ireland hospitality VAT pilot, arguing that businesses are facing unprecedented financial pr