NEWS

Romance, psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction are leading the way at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, with the latest Top 10 bestselling books revealing a strong appetite for emotionally charged page-turners and escapist summer reads. Alongside the new chart, the Ballymena store has announced upcoming book club selections, children’s storytime events and a host of major new titles now available to preorder ahead of their highly anticipated releases later this yea

Tender Baby Garlic Kale - one of a new range of vertically farmed leaves launched by M&S in the UK Marks & Spencer has launched a new range of vertically farmed salad leaves that use 96% less water than traditional farming methods while staying fresh for up to five days longer. The retailer says the new products represent a major shift in how fresh food could be grown in the future, combining robotics, controlled indoor farming and pesticide-free production to create salad le

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with golf biography, literary fiction and sci-fi adventures all proving popular among local readers this week. The newest chart reflects a growing appetite for contemporary fiction and thought-provoking reads, while upcoming releases from some of the literary world’s biggest names are already generating excitement ahead of publication. Top 10 this week A varied mix of fiction, memoir and literary bestsel

Tess Osborne, Head of Fresh Foods Sourcing NI at Tesco Tesco has more than doubled the number of Northern Ireland suppliers it works with in just three years, deepening its reliance on local farmers, food producers and manufacturers as pressure continues to mount across the agri-food sector. The supermarket giant now works with 138 Northern Ireland-based suppliers across more than 1,600 locally sourced product lines, with Ballymena meat processor Doherty & Gray playing a grow

Tim O'Malley started his strawberry growing journey in May 2024 Marks & Spencer is set to stock locally grown strawberries in its Northern Ireland stores for the first time ever, following a new partnership with a Co. Armagh grower that is rapidly expanding production using sustainable farming methods. From Tuesday, 12 May, shoppers across all 22 M&S stores in Northern Ireland will be able to buy hand-picked strawberries grown by Tim O’Malley of O’Malley Berry Co. — a move be

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled another packed weekly update, with bestselling fiction, welcoming community book clubs and a wave of notable new releases helping to keep readers engaged this spring. This week’s Top 10 reflects a broad mix of tastes among Ballymena readers, with everything from children’s favourites and sci-fi adventures to literary fiction and historical drama featuring strongly. Top 10 this week (Saturday 9 May 2026) A varied mix of bestselling fiction a

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, councillor Jackson Minford cuts the ribbon at the newly developed Gibson Paving centre in Portglenone, with the Gibson family. A major £250,000 investment is set to reshape how homeowners across Northern Ireland plan their outdoor spaces, as Gibson Paving opens the doors to a newly redeveloped paving and outdoor living centre in Portglenone. The relaunch marks a significant moment for the long-established family business, blending more than four

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with a strong mix of contemporary fiction, crime thrillers and memoirs leading the way — alongside a packed schedule of book clubs and a standout storytime event featuring a local author. With readers continuing to seek out both escapist fiction and thought-provoking titles, this week’s chart reflects a broad and evolving range of interests across the Ballymena community. Top 10 this week A blend of best

Image of the proposed new M&S Foodhall Marks & Spencer has submitted a planning application for a new flagship Foodhall at Lakelands Retail Park in Enniskillen, signalling a significant retail move that would see the brand relocate to a larger, purpose-built site while retaining its existing workforce. The proposal, lodged with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in partnership with Elm Grange Ltd, forms part of M&S’s wider store rotation programme and is aimed at modernisin

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with high-octane thrillers, fantasy favourites and a strong showing from local author Jan Carson reflecting another busy week for readers in the town. From Lee Child’s latest action-driven release to rising demand for immersive fantasy and contemporary fiction, the chart highlights a wide mix of genres capturing the attention of Ballymena book lovers. Top 10 for this week A blend of page-turning suspense

Marks & Spencer has cut the price of 19 vegetable staples and moved 22 everyday items into its value ranges, in a direct bid to win more family shoppers who want healthier food without paying more. The move, announced as part of the retailer’s wider growth strategy, comes amid clear evidence that UK households are prioritising health in their weekly shop while remaining highly price-conscious. Price cuts target everyday essentials in weekly shop The retailer confirmed that mo

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with local author Jan Carson taking the top spot in a chart that reflects a strong appetite for gripping fiction, memoir and practical lifestyle reads. Carson’s newest novel Few and Far Between leads the list, underlining the continued support for Northern Ireland writers, while bestselling thrillers, cookbooks and contemporary non-fiction round out a diverse and engaging selection for readers this week

Members of the Dougies Goodies team with staff from Applegreen Ballymena A26, marking a 100 retail store partnership across Northern Ireland A Ballymena launch has marked a major milestone for one of Northern Ireland’s best-known local bakery brands, with Dougies Goodies officially opening at Applegreen Ballymena A26 as its 100th stockist location across Northern Ireland. The opening represents a significant moment for the fast-growing business, which says it is “thrilled” to

(All photographs: Ewan Harkness) A brand-new The Food Warehouse store has officially opened in Ballymena, with 77 eager shoppers already waiting in line before the doors opened on Tuesday morning. The much-anticipated new store, located at Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena, Antrim, BT42 3AG, welcomed its first customers on Tuesday 14 April, marking a major retail expansion for the town and delivering 23 additional jobs for the local community. In scenes that underlined the le

Saturday 11 April 2026 Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled its latest weekly round-up, with a fresh Top 10 bestselling list, family storytime sessions, book club dates and a highly anticipated visit from acclaimed local author Jan Carson all on the calendar this month. From crime thrillers and fantasy to children’s favourites and contemporary literary fiction, the latest chart reflects a broad mix of tastes among local readers as the spring season continues. Top 10 for This W

Primark has officially launched its first-ever mobile app in Northern Ireland, marking a significant digital step for the high street retailer as it brings real-time stock checks, personalised notifications and store information directly to shoppers’ phones for the first time. The move means customers across Northern Ireland can now browse favourite items, check availability before travelling to store and receive updates on new collections — a major shift for a retailer whose

Church Street in Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has backed a motion calling for a town centre taskforce to be established across the borough. The motion was proposed by Coast Road DUP Councillor Andrew Clarke at a council meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Monday evening, and seconded by party colleague Larne Lough Cllr Gregg McKeen . Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Clarke said: “I feel passionate about our town centres and that we should be giving it everythi

Waterstone’s Ballymena is gearing up for a busy Easter period, combining a fresh Top 10 bestselling list with family-friendly events, new releases and a packed programme designed to bring readers of all ages through its doors. From global bestsellers to children’s favourites and a major upcoming author visit, the latest update highlights the store’s growing role as a cultural hub in the local community. This week’s Top 10 bestselling books A diverse mix of genres dominates th

The team at work at Magilligan Tree Nursery in Magilligan Prison A unique tree nursery based within prison grounds is offering locally grown trees at reduced prices — with every order helping to support prisoner rehabilitation and protect Northern Ireland’s native environment. The Magilligan Tree Nursery, operated in partnership with the Northern Ireland Prison Service, has launched two special offers aimed at households, community groups and businesses alike. Buyers can now

Linzi Moore, an outstanding team member at EUROSPAR Cullybackey has taken the crown as the UK’s Sales Colleague of the Year at the prestigious Convenience Awards. A familiar face in Cullybackey has earned national recognition after being crowned UK Sales Colleague of the Year at the prestigious Convenience Awards in Liverpool. Linzi Moore, a loss prevention co-ordinator at EUROSPAR Cullybackey, secured the top honour against competitors from across the UK — a moment that not