NEWS

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have been asked to consider suspending car parking charges on Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to boost town centre trade. In 2020, the council approved free parking at Market Square Car Park in Ballyclare on each Saturday during December. The local authority is now seeking to extend this initiative by offering free parking on every Saturday this December at all council-owned car parks in the borough where charges currently app

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday falling on 28 November and 1 December this year, shoppers across Northern Ireland are gearing up for some of the biggest online retail events of 2025. Many retailers have already launched early discounts, but the Consumer Council is warning that delivery delays, lost parcels and damaged goods remain common issues for online shoppers. Fra Maguire, Head of Postal Services at the Consumer Council , highlighted the scale of online shopping in No

Randalstown ARCHES Association has unveiled the Randalstown Community Calendar 2026, marking the organisation’s 30th anniversary with a project designed to celebrate local heritage while raising vital funds for two well-loved charities. The calendar, priced at £10, was officially launched during this year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On and will be available to purchase from ten outlets across Randalstown from Monday. Created to honour the town’s “community spirit, heritage, an

L-R Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland; Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland Lidl Northern Ireland has confirmed a combined spend of more than £5.5 million on goods and services sourced from suppliers and business partners across both the Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council areas, according to its newly published Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report. The latest annu

Pictured launching the new ‘Perfect for…’ range of potatoes are (from l-r): chef, Stephen Ferris, Mary McKillop, Glens of Antrim Group, and potato grower, Stephen Christie who farms in Newtownards. Glens of Antrim Group has unveiled a major £250,000 investment in a new retail potato range designed to remove the confusion many shoppers face when choosing the right potato for their favourite dishes. The Cushendall and Ballymena-based agri-food group – which produces potatoes, c

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced new legislation that will ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic in Northern Ireland, as part of a coordinated UK-wide approach to tackling plastic pollution. The regulations — which include limited exemptions for business-to-business supply and medical use — will take effect in May 2027, following an 18-month transition period. This will allow retailers time to clear existing

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is urging shoppers to tighten the security on their online retail accounts amid a rise in hacking attempts targeting retail apps in the run-up to Christmas. The warning comes as the UK-wide Protect Network reports an increase in incidents where criminals have gained access to customer accounts to make unauthorised purchases. These include “buy now, pay later” transactions and online credit agreements carried out without the acco

Asda Antrim trolley porter, Tony Burns Customers at Asda Antrim say they are “in safe hands” thanks to porter Tony Burns , whose quick thinking and kindness have earned him a reputation as a car park hero. The father of seven, who has worked at the store for almost a decade, has helped a string of customers in need — from changing tyres to rescuing a baby accidentally locked in a car. Tony, described by colleagues as someone who always “goes the extra mile”, has become a fam

Dobbies’ Senior Plant Buyer, Claire Bishop, with Poinsettias. (Images: Stewart Attwood Photography) Dobbies’ Lisburn and Antrim stores are ushering in the festive season with the arrival of their highly anticipated annual delivery of poinsettias. The popular garden centre chain is expecting strong customer demand this year, particularly for the traditional red variety, as nostalgic Christmas décor trends continue to dominate. The delivery marks the start of a blooming festive

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed this week’s Top 10 bestselling books, alongside fantastic half-price offers, festive storytime fun, and the highly anticipated romantasy release Brimstone by Callie Hart. This Week’s Top 10 Bestsellers Exit Strategy – Lee Child & Andrew Child Jack Reacher is back in this high-octane thriller as he pursues a dangerous conspiracy with his trademark resourcefulness and grit. A gripping addition to the bestselling series. Always Remember – Char

Meat and other foodstuffs are among the items most frequently stolen from shops in Mid and East Antrim, according to crime prevention officer Paul Black. The PSNI officer told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that there has been “a big increase in shoplifting” in the borough since the pandemic. “There are two types – those who are desperate for food and those who are stealing to order,” he said. Speaking at a public meeting of the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Comm

With the much-anticipated opening of Primark expected to draw significantly higher footfall, Fairhill Shopping Centre Management has announced the introduction of a new pay-on-arrival parking option to help ease congestion during the busy period. In a message to customers, management said they had been “reviewing the parking system and have added the option of paying on arrival when you park at the Centre”. The change, they explained, aims “ to help reduce queues at payment

The Ballymena NI Hospice Support Group is inviting everyone to get into the festive spirit at their 37th Annual Christmas Fair, taking place at Tullyglass House Hotel on Wednesday 12 November 2025 from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Admission is £5 at the door, with all proceeds going to the Northern Ireland Hospice . Organisers have ensured ample parking at Tullyglass, with additional overflow spaces available at Wellington Presbyterian Church nearby. This much-loved event has become a

Antrim residents flocked to The Junction on Wednesday 29th October to celebrate the official opening of Murdock Home Centre & Builders Merchants, a major new addition to the town and a landmark moment for the Murdock Group. The much-anticipated launch drew large crowds for a day of family fun, live entertainment and community celebration, marking a significant milestone for both Murdock and The Junction retail complex. Visitors were treated to giveaways, goodie bags and live

Bargain hunters in Ballymena are in for an extra treat this week as a number of town centre businesses have decided to extend their Ballymena Discount Day offers for a limited time. Following a hugely successful event, several local retailers and hospitality venues are keeping the spirit of savings alive, offering discounts, special deals, and added extras through to Saturday 8th November . Organised by Ballymena BID (Business Improvement District) , Ballymena Discount Day sa

A celebration of female entrepreneurship and local creativity will take centre stage this weekend as Enterprising Women MEA hosts its highly anticipated Winter Showcase at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena , on Saturday 8 November from 9am to 4pm . Following the success of last year’s event, this year’s showcase promises to be “bigger and better than ever” , with 17 talented local traders bringing an array of handcrafted gifts, festive treats and creative products — just i

Emily Magee, Events Development Manager at Tourism NI (centre), pictured with Gill Robb, Tourism Events and Animation Manager at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Sheila Rooney, Georgian Living History Character. Tourism Northern Ireland has announced its support for this year’s Georgian Festival in Armagh, as the historic city prepares to step back in time for one of Northern Ireland’s most atmospheric festive celebrations. Running from 27–30 November,

Ballymena is set to sparkle once again this November as its much-loved Discount Day returns on Thursday 6 November — bringing unbeatable bargains, community spirit and festive cheer to the town centre. Organised by Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) , Ballymena Discount Day has become one of the town’s biggest and most anticipated shopping events of the year — and 2025 promises to be no different. From 9am to 9pm, Ballymena’s two shopping centres and bustling high

Richard Gilpin, Head of Farm Operations, Gilfresh Produce and Lorraine Drennan, Customer Service Manager, Asda Portadown As Halloween approaches, Co Armagh-based Gilfresh Produce is gearing up for its biggest pumpkin season yet, supplying over 70,000 pumpkins to all 17 Asda stores across Northern Ireland – including two new seasonal showstoppers: the pale and eerie Ghost Pumpkin and the giant XL Pumpkin, perfect for carving or autumnal displays. Founded in 1965 by Thomas Gil

Award-winning bakery launches festive dessert range earlier than ever to give customers a head start on Christmas cheer The countdown to Christmas has officially begun at Dougies Goodies, as the award-winning Northern Ireland bakery unveils its Christmas Dessert Range earlier than ever before — giving dessert lovers plenty of time to plan, pre-order, and indulge in the sweetest season of the year. From indulgent pavlovas and yule logs to melt-in-your-mouth roulades, each dess