NEWS

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

Church Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim’s town centres are set to shine even brighter this Christmas thanks to a £150,000 investment in festive lighting announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. The Department for Communities is providing £135,000, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council contributing an additional £15,000 towards the new Festive Lighting Scheme. The funding will support the installation of new and enhanced seasonal lighting across Ballymena, Larne

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

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

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has announced the return of its popular Shop Front Revitalisation Grant Scheme for a third consecutive year, offering a major boost to local businesses in town centres across Ballymena, Larne, Carrickfergus and Greenisland. The initiative, backed by £604,000 in funding from the Department for Communities, aims to transform the appearance of shop fronts and revitalise high streets throughout the Borough. Building on the success of previous s

A town centre street in Ballymena was closed on Saturday afternoon after firefighters responded to reports of a blaze in the area. It is understood the incident involved rubbish that had been set alight to the rear of a property on Castle Street. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using one hose quickly tackled the blaze and brought it under control. A smoke clearance fan was also deployed to ventilate the affected area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a r

Fairhill Shopping Centre’s £10 million redevelopment has reached a major milestone with confirmation that Primark will officially open its new Ballymena store on Friday 5th December at 10am. The long-anticipated arrival of Primark marks a turning point for Fairhill and a renewed sense of optimism for Ballymena’s retail sector. The major fashion retailer’s new 29,000 sq. ft store is set to become the centrepiece of Fairhill’s multi-million-pound investment programme, which has

Fitzsimons Opticians’ senior optometrist and director, John Broderick, undertaking an eye examination A Ballymena optometry practice is marking World Menopause Day with the launch of a new dry eye service aimed at improving women’s eye health during menopause and perimenopause. Fitzsimons Opticians, based on William Street, has invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to help identify and treat dry eye syndrome — a condition that experts say can affect more than hal

CGI of the new Primark store at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena Primark has confirmed that its brand-new Ballymena store at Fairhill Shopping Centre will officially open on Friday 5th December at 10am. The eagerly awaited move marks an exciting new chapter for Primark Ballymena, which first opened its doors in the town in 1983. Relocating less than a mile from its long-standing home in the Tower Centre, the new store will double in size, covering 26,200 sq. ft of fashion,

Ballymena was brimming with glamour and community spirit on Friday 26 September 2025, as the Ballymena Autumn Winter Fashion Show lit up...

(L-R) Audrey Wales, Chairperson BRAC, Sharon Maxwell, PCSP Vice Chair, Carolyn Crawford Area Manager NIHE, Roy McClean Assistant Area...

Frank & Georgina Warwick (Dougies Goodies) presents a celebration cake to Alice & Steven (Alice K. Beauty) There was cause for...

M&S Café Toasties Marks & Spencer is bringing an extra layer of comfort to café dining this autumn with the launch of its new seasonal...

Host and curator of this year’s Ballymena Autumn Fashion Show, Rebecca McKinney in The Braid Theatre The Ballymena Autumn Fashion Show is...

(L-R) Valerie McLernon (Fairhill Shopping Centre), Aileen McGarry (Primark), Roy Smyth (Outdoor Adventure), Alison Malfatto (Tower...

Ballymena welcomes a new flavour this week with the official opening of Ballymena Spice Indian Cuisine , offering authentic dishes,...

Thomas Street entrance to Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena has unveiled a striking new brand...

Detectives are appealing for information following a series of burglaries targeting commercial premises in Ballymena town centre in the...

Street art on buildings in Ballymena town centre Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed an £85,000 investment in a new Street...