NEWS

Ballymena is gearing up for a major festive celebration this Saturday, 13 December, as Santa’s Spectacular Festive Cavalcade returns for its third year—complete with hundreds of illuminated vehicles, charity fundraising, and the hugely popular Festive Minions bringing lively chaos to the town centre earlier in the day. The much anticipated Christmas convoy, which always attracts visitors from near and far, has rapidly become one of Ballymena’s standout seasonal events. Host

Children in Ballymena are set for an extra dose of festive cheer this year as two local retailers announce a major Christmas giveaway featuring all 15 toys from the prestigious DreamToys 2025 list. Following the official unveiling of the highly anticipated selection, Smyths at Braidwater Retail Park and ToyTown in Fairhill Shopping Centre have teamed up to offer a dream prize for local youngsters — the full lineup of this year’s must-have toys, gadgets and games. The initia

Christmas arrived early for Ballymena today as Primark officially opened the doors of its brand-new store at Fairhill Shopping Centre — a major £5 million investment that doubles the retailer’s footprint in the town and delivers a welcome boost to the local economy. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Jackson Minford, joined store colleagues for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the internationally recognised retailer, which first

The countdown is almost over — Primark Ballymena will officially open its brand-new store at Fairhill Shopping Centre this Friday, 5th December at 10am , marking one of the most significant retail moments the town has seen in years. The opening forms the centrepiece of Fairhill Shopping Centre’s ongoing £10 million redevelopment, which has transformed the site throughout 2024 and 2025 with upgraded mall spaces, improved facilities and a refreshed brand identity designed to st

North Pole-sent, and full of fun and clever ideas, Ballymena BID’s dynamic duo Emma McCrea (Manager) and Clare Moore (Business Engagement Officer) continue on mission, urging shoppers to discover the best of Ballymena businesses this Christmas! Ballymena has stepped into the festive period with renewed confidence after a hugely successful Ballymena Discount Day and the announcement that Ballymena BID has secured a third term. The dual boost marks a significant moment for loca

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has deferred a decision on the proposed sale of a multi-storey car park in Ballymena town centre. Minutes of a discussion, which took place behind closed doors at a council meeting last month, state that a report had sought approval to market Springwell Street Multi-Storey Car Park for sale. Councillors were advised that a sale would “represent a significant impact on capital budget”. However, members requested further information to be pro

Proudly brought to you by Ballymena BID (Business Improvement District) Ballymena Town Centre is gearing up for a magical festive season, unveiling a vibrant programme of family-friendly events, Christmas characters, charity activities and pop-up entertainment designed to bring joy and festive spirit to the heart of the town. With festive shopping, cosy cafés, vibrant bars and restaurants, and a full schedule of December activities, Ballymena is inviting visitors from near an

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to usher in the festive season with a series of much-loved Christmas Artisan Markets, celebrating local creativity and offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy seasonal shopping in the heart of their town centres. The markets—now a staple of the borough’s Christmas calendar—will feature an array of local producers showcasing artisan foods, festive bakes, handcrafted decorations and unique gifts. Designed to bring communiti

The former Woolworths store on Bridge Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has deferred a decision on the sale of the former Woolworths premises in Ballymena town centre. The property at 12–16 Bridge Street was discussed in a closed session at a council meeting last month. Councillors had been asked to approve placing the building on the market. The former chain store, which closed in 2008, sits opposite council headquarters at The Braid. Last year, the counc

The vacant premises on Church Street in Ballymena town centre Plans have been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council that could see a vacant retail unit on Church Street, Ballymena, transformed into a combined coffee shop and amusement arcade. The application, submitted by Broad Enterprises Ltd of Belmont Crescent, Londonderry, seeks permission for a change of use at 41–43 Church Street from its current retail designation to a mixed café and entertainment venue. Acco

Ballymena has become one of the latest towns in the UK to benefit from EE’s new 5G+ network, with upgraded coverage now live across the area in time for the busy Christmas period. The enhancement – rolled out at no extra cost – aims to provide faster speeds and significantly more reliable connectivity for residents, shoppers and visitors, particularly around high-footfall areas such as Fairhill Shopping Centre. The upgrade forms part of EE’s nationwide December rollout, which

Barr’s Butchers, one of Ballymena’s longest-established family businesses, has officially opened a major new store on Ballymoney Street, marking a significant milestone in its 147-year history. The fifth-generation butchers, founded in 1878 by George Barr, unveiled the expanded premises on Tuesday 25 November, signalling a substantial investment both in the future of the business and in Ballymena town centre. Now led by Managing Director Trevor Barr , great-great grandson of

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched its annual Christmas policing operation, Operation Season’s Greetings, aimed at keeping people safe throughout the festive period and into the New Year. The initiative, unveiled on Monday 24th November, will see increased police visibility and patrols across towns and cities, with a strong focus on shopping districts, nightlife venues and public transport hubs. Both uniformed and plain-clothed officers will be deploye

Ballymena is set to come alive with festive cheer as the much-loved Jingle All the Way campaign returns for 2025, with the Ballymena NI Hospice Support Group preparing to host its eagerly anticipated Jingle Day in aid of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Taking place on Saturday 6th December , from 10:00am to 3:30pm , the event promises a packed programme of family-friendly entertainment across Harmony Hub (the Bandstand) and Greenvale Street , bringing the communit

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