The wait is almost over as Belfast’s coolest new hotel gets ready to open its doors this weekend.

As a series of first-look photographs show, Bullitt Belfast is a vibrant new concept that will provide a cool new space for people to work, play and stay in the heart of the city.

Featuring 43 stylish bedrooms, three bars (including Baltic, NI’s first ski-themed bar), a courtyard garden, 58-seater restaurant ‘Taylor and Clay’, an Espresso bar and a versatile private events space, Bullitt is set to make its mark on Belfast’s social scene when it opens on Saturday 15^th October.

The latest venture from the Beannchor Group – the people behind the award-winning Merchant Hotel, Little Wing Pizzeria, National Grand Café and The Dirty Onion – this contemporary new £7million development is an exciting new social hub, located on doorstep of Belfast’s social and shopping districts.

Blurring the lines between work and play, this urban playground will be the perfect hangout spot, with a relaxed atmosphere and laid back sophisticated vibe.

Bullitt’s no-nonsense philosophy means they’ve ditched the over-the-top extras so that they can deliver a quality service with no hidden costs.

Here’s what you need to know:

TAYLOR & CLAY

Get fresh at Taylor & Clay – fresh and locally-sourced that is. Each item on the menu is carefully chosen and hand-picked from local farms and suppliers. At the heart of Taylor & Clay’s kitchen lies its bespoke Asador Grill. Prime cuts of meat and seafood are charred and smoked, creating a unique flavour that will get your taste buds all fired up.

For those looking for something a little greener, try Taylor & Clay’s garden club specials – hand-grown and

harvested by Bullitt’s chefs in partnership with David Love Cameron’s organic heritage garden at Helen’s Bay. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Taylor & Clay will hit the spot whether you’re after a sneaky snack or a full-on feast.

The striking open kitchen creates a lively atmosphere, which spills out into the open plan space, with bar seating, which is ideal for lone or business travellers.

BULLITT BAR AND COURTYARD BAR:

Entrance to Bullitt Belfast is via Church Lane, through the Courtyard and into the Bullitt Bar. With mouth-watering cocktails, craft beers and Bullitt’s very own brew, the super-sleek Bullitt Bar is where it’s all happening. Grab a drink and relax in Bullitt’s cosy courtyard right in the heart of Belfast city centre. Find the entrance on Church Lane – look out for the impressive cascading Jameson Black Barrel statue and you’ll know you’re in the right place.

BALTIC – NI’s First Ski-Themed Bar

It might be Baltic outside but it’s always toasty in here. Warm up with a coffee, chill out with a beer, nibble on some tasty bar snacks and flatbreads and enjoy the eclectic soundtrack of Belfast’s first ski-themed bar.

ESPRESSO BAR:

With the first and only Kees van der Westen coffee machine in Ireland, Bullitt’s Espresso Bar promises to satisfy all of your caffeine needs. And whether you fancy a fresh juice or a pastry, Bullitt has you covered.

And if you need to get down to business, Bullitt has everything you need to get the job done in style, including super-fast Wi-Fi and plenty of USB ports.

THE ROOMS

Accommodation comes in three options with double rooms ranging from compact to spacious. Bullitt’s stylish rooms are cleverly designed to maximise space. All rooms, no matter which size, offer the same great features, including comfy king-size beds, refreshing rain showers, super-fast Wi-Fi, smart TVs and a daily breakfast bag filled with OJ, a granola pot and a piece of fruit to kick-start your day.

THE GOOD ROOM

Make yourself at home in Bullitt’s versatile private events space. The Good Room can hold up to 35 people theatre style and is the perfect place for work or play. With nothing else like this on offer in Belfast, guests can hire the space for any type of event from private dinners and drinks receptions to launch parties, screenings, team meetings and even intimate weddings. This flexible, bright and innovative space features boardroom seating for up to 12 people and a range of break-out seating, as well as a fully stocked kitchen.

“Bullitt will offer so much more than just a bed for the night, it will also be a place where people can work, relax and socialise,” says Beannchor MD, Conall Wolsey.

“It will be a space for meetings, coffee and lunch during the day and a place to meet and mingle over cocktails and food at night, with an eclectic calendar of events for both locals and visitors to enjoy.”

Bullitt will kick off its eclectic events calendar on its opening night (Saturday 15^th October) with a special ‘Bullitt Presents Ryan Vail Live’ event. The free live show, will showcase the local talents of Derry born electronic music composer Ryan Vail and guests in the Bullitt Bar from 8pm. Having supported the like of Jamie XX, Nils Frahm and Todd Terje to name a few, Ryan will be joined by some Bullitt’s favourite DJs: Cathal Cully (Girls Names), Mark Reid (Touch Sensitive Records) and Bullitt resident Jonny Carberry, spinning a worldwide mix of ambient, soul, electronic and disco.

Rooms are available to book now at www.bullitthotel.com, starting from £120.

Stay up to date with all of the Bullitt news on the Bullitt Facebook page, facebook.com/bullittbelfast or follow Bullitt Belfast on Twitter @BullittBelfast

The 19^th Annual International Roe Valley Folk Festival, will take place this year, from the 26^th to 31^st October 2016.

This event has grown now to become one of the biggest occasions in the North West area.  Again, it promises to be a great celebration of the Cross-Cultural Folk Song, Music, Dance & Verse.  Over the weekend, this will all be demonstrated by an array of performances and entertainment from Scotland, England, Europe and other parts of Ireland.

The Festival will be launched on Wednesday 26^th October at 8.00pm in the Keady Clachan Cottage, Limavady.  This is a venue where many similar events take place, various dignitaries will be in attendance so refreshments will be served and entertainment provided.  The Roola Book Group from Cork, along with various local artists will provide much enjoyment.

Over the weekend of 28^th, 29^th & 30^th October, there will be an abundance of folk performances, concerts, session and workshops.  Performances, such as Life of Reilly (Scotland), Haggerdash (Scotland & England), Roola Boola (Cork) will all provide gigs.  They will be joined by local acts: – The Jaywalkers, Sharon Nixon, The Simple Truth, The Two of Us and Gavin Corey.  All of these performances will conduct folk session with the Mitchells (Loup) and Craic (Strabane).

There will be dancing displays from the Shelley Ann Campbell School of Highland Dance, and the Allen School of Irish Dance.  These will perform together at 2.00pm on Saturday afternoon, outside the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady.  (Weather permitting, otherwise the performance will be inside the centre).

The weekend will be completed, as always at Browns in Drumsurn on Monday night 31^st October.  This is a folk session for those with stamina, to keep going for one more night.

All of this would not be possible without the support of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and some other local businesses.  All details are contained within the festival brochure, various local newspapers and local radio programmes.

Some of this might even be done in fancy dress as it just happens to be Halloween as well, come and enjoy…………………

Trying to keep children entertained over the Halloween school break?  Sign them up for the Halloween Craft and Games Club at the Palace Stables, Armagh.

Taking place on Monday 31^st October & Tuesday 1^st November from 10.00am – 4.00pm, this club is packed full of games, crafts and activities all with a Halloween theme.

Suitable for 5-12 year olds, all your child needs is a wonderful imagination to unleash their inner artist to create some amazing artwork!

Admission is just £12.50 per day, £10.00 per day for 2nd & 3rd child. Take advantage of our early bird offer and book by 21st October and get 20% discount!  Booking in advance is essential on www.armagh.co.uk/halloweencrafts or call 028 3752 9644 for further information.

For information please contact: Navan Centre, 81 Killylea Road, Armagh.  BT60 4LD.  Tel 028 3752 9644 or www.navan.com

Hastings serves up winter warmers this October for the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016

NORTHERN Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink continues into October, and Hastings Hotels is supporting the initiative with a series of mouth-watering recipes across all six of its hotels.

October is Harvest Month, a celebration of the fruits of the land and the talented farmers across Northern Ireland.

To mark Harvest Month, Hastings Hotels will be serving up a special Slow Cooked Irish Beef and Spiced Pumpkin Hotpot throughout October.

Hazel Magill, Executive Head Chef at Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, said:-

“Northern Ireland has a rich agricultural heritage, and we at Hastings have always supported this with our use of the finest quality local ingredients, something that is particularly appropriate with this month’s Harvest theme,” commented Hazel.

She continued:  “Our slow cooked beef and spiced pumpkin hotpot is the ultimate comfort food, made with the finest local beef, seasonal pumpkin with a hint of spice, and accompanied by buttery cabbage and a horseradish mash.

“The whole meal is available served with Thompson’s Hastings Blend Tea or Bewley’s Estate Blend Coffee for just £10, and as the days get colder and shorter it is certain to warm you up.”

For those who wish to treat themselves, Hastings Hotels are also celebrating seasonal local fruit with a special desert for the themed month, a delicious apple and blackberry crumble.

“Anyone wishing to upgrade their meal to include our mouth-watering apple and blackberry crumble can do so for an additional £5.

“It’s made with local fruit, served in a pastry tartlet shell with a rich vanilla custard, and anyone with a sweet tooth will find this autumnal dish hard to resist,” Hazel concluded.

The tasty beef hotpot meal and tempting crumble will be available throughout all the restaurants in the Hastings Group during October, Harvest month, in celebration of Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016.

Are you brave enough to enter the Tower of Terror? As Halloween approaches, the Tower Museum will see the awakening of some its most putrid and ghoulish residents who will roam freely around its exhibitions.

To those that dare enter, you can find them climbing the walls and hanging from the ceilings of the historic tower, causing terror to anyone who enters.

Sylvia Kavanagh, Museum and Visitor Services at Derry City and Strabane District Council said, ‘At this time of year we begin to notice strange happenings occur at the Museum. These creatures run amok throughout the museum causing mayhem and mischief at every turn.

‘As you walk through the darkness, guided by lamplight on the Ghost Tours, be prepared to be terrified by stories of ‘The Death Coach’, ‘The Gravestone’ and ‘The Devil’s Chair’. With admission to the tours you can also avail of the family fun activities in the Discovery Zone which will include mask making, treasure hunts, lantern making and lots of other fun activities.

‘There will be plenty of frights as you go along. This is not something for young children so we have a very strict policy that children should be eight years and above. With Ghost Tours and Family Fun Activities planned over the Halloween spell, it’s time to get booking now as these events fill up very quickly.’

Events at the Tower Museum will take place from Thursday 27^th October until Monday 31^st October. The Ghost Tours begin at 2.00pm, 3.00pm, 4.00pm and 5.00pm each day, entry is strictly 8 years and above, Tickets cost £2.00 for a child, and accompanying adults are free of charge.  Adults without children will be charged £2.00. The Family Fun Activities will take place each day from 2.00pm until 5.00pm and is suitable for all ages. Further information on the Tower Museum can be found at www.derrystrabane.com.

Join us for a special evening of music, poetry and song in A Moment in Time at The Old Courthouse, Antrim on Friday 21 October at 8pm.

The Courtyard Community Choir will transport you back to the era leading up to 1916 and the profound impact the war had on the local Communities.  All time classics such as I’ll Tell Me Ma, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, The Mountains of Mourne and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, will feature in this night of remembrance.

Audiences will be encouraged to join in a medley of the favourite Music Hall songs of the day.  This promises to be a moving, poignant and at times comedic tribute to the brave men who gave their lives and the communities that endured.

Tickets are priced at just £6 and are available from Box Office: 028 9442 8331 or online www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/boxoffice

Calling all foodies!

Join us at the Slieve Donard resort for its inaugural Drink and Food Festival on Saturday 29th October from 2 – 8pm. There will be an exciting line up of local micro breweries, cider and spirit producers and a selection of cheese makers. With live music throughout the day it will be a wonderful event to visit with family and friends.

Tickets are £12 per person and include a complimentary souvenir glass and three food and drink tokens for guests to sample the produce.

Tickets are available from the hotel Reception or by calling 028 4372 1066.

Northern Ireland boasts a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for an ideal short break and Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

• Stay, Play and Dine, Lough Erne Resort & Spa, Co Fermanagh, from £149. Nestled on a 600-acre peninsula, Lough Erne is one of three five-star hotels in Northern Ireland. Enjoy a luxurious overnight stay in Lough side accommodation, two rounds of golf – one on The Faldo Course and one on the Castle Hume Castle Hume Course as well as dinner and full Irish breakfast. Subject to availability.  Must be booked by 31 October. To book call (028) 66 323230.

• Date Night, Ten Square Hotel, Belfast, from £200 per couple. This unique four-star hotel is located just steps from the historic City Hall, Belfast Waterfront and the Victoria Square shopping mecca, and offers a variety of award winning luxury hotel rooms. Treat your loved one to a Romantic Date Night where chilled Prosecco and strawberries await you on arrival! Enjoy a sumptuous three course meal in Jospers Steakhouse before retiring to a gorgeous newly renovated bedroom for an overnight stay with full Irish breakfast the following morning. Available until 6 November. To book call (028) 90 241001.

• Coast and Lakes Getaway, The Whistledown Hotel, Co. Down, from £62.50pps. The Whistledown Hotel nestles, quietly magnificent, on the shores of Carlingford Lough surrounded by the Mourne Mountains and Cooley Peninsula. Relax on a one-night getaway at the three-star hotel, with a cocktail on arrival, three-course evening meal in the Bistro and a box of chocolates in your room.  Available Sunday – Thursday, until 30 November.  To book call (028) 41 754174.

For further information log on to www.discovernorthernireland.com/offers.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (October 10 – October 16).

10 THINGS TO DO IN NORTHERN IRELAND NEXT WEEK

• Belfast Restaurant Week, Various locations, Belfast, until October 16. The city’s eateries will showcase the passion that goes into making, cooking and serving up the very best of fresh local produce. Tuck into bespoke menus, special offers and unique events, all served up from breakfast to express lunch, classic afternoon teas to sumptuous fine dining and everything in between.

• Apple Day, The Balance House, Co. Antrim, October 15. Apple Day is back! Local home-made crafts and produce will be on sale and you can also make your own apple juice and take part in apple-themed fun! Other activities include crafting fun for children and chats with the RSPB and Ulster Wildlife Trust about local birds and wildlife.

• Pinocchio, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Derry~Londonderry, October 11. Pinocchio is a mischievous naughty puppet who is easily distracted by the Fox and the Cat. Follow his adventures as he tries to become a real boy. With original music and audience participation as well as use of puppetry and mime, this magical tale is brought to life.

• Stargazing, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Co. Antrim, October 15. Always had an interest in astronomy but struggle to tell the difference between the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor? Why not come along and discover the Cosmos and the Constellations! You may even be lucky to spot a shooting star on the night, and if we are really lucky, we may spot the Northern Lights.

• BBC Good Food Show Northern Ireland, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, October 14 – 16. This exciting new event will present the nation’s favourite chefs, the region’s very best producers of food, drink and artisan products and state of the art kitchenware and gadgets in NI’s Year of Food and Drink 2016.  Featured chefs include Paul Hollywood, James Martin, Paul Rankin and more.

• Willow Weaving Saturdays, Navan Centre & Fort, Co. Armagh, October 15. Unleash your inner crafter at Navan.
  Learn how to use this natural product to create some stunning pieces of work. Help to make a Celtic Bull for the 2017 Wickerman Celebration. Suitable for ages 6+.

• The Spirit of Irish Folk, Ardhowen Theatre, Co. Fermanagh, October 15. For as long as anyone can remember, Ireland has been richly blessed with wonderfully talented composers, singers and entertainers. Chris Kavanagh’s (The Dubliners) new show ‘The Spirit of Irish Folk’ will take you on a musical journey through Ireland in times gone by.

• Peninsula Food Showcase – Loaves and Fishes, Ballywalter Park, Co. Down, October 10. The Ards Peninsula takes centre stage as part of the NI Year of Food and Drink this autumn. Ballywalter Park is the venue for Loaves and Fishes, offering a programme of masterclasses in local seafood cuisine and traditional breadmaking delivered by chefs of international repute.

• From Here To The White House, Ulster American Folk Park, Co. Tyrone. Many American Presidents claim ancestral links to Ulster. This exhibition of original drawings, made around 1930, focusses on eleven of them. The exhibition looks at their journeys from Ulster all the way to the White House.

• Fright Night, Jungle NI, Derry~Londonderry, until November 3. One of Northern Ireland’s scariest Halloween events is back for another year. With six trails created using lights, special effects and horrible creatures, Fright Night is sure to scary even the bravest of people. Suitable for ages 12+. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+. www.thejungleni.com

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Hit West End touring production of Blood Brothers returns to the Millennium Forum for a week-long run.

Joining ‘the definitive Mrs Johnstone’, Lyn Paul, is a hugely talented cast, many of whom have starred in various West End performances of this smash hit Bill Kenwright musical.

Sean Jones is returning as Mickey, a role that he has portrayed for many years.  Originally from Wales, Sean was given the honour of Sean was recently given the huge honour of being chosen to play Mickey in the final cast of Blood Brothers for its emotional send-off from the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.

Danielle Corlass also returns in the role of Linda, a role she played in the Phoenix Theatre in London.  Other credits include: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease, Beauty & the Beast and Whistle Down The Wind.

Graham Martin has spent four years in the UK touring production of Blood Brothers as Policeman/Teacher, a role he also portrayed in the West End.  Other West End credits include: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The New Starlight Express (Apollo Victoria), a show he was associated with for over 10 years.

Lyn Paul returns to the iconic role, one she first played in 1997. Lyn played Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performances at the Phoenix Theatre in 2012. She has also starred in the UK tour of Cabaret in 2013 as Fraulein Schneider, in Boy George’s musical Taboo and in Footloose – the Musical.

Blood Brothers played its debut performance in Liverpool in 1983 and has gone on to be a West End and Broadway smash hit show.  Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply unmissable and unbeatable. This epic tale of Liverpool life ran in London’s West End for 24 years and exceeded 10,000 performances. It is one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.

Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

When Mrs Johnstone, a young mother, is deserted by her husband and left to her own devices to provide for seven hungry children she takes a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet.

It is not long before her brittle world crashes around her when she discovers herself to be pregnant yet again – this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer which leads inexorably to the show’s shattering climax. A sensational cast, incredible show stopping music, remarkable staging and five star performances make Blood Brothers an enthralling night of entertainment.

Willy Russell is undeniably one of this country’s leading contemporary dramatists. His countless credits include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Educating Rita, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, enjoyed a two year run in the West End and was made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Shirley Valentine also made the move from stage to screen in an enormously popular film starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.

Blood Brothers performs at the Millennium Forum from Tues 4^th until Sat 8^th October.  Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.