Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian era prison, Crumlin Road Gaol has been graded and awarded a five-star visitor attraction rating, indicating that the attraction is operating to an ‘outstanding’ level.

The five-star accreditation was awarded under the Tourism NI Quality Grading Scheme which is designed to provide visitors with information on the quality of the experience they can expect at Northern Ireland’s tourist attractions, whilst assisting operators to maintain and continue to improve the quality of their offering.

To achieve a star rating, Crumlin Road Gaol was subject to an unannounced mystery assessment from a Quality Advisor who underwent the customer journey. The assessor concluded his experience with very positive feedback stating that “It is an excellent, thought provoking and stimulating attraction that educates and informs visitors about this historic building that played such a role in the history of Belfast.”

Commenting on Crumlin Road Gaol’s five star grading John McGrillen, Tourism NI Chief Executive commented; “Crumlin Road Gaol is an outstanding attraction and the visitor offering and experience is unique in Northern Ireland. The tours are educating, thought provoking and well balanced and the introduction of a fully licensed restaurant helped Crumlin Road Gaol achieve five-star status.

Joining an elite club of only five other five star graded attractions, this accolade provides an additional marketing tool to help drive visitor numbers to the Gaol and to Northern Ireland.”

Since opening in 2012 the popular Belfast visitor attraction has welcomed over 600,000 International and national visitors.

Director of Crumlin Road Gaol Phelim Devlin said “We are overjoyed to have received the five-star rating for Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre.

We are one of five visitor attractions to receive this prestigious award which shows us that we are up there with the best visitor attraction in Northern Ireland.

This year we have worked hard to improve the visitors experience and with the addition of a new restaurant, Cuffs Bar & Grill, we can now offer visitors the full package.

We have a great team of staff and tour guides at Crumlin Road Gaol which particularly enhance the visitors experience, we are delighted their efforts have been recognised and rewarded with this this ‘outstanding’ grading.”

Director of Strategic Planning Division at Department for Infrastructure, Carol Ramsey, added: “I am delighted that Belfast Tours has received this accolade for Crumlin Road Gaol and Conference Centre. The Five-Star award is an instantly recognisable symbol of excellence and quality. Today’s success has been the result of the vision, hard work and determination of Belfast Tours and their team and I wish them continued success for the future”