The Hastings Group has invested almost £1m refreshing Belfast’s premiere city centre hotel, the Europa Hotel, as part of an ongoing programme of internal and external upgrades.

Visitors to the hotel will see one of the changes immediately, explained Julie Hastings, Marketing Director, Hastings Hotels.

“The Europa Hotel has a new grand entrance with an enlarged revolving door and as visitors arrive they will be greeted by a stunning chandelier.  The Piano Restaurant has a new integral bar and the Lobby Bar has been totally transformed as well.  The Causerie restaurant and Piano Lounge have also been upgraded and refreshed.  The hotel looks glorious and we are looking forward to the feedback on our new facilities from our guests around the world and those closer to home”, said Julie.

Julie continued:  “Whilst we have enlarged the Europa Hotel by 50% since we acquired it in 1994, we never really felt that we had given the hotel the sense of arrival that it deserves, as the premier City Centre Hotel in Belfast. This new development gives us that initial wow-factor, and our customer response to the changes we have made has been extremely positive. Visitors love taking their selfies at our new front door, and we are delighted to have completed all our work in time for the busy season ahead.”

The hotel also added a number of internal upgrades as part of the upgrade programme.

“Over half of our investment figure was used to upgrade parts of the hotel that will probably never be seen by members of the public”, said Julie.  “But we know that they will certainly benefit from them in terms of an enhanced customer experience whether they are having a meal, afternoon tea, popping in for a glass of wine, attending an event or staying over.

“Our investment in the Europa Hotel has been driven by our commitment to providing our visitors and guests with a unique hospitality experience, one which they will want to enjoy time and again”, concluded Julie.

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Music In The Park Programme continues in Ward Park this Sunday, July 17 with a performance from Les Petits Hardchargers.

Les Petits Hardchargers are a duo featuring Chris Todd and Richard Hodgen, playing Delta blues to psychedelia as well as pre-war Hill Country blues, as favoured by the one and only Seasick Steve.

So if you’d like to enjoy some quality live music in the great outdoors, get down to Ward Park this Sunday from 3pm to 5pm.

Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone. All events are weather dependent and therefore subject to change.

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit:

www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

A collective exhibition of work by Project 24 Artists and Makers is currently on show at the Flax Gallery at Mossley Mill.

‘Phases’ is an exciting collection of diverse artwork, created by Artists who have had their studios in these innovative Art Pods on Queens Parade in Bangor over the last four years. Heather Parker, Craft Development Manager with Ards and North Down Borough Council commented, “We are delighted to have this opportunity at the Flax Gallery to showcase the talents of Artists and Makers who are both current and past residents of the Art Pod studios at Project 24.  Project 24 on Queens Parade in Bangor is an award winning initiative and the Pods are providing much needed studio space for many young and upcoming Artists.

We welcome everyone to Project 24 and would encourage you to visit the exhibition which is on show at The Flax Gallery, Mossley Mill until Saturday 30 July.  Admission to the gallery is free and opening hours are Monday to Wednesday 10am – 5pm, Thursday 10am – 9pm, Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturday 11am – 4pm.

Thousands of chocoholics and enthusiastic foodies from Northern Ireland and beyond are set to descend again this year on Killyleagh town centre to celebrate the 2016 Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival, 23^rd – 25^th September.

Sponsored by artisan producer Finnebrogue, based in nearby Downpatrick and famous for their outstanding quality venison and sausages, among other favourites, this year’s festival will be the largest one yet, with over 15 chocolatiers and nearly 40 local artisan food producers scheduled to set up camp at the historic Killyleagh Castle for the weekend-long festival.

Founded in 2010 to celebrate Killyleagh’s most famous son, Hans Sloane, who was born in the village in 1660 and later became one of the most famous men of his time partially because of his development of milk chocolate, the biennial festival has grown from strength to strength and is now regarded as one of the leading events of its type in the UK and Ireland and a highlight of the summer calendar for locals in Killyleagh.

“Now in our 4^th festival season, the committee is working tirelessly to ensure that this year’s Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival is the best one yet.  With increased interest in our abundance of local produce and artisan suppliers with thanks to 2016’s Year of Food & Drink, our chocolate-themed festival stands as a unique event in this year’s events calendar,” said Meave Davison, festival committee member.  “We look forward to welcoming guests coming from as close as Killyleagh and as far as mainland Europe who will share in this special festival.”

Joining in the anticipation of the event was Joanna Discombe, Business Development Director at event sponsor Finnebrogue Artisan who added, “Like Hans Sloane, Finnebrogue is an iconic name synonymous with this part of County Down.  Known for our high-quality ingredients which go into making unique, artisan food, the Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival offers the perfect local platform to show off our outstanding products to local and international audiences.”

The festival will kick off on Friday 23^rd September with the Chocolate Ball which will take place on the grounds of the stunning Killyleagh Castle, one of Ireland’s longest-inhabited castles.  Guests will be treated to a chocolate-rich menu prepared and curated by the Chef Simon Dougan of Yellow Door and Finnebrogue consultant development chef Chris Burt, followed by world class entertainment set in a stunning marquee against the backdrop of Killyleagh Castle.

The three-day celebration will continue on Saturday 24^th & Sunday 25^th September with the Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival, where guests can enjoy the range of chocolatiers’ displays and market stalls, taste and purchase local artisan produce, and be entertained by the activities for the whole family, offering serious fun for all in 2016!

Joining the line-up of this year’s festival is the Cancer Fund for Children, who have been confirmed as the beneficiary of this year’s fundraising activities. The leading local charity that provides practical, emotional and financial support to children and young people affected by cancer and their families, the charity offers therapeutic short breaks to families at Daisy Lodge, Newcastle, just a short drive from Killyleagh.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with this year’s Killyleagh Chocolate Festival,” said Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive, Cancer Fund for Children. “Our charity focuses on providing respite to families impacted by cancer. The children and families we support are at the heart of everything we do, and we are thrilled to be a part of such a family-friendly, wide-reaching event.”

The Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate & Fine Food Festival kindly acknowledges the support of Tourism Northern Ireland, Newry Mourne & Down District Council, and Food NI in the staging of this year’s event as well as the support of sponsors Bryan Somers Travel, Finlay Wealth Management, Jeep, Killyleagh Development Association, Mash Direct, Roskyle, and S.D. Bell’s.

Ticket prices vary, based on events running throughout the Festival. For further information on all events taking place and to book tickets visit www.hanssloane.com or follow the Killyleagh Chocolate Festival on Twitter @KillyleaghChoc or facebook.com/KillyleaghChocFest.

BLOOMING LOVELY…

Model Caoimhe Wallace enjoys a tasty treat as she helps launch The Merchant Hotel’s new Floral Afternoon Tea, ahead of Rose Week 2016.

Guests can enjoy the elegant experience of scones, delicate finger sandwiches and floral-inspired cakes and pastries including a raspberry and rose chocolate sphere and a praline and earl grey blue flower macaroon, over the summer months at the five-star hotel.  As well as the extensive menu of teas on offer, guests can add an extra special touch to the experience with a glass of Valdo Rosé Prosecco Floral Edition 2016.

The Champagne Floral Afternoon Tea is priced from £32.50 per person.  For further information or to book, contact The Merchant Hotel on 02890 234888 or visit themerchanthotel.com

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (July 11 – 17).

• Soma Festival, Castlewellan, Co. Down, July 13 – 17. Now in its 4th year the Soma festival is bigger and better than ever. SOMA means ‘Food of the Gods’ and this year music is a core theme of the festival and there are some extraordinary musicians coming to Castlewellan such as Lisa Hannigan, Eddi Reader and Declan O’Rourke.

• Castlewellan Agricultural Show, Castlewellan, Co. Down, July 16. Set across 50 acres in the beautiful surroundings of Castlewellan Forest Park, the show will feature classes for cattle, sheep, goats, horses and many more animals. There will also be a wide range of trade stands, food and craft producers showcase their wares alongside live music, vintage tractors, carriage driving and demonstrations of countryside pursuits.

• Foyle Maritime Festival, various locations, Co. Londonderry, until July 17. The Foyle Maritime Festival will host the stopover of the Clipper Race 2015-16 as they near the end of their Round the World Journey. The city will be transformed into an international marina to welcome the yachts and their crews once again. Queens Quay will once again be transformed into a maritime wonderland full of fun, activities, music, arts and crafts as we prepare to Welcome Team Derry~Londonderry for a special homecoming party!

• Lough Erne Paddlers Open Day, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, July 16. Discover the beauty of Fermanagh from the water on a fab fun day out with the family. Come along and try the many different types of kayaks and canoes and enjoy an afternoon on Lough Erne. To book call 028 66 387010.

• Scarva Sham Fight, Scarva Village, Co. Down, July 13.  The Sham Fight is firmly established as one of the major events on the Northern Ireland cultural and tourism calendar. It will be an amazing occasion packed with music and pageantry, a day the whole family can enjoy. Video screens and other stage equipment will be provided for people to enjoy the day and a special marquee will be set up to allow visitors understand the history of the Royal Black Institution and the Sham Fight.

• Rock the Castle, Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden, Co. Antrim, July 17. See Dolly’s Rockin Country Club performing songs from Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood and Elvis before being transported to the 70s and 80s with Glamslam and Q the Quo. This is a night country music fans will not want to miss! To book call 028 28 841203.

• Ship Shape Sculpture, HMS Caroline, Belfast, July 16 – 17. Join artist Jim Russell aboard the HMS Caroline and try your hand at a spot of ship building on this historic First World War ship and help create a unique sculpture of the ship.  This is a drop in activity, so you can stay for as long as you would like.

• Benone Artisan Market, Benone Tourist Complex, Co. Londonderry, July 17.  Fresh aromas, vivid colours, eclectic treasures, buzzing crowds – a mere stroll amongst the many stalls of a Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market is enough to invigorate the senses and whet the appetite.

• Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, until July 16. Written by Frank McGuinness, this mesmerising production focuses on the extraordinary circumstances of the World War 1 and the lives of eight young men whose lives are utterly changed.  This iconic play is a powerful portrayal of mortality, love and loss.

• Dining in the Dome, Victoria Square, Belfast, until July 23. Experience an evening like no other by Dining in the Dome at Victoria Square. Enjoy food, drinks and the best views in a special intimate setting high above the Belfast skyline.  www.victoriasquare.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.

Patrick Ward from Dundrum Co, Down. Graduated from the University of Ulster, York Street Belfast 1999 with Dip He/BA. Hons. Fine & Applied Art specialising in sculpture using found objects and materials.

In 2002 Patrick went to Finland for a one year art residency and has lived there ever since. During his time in Finland Patrick has been involved with 35 exhibitions and projects.

Coming back to Ireland, The Art of Craft Exhibition 2016 is the first exhibition in Ireland that Patrick applied for since 2002. “I am really happy that my work was accepted for the Art of Craft Exhibition which has a reputation for showing the highest quality craft from leading makers nationwide.  I am delighted that the public enjoyed my work and how my work ‘Stags Head’ has been received.”

“I have been making mosaic art for 10 years and `Stags Head` is part of a collection of work and working technique which I have been developing since 2014”.

The process involves inlaying hand-cut ceramic tile into the wood bark. Patrick explains that his inspiration for his new work came from living in a forested environment where off-cuts of wood are readily available and how the material allows him to experiment with a different type of base. “My challenge was to make the ‘Stags Head’ good enough that it didn´t need any background mosaic”.

“This is the development stage my work is now at and I continue to be inspired by nature concentrating on the small details to capture the essence and character of the animals”.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me, the public who voted for my work and thanks to the exhibition organisers Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Market Place Gallery and Craft and Design Collective. Thanks also to all the other exhibiting artist, designer makers at the Art of Craft Exhibition

To keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

The 2016 Foyle Maritime Festival, in association with the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race, kicks off on Saturday July 9 and continues until Sunday July 17 in Derry~Londonderry.

This year’s festival has an action-packed program that is overflowing with family fun, explained Tourism NI’s Communication & Destination PR Officer, Rachel Quigg:  “The city will be transformed into an International Marina, providing a celebratory welcome to all 12 Clipper Race Yachts and their crews.

“This year’s festival has tonnes of things for families to enjoy including a variety of live music, fun street theatre performances and animation.  Foodies will be busy exploring the Clipper Race Kitchens at Ebrington Plaza showcasing the wealth of local food at its best in what is NIs Year of Food and Drink.  There will be live cookery demonstrations, food tasting to tantalize your taste buds, as well as the return of the Walled City Market and Continental Market along Queen’s Quay for visitors to explore.”

Tourism NI has listed a small selection of the huge array of unmissable happenings taking place during the festival.

A dedicated arts and crafts programme for kids will be running daily during the festival.  They will get to create a swashbuckling sword at pirate-themed workshops, enjoy some fishy business creating creatures from the deep or listen to magical stories of mermaids and the daring sea voyages. For older kids, or those who are young at heart, you can try your hand at some circus skills or simply enjoy the funfair attractions, tasty treats and general good old fashioned fun.

Music City 2016 will turn Derry City into one big performance space with hundreds of musical performances of all genres taking place in streets, squares, neighbourhoods, churches, offices and workplaces.  This year’s festival will feature a special homecoming gig from Mercury Prize nominee, Soak, as well as The Strypes, David Kitt, Girls Names, and stars of America’s Got Talen, The Willis Clan.  There will even be a Music City Busking Competition with a whopping £1,000 cash prize up for grabs.

The Foyle Maritime Lecture Series will take place weekly from June 15 until July 6, from 7.30pm at the Tower Museum.  Speakers include Dr Liam Campbell and Ken McCormack, and various topics, including the changing landscape of Derry~Londonderry and the North West, will be discussed.  Admission is free but places must be booked via the Tower Museum.

On July 13, 14 and 15, members of the public will be treated to Clipper 2015-16 Race Fleet: Open Boat Tours.  People will be able to discover what life as an ocean racer is like on a personal yacht tour conducted by crew members who have competed in the unique race.

On Saturday July 16 the spectacular finale, The Voyage of Sunniva – Night of the Two Moons, which takes place at Queen’s Quay, brings together land, water, aerial performance, light, music and fireworks in a world class spectacle that will be remembered forever by all who see it.

The closing day of the festival, Sunday July 7, will feature the Clipper Race Yachts Parade of Sail.  This will be a very special event as the city bids an emotional farewell to the Clipper race yachts as they depart for their next official race start at Greencastle, Co Donegal.

There is loads more happening during the Foyle Maritime Festival, visit www.foylemaritime.com for further details.

If you are planning on visiting, why not extend your stay? A wide range of excellent accommodation is available across Derry~Londonderry, ranging from luxurious hotels, to B&B’s full of character and charm, and self-catering options, as a home from home.  Check out www.discovernorthernireland.com for further details.

ARMOY Motorcycle Road Racing Club is delighted to announce that Torquetronix, a bespoke tuning company, is sponsoring the Superbike Open Race for the second year running.

Last year the Open Race was one of the most popular races of the day with Guy Martin taking the top spot followed closely, by William Dunlop.

Based in Kells, County Antrim, Torquetronix offers tailored performance tuning of the highest quality for car and motorbike engines.

Following on from their sponsorship last year, David Wishart, owner of Torquetronix said, “We really enjoyed our involvement with the Armoy Road Races last year and didn’t hesitate to come on board for a second year.  There really is something unique about these races and they draw such a great calibre of road racers supported by bike enthusiasts from all over the world.

“This is a great opportunity for my company Torquetronix and I to become involved in road racing at a different level.  The company has been up and running for some 15 years and we specialise in performance remapping and engine chip tuning for European vehicles.

“We engineer bespoke and properly developed performance tuning of the highest quality which guarantees the reliability of the engine. We differ from other tuning companies in that we actually write the software in house, custom to the vehicle which is then tested and proven on the Dyno.

“This ensures that car is recalibrated allowing for better performance, driveability and fuel economy. Of course we do tune motorbikes but the mainstay of the company is tuning a vast array of cars for customers from as far away as England and the RoI.  We are passionate about ensuring that every vehicle we tune is performing to its ultimate safe potential.”

Bill Kennedy, Clerk of the Course, said, “This is the Club’s eighth year and we are thrilled that Torquetronix enjoyed last year’s event so much that they are back for a second time.  It is great to see local companies having the chance to showcase what they do, especially the likes of Torquetronix.  We are expecting a great turn out at this year’s road race and we have a week of events including classic car and motorcycle displays, a horseshoe throwing competition, BBQs and the biker’s ride out culminating in two exciting days of road racing.”

The event is part funded by Tourism Northern Ireland and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. Bike Week runs from Sunday 24^th July until Saturday 30^th July 2016 with the SGS International ‘Race of Legends’ featuring on the Saturday 30^th July 2016.

For more information visit www.amrrc.com or search for ‘AMRRC’ on Facebook and join the official fan page and you can also follow us on twitter at @ArmoyRoadRaces.

Stendhal Festival of Art has always been an event which has looked to provide opportunities for up and coming musicians from Northern Ireland.

A 16-year-old SOAK played her first main stage set at the event in 2012 and has gone on to achieve huge things in her fledgling career and this year Stendhal is hoping that the second year of their partnership with The Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast and The Nerve Centre in Derry/Londonderry will bring forth some more stars of the future.

The Nerve Centre’s SYNC Music Hothouse Programme will take over the Stendhal Stage on the Friday night and Saturday afternoon as groups of young musicians will finish the summer long scheme by forming bands and making their debuts at Ireland’s Best Small Festival.

The idea of having brand new bands form and play their first gig in a festival setting is not only innovative but as the Director of the Hothouse programme explains, is a massive boost for youngsters trying to make their way in the world of music.

“It’s a massive incentive for up and coming musicians,” says Marty McGill. “The Nerve Centre has always been a huge supporter of youth music but we have never really had a showcase for our students to work towards like Stendhal before.

“With the carrot of being on the bill along-side some of the best musicians in the UK and Ireland we have seen a major upshift in the excitement and the productivity within the Hothouse Programme.

“The quality of the bands we produce is also climbing and this year, there are a great number of our kids that will certainly raise eyebrows at Stendhal this year. You won’t have heard of them before-hand but you will certainly be asking about them once they have finished their set.”

The Oh Yeah Centre’s Scratch My Progress programme is aimed towards acts that are much more established than those coming from the Nerve Centre.

They focus on finishing touches more than introductions and have announced several acts for Stendhal who you really should already know about.

Worm Hears, Vokxen, Hannah McPhillimy, Bosco Ramos and Owen Denvir are the artists selected by Oh Yeah to perform at Stendhal this year and incoming Chief executive of the Centre Charlotte Dryden is excited to once again partner with the festival.

“Oh Yeah is thrilled to be involved with Stendhal again this year, and to be sharing the stage with our friends at the Nerve Centre too. Our talent development programme Scratch My Progress is celebrating five years of nurturing great new music.

“To mark the occasion we will be bringing a selection of acts from across the years to perform at this special event. It’s important to us to be able to provide the acts we work with an opportunity to perform on as many stages as possible and outdoor and festival slots are always a great experience. Looking forward to seeing Vokxen, Worm Hears, Bosco Ramos, Hannah McPhillimy and Owen Denvir do their thing on the Saturday night.”

Stendhal Director Ross Parkhill says that he is delighted that both music institutions are involved with the Festival.

“Both the Nerve and the Oh Yeah provide vital and high class services to the young musicians of Northern Ireland and having them at Stendhal is a real no-brainer for us,” he said.

“Like Stendhal, they are all about nurturing, promoting and offering opportunities to up and coming artists and the quality of work they produce on a regular basis makes them an invaluable resource.

“The line-up coming as part of the Oh Yeah Scratch My Progress is outstanding and we are looking forward to hearing some brand new sounds from the guys coming from the Nerve’s Music Hothouse.

“Last year we heard some top class acts on the programmes of both. We knew the quality we were getting from Oh yeah and we hugely impressed at what the Hothouse programme produced considering they are all brand new bands.”

With Stendhal taking place in just over a month’s time, there is plenty to get excited about for this instalment of the award winning event. None more so than the prospect of seeing the next big thing before they go on to greatness.