Larne Museum and Arts Centre are helping to remember and celebrate the life of one of Larne’s most famous past residents, Richard Hayward.
Richard Hayward film actor, musician and writer was born in Southport but lived in Larne for a while, attending Larne Grammar School. He appeared in such films as The Luck of the Irish (1935) and A Night to Remember (1938). His travel books include In Praise of Ulster (1938) and This is Ireland (1949-64). His best known songs were ‘The Humour is on Me Now’ used in The Quiet Man, and ‘Six Miles from Bangor to Donaghadee’.
The Linenhall Library and Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) are presenting a free symposium celebrating the life of Richard Hayward. Journalist and author Paul Clements will outline the life and work of the celebrated writer, actor and singer who died in 1964. Larne Museum and Arts Centre are organising a group visit for anyone interested in attending this special talk. The event takes place on Friday 17th October 2014, 1pm-2.30pm at PRONI, Titanic Quarter, Belfast. A free bus will leave Larne Museum & Arts Centre at 12.00pm returning after the talk.
As part of this celebration of Richard Haywards Life, Larne Museum and Arts Centre also plan to show one of his films in the Museum in the upcoming months. Please watch local press for further details.
Places for the free symposium and bus are limited and must be booked in advance. To book your place contact Larne Museum & Arts Centre by Friday 3rd October 2014 at 4.00pm by telephoning 028 28 279482 or E-mail: kelsom@larne.gov.uk .
Classical aficionados rejoice! This autumn the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s serves up ten stunning performances of classical music, in association with Belfast Harbour, with the majority of concerts starting at an affordable £10.
Classical for a tenner. This autumn the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s serves up ten stunning performances of classical music, in association with Belfast Harbour, with the majority of concerts starting at an affordable £10. Pictured with Susan McCleary, Marketing Manager, Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, is flautist, Aisling Agnew, who will perform alongside guitarist Matthew McAllister, as part of the Northern Lights Mini-Festival, on Sunday 19th October at The Great Hall, Queen’s University. Other classical highlights includes four Ulster Orchestra concerts, the award-winning, Schubert Ensemble, at St Gerard’s Church, and acclaimed pianist, Roland Pöntinen, at Clonard Monastery. This series of enchanting classical concerts begins on 16th October – 31st October. Visit www.belfastfestival.com for tickets and for the special classical Passport offer of 2 concerts for £20* (*Schubert Ensemble and Roland Pöntinen).
From the impressive Great Hall at Queen’s University to the beautiful surroundings of the Ulster Hall and the sublime, magnificent settings of St Gerard’s Church and Clonard Monastery, prepare to be awe-filled as this series of enchanting classical concerts begins on 16th October – 31st October.
Richard Wakely, Director, Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, said, “As an arts Festival which aims to reach out to all and engage with new audiences, offering events at an accessible price is both ethical and essential. We’re so pleased to be able to offer the majority of our classical programme concerts starting at £10, with some a little less, so join us in Belfast this October for some wonderful classical music at Ireland’s leading contemporary International Arts Festival.”
Belfast Harbour’s CEO, Roy Adair, added: “The arts are an important element of the Harbour’s community engagement programme and we are delighted to support such an impressive calendar of classical music for this year’s Ulster Bank Festival at Queen’s. The Festival is a great opportunity for both long-standing lovers of classical music and first-time concert goers to savour outstanding artists at outstanding prices.”
Classical highlights at this year’s Festival includes;
Join the multiple award-winning, Schubert Ensemble (UK), in the beautiful surroundings of St Gerard’s Church for a string and piano combo of chamber music that will put the colour back in your cheeks.
Let world acclaimed pianist, Roland Pöntinen, take you away to another place with music by Ravel, Prokofiev, Chopin and Granados.
Festival links up with the Northern Lights Mini-Festival to present the Agnew McAllister Duo (flute and classical guitar), the dynamic and outstandingly talented, Quercus Ensemble, and local rising opera star, Emma Morwood with pianist Jonathan Fisher.
Switzerland’s Trio Rafael, piano trio, plays Ireland for the first time as part of Festival and also the Swiss Ambassador’s Award Tour.
Northern Ireland’s symphony orchestra, The Ulster Orchestra, performs four outstanding concerts starting off proceedings with ‘Four Moods in Music’ featuring Ukrainian violinist Valeriy Sokolov.
The very special ‘Emerging Conductors Programme’ lunchtime concert sees the Ulster Orchestra and Irish Soprano Aoife O’Sullivan under the direction of three young conductors who have been chosen from an international search.
This final note from the Ulster Orchestra at this year’s Festival comes in the concert ‘A Fanfare to Fate’, bringing together a selection of local musical talent with the Ulster Orchestra, including world-renowned pianist Barry Douglas and local composer Simon Mawhinney’s work.
*This year’s Festival has a special Passport Deal saving offer of two classical shows for £20 which includes performances from Roland Pontinen and Schubert Ensemble. Visit www.belfastfestival.com/booknow/PassportDeals for details.
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s presents great and diverse works of art from home and abroad, bringing audiences something very special that they cannot see elsewhere, all combining to deliver one unique festival which runs throughout the city from 16 October – 1 November. The 2014 festival features 110 events with performers from 18 different countries and 26 premieres, covering classical and contemporary music, film, dance, theatre, talks and visual arts.
The festival would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and public sector funders including Title Sponsor, Ulster Bank, Principal Funder, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Queen’s University, Belfast City Council, British Council, O2 International Sim, Belfast Harbour, Arts & Business NI and Department for Social Development, plus, the many venues, performers and partner organisations whose commitment and passion bring the arts to life for all to enjoy.
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s box office is now open with some shows sold out. Check-in at www.belfastfestival.com
A series of decadent Fashion Teas will return to The Merchant Hotel, Belfast this October, serving up the hottest trends from some of Northern Ireland’s top independent boutiques and designers to tantalise fashion taste buds for autumn/winter 2014.
Style Academy model, Kristen Gillespie gets a taste of new season style at The Merchant, ahead of the hotel’s decadent Fashion Teas, which return for autumn/winter on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October. Kristen wears a gold dress from Castle Couture and red glitter Charlotte Olympia heels from Harper. Styling by Katrina Doran; Hair by Andrew Mulvenna; Make-up by Estee Lauder; Photography by Robin Cordiner.
On Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October, the 5*star hotel’s Rita Duffy Suite will provide a striking setting for five individual Fashion Teas, showcasing cutting edge autumn/winter collections alongside sumptuous champagne afternoon teas.
Models from Style Academy will provide a round table fashion show, allowing guests to get up close and personal to the new season collections, whilst sipping Moet et Chandon champagne and enjoying melt in the mouth patisseries. Guests will also have the opportunity to shop the collections hot off the catwalk, with pop-up boutiques for all five retailers housed in The Merchant for the whole weekend.
A packed schedule of three shows will kick off The Merchant’s autumn/winter Fashion Teas on Saturday 11th October with decadent accessories from designer boutique, Harper and leading milliner and jewellery designer, Grainne Maher (12.30pm); stunning autumn/winter collections from quirky homegrown label, Art on Fashion (3pm) and beautiful bridal collections from Castle Couture (5.30pm). On Sunday 12th October, Dungannon boutique, The Boudoir will present two fashion-forward shows at 1pm and 3.30pm.
This autumn/winter is all about the accessories and in a fitting fashion pairing, luxury designer boutique, Harper at The Merchant Hotel and top NI designer, Gráinne Maher are joining forces to open this season’s Fashion Teas in style. Exclusive Northern Ireland stockists of Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Olympia and Rachel Zoe, Harper at The Merchant’s coveted red soled heels will be a key feature in this opening show, with a mix of classic shapes and colours and fashion forward styles ensuring fashion lovers are well heeled for A/W 14.
Alongside Harper, renowned Belfast based milliner and jewellery designer, Gráinne Maher will showcase a range of striking pieces at The Merchant’s Fashion Teas including a selection from her new SS15 collection, which recently made its debut at London Fashion Week. The collection, entitled ‘Bláthanna’ (Irish for flowers), includes a range of statement Perspex millinery, jewellery and limited edition bags with a colour palette punctuated by rich pinks and pale greys. Combining traditional materials with Perspex and Swarovski, her work is sultry, sculptural and perfectly balances form with function.
In an exciting first, niche homegrown online clothing brand, Art on Fashion will showcase an exciting new collection at The Merchant’s Fashion Teas. Taking the work of cool and edgy international artists and transforming it into stunning garments, Art on Fashion creates wearable pieces of art for your wardrobe. Their latest collection is characterised by sophisticated elegance, featuring digital placement prints of original artworks fused with faux-leather and embroideries to create a look that is suitable for all occasions. Staking out new territory with the latest bodycon silhouettes and asymmetric dresses, the A/W 14 Art on Fashion collection offers unique, stand-out contemporary pieces that would be a timeless addition to any capsule wardrobe.
Closing the series of Saturday Fashion Teas, Castle Couture presents a show with stunning new designs from a host of award-winning bridalwear designers including Amanda Wakeley, Suzanne Neville, Jenny Packham, Badgley Mischka and David Fielden. Taking guests on a glamourous journey, the Castle Couture Fashion Tea will feature an eclectic mix of vintage and more modern styles in beautiful fabrics and trimmings. Ranging from intricate to simplistic designs, this show is sure to provide inspiration for all brides to be searching for their perfect dress.
The Boudoir at The Linen Green Designer Village, Dungannon, specialises in occasion and casual ladies fashion and accessories. Owners Anita and Donna Ross have travelled extensively to create a stunning autumn/winter collection. Their two Fashion Teas shows on Sunday 12th October will feature an array of the latest trends including, fur, leather and sequin pieces in ruby, navy and purple and will showcase Milly Mackintosh’s new clothing range and an extensive collection from Kate Middleton’s milliner, Jane Taylor, which is exclusive to The Boudoir in Ireland.
Tickets to The Merchant’s Fashion Teas cost £35 per person and include an exclusive fashion show of your choice, served with champagne afternoon tea. Tickets can be purchased by calling The Merchant Hotel’s events team on 028 9026 2717. Funds raised from a luxury ballot at the events will be donated to The Merchant’s 2014 charity partner, Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke.
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, Ireland’s leading contemporary international arts festival, 16 October – 1 November, features an array of never seen before shows and must see events from music, film and dance to theatre, including 26 Premieres, 18 Countries, 110 Events.
2014 highlights include, celebrated NY dancer Camille A Brown, in the funny yet moving show, ‘Mr. TOL. E. RancE’, the world’s most celebrated flamenco dancer, Israel Galvan, in his Bessie award-winning show of high-energy, passion and drama. Berlin’s Schaubühne Theatre Company’s, ‘An Enemy of the People’, is a dark satire of greed and corruption featuring contemporary political and musical references with the explosive final act. ‘The Suit’ from Théâtre Des Bouffes Du Nord, Paris, is a heart-breaking tale of a woman’s infidelity to her husband during apartheid South-Africa.
The Festival’s Music Club returns with unmissable live music from soul legend Bettye Lavette, four time Grammy award winner Dianne Reeves and ‘Mysticssippi’ blues man, Harry Manx, with singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Gareth Davies Jones.
The African Savannah comes to Belfast with a FREE, family-friendly weekend. ‘Hannavas’, on Saturday 25th (12-3pm, Botanic Gardens) and Sunday 26th October (2pm at City Hall). Come see large-scale, mechanical, African mammals, make puppet and masks, have your face painted safari-style and join the promenade style performance of animals at 2pm each day.
EMBRACE is the Festival’s new programme of participatory and creative learning activities and includes free workshops, performance opportunities, artist talks and hosted visits to Festival events. For the full programme of events, including festival discounts, check in to www.belfastfestival.com
Considered by many to be one of the finest singer | songwriters of her generation, Beth Nielsen Chapman has penned hits for artists including Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Roberta Flack, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Willie Nelson. In concert her songs are interwoven with wonderful story telling, all rooted in folk and Americana traditions, adding to the emotion and magic of the experience.
Beth will perform at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh on Saturday 4th October at 8pm. Tickets are priced £20 each.
On Wednesday 8th October at 8pm, the fast paced high-energy show, ‘Phantom & The Musicals’ will take to the stage. Now firmly established as the premier show of its kind, this is a musical coaster ride through the music of ‘The King And I’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Phantom Of The Opera’, to Rodgers & Hammerstein and the music of the maestro Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber! Throw in the music of ‘Grease’ and Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’, add in nostalgic classics such as ‘Calamity Jane’ and ‘The Sound Of Music’, and you can see why this show has something to offer the whole family. ‘Phantom & The Musicals’ will be staged on Wednesday 8th October at 8pm. Tickets are priced £15 each.
Then comes the hilarious drama ‘Two Nights With George’. One night with George Clooney is never enough for any woman, and Bridie Murphy is no exception. She returns to her Ballymurphy living room, bold, brash and on the voddies again and reunites with her old flame. Much has happened to Bridie in the last few years and she shares this with her confidante George, as well as a few very large Belfast Martinis. With her unique brand of humour and language that would shock a sailor, Bridie’s rollercoaster life continues and she tells it warts and all to George. ‘Two Nights With George’ will take place on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th October at 8pm. Tickets are priced £16 and £14 (concession). Tickets for all performances are available through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com
And 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 Land of Far Far Away will be closer than you think when everyone’s favourite mean green thing Shrek bursts onto the big screen in Solitude Park on Friday 10 October at 7pm to kick start Banbridge District Council’s amazingly awesome Autumn Arts Programme.
Shrek, a terrifying ogre who loves the solitude of his swamp is horrified to find his beloved bog overtaken by all sorts of fairy-tale creatures all of whom have been banished by the loathsome Lord Farquaad. Shrek, determined to get his swamp back, sets out on a mission accompanied by one very annoying talking donkey to find the fiendish Lord Farquaad.
Lord Farquaad agrees to give Shrek back his swamp if he can rescue Princess Fiona from the highest room in the tallest tower and bring her back to Duloc to marry Lord Farquaad so he can become King. However as the mission unfolds things begin to take on a twist. Can the cold ogres heart be melted, what is the deep secret that Princess Fiona is hiding and will Donkey ever shut up?
To add to the cinema experience local food outlet Captain Cooks will be offering a host of hot tasty treats including burgers, hot dogs and super-chips. Other refreshments such as popcorn, sweets and drinks will also be on sale. Also don’t forget to bring along a comfy cushion too.
For further information on this FREE event contact Banbridge District Council’s Leisure and Development Department on T: 4066 0605 or alternatively log onto www.banbridge.gov.uk or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/banbridgecouncil.
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (September 29 – October 5).
A Celtic Concert, The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Co Armagh, October 3. Prepare for a musical journey as local groups, singers and musicians perform a night of Celtic and traditional songs. This unique concert will feature well-loved classics and new compositions that celebrate the Emerald Isle.
Bread Butter and Jam Making,Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, September 30. Imagine a big chunky slice of crusty Irish soda, with homemade butter and fresh jam. Join Teresa in her big farmhouse kitchen to learn how to make all three. Using fruits from the farm and surrounding hedgerows you will learn the essential skills for making intensely flavoured jams, lofty soda breads and creamy butter.
Art Bus Tour – FLive 2014,Enniskillen Castle Museums, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, October 01. The FLive Art Bus Tour will begin with a wine reception at the 1888 Room in preparation for a whistle stop tour by bus to various exhibitions around the town. Then finish off with supper in Franco’s Restaurant.
Wildlife Photography Workshops, An Creagan, Barony Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, October 4-5. Professional Danny Gibson teaches enthusiasts of all experiences how to capture wildlife in these inspiring workshops.
Flamenco Fiesta – Ards International Guitar Festival, Queen’s Hall, Newtownards, Co Down, October 2. John Walsh, Ireland’s leading Flamenco Guitarist, has brought together some of the finest Flamenco musicians Spain has to offer in this unique celebration of the Andalusian traditional style of guitar music.
Beth Neilson Chapman, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Main Street, Limavady, Co Londonderry, October 2. You are invited to sit back and enjoy the beautiful sounds of this unique singer who has had worldwide hits. Beth’s music has been heard on ER, Dawson’s Creek and in movie soundtracks such as Film Practical Magic’s ‘The Kiss’ which became an international mega-hit and garnered multiple awards.
Autumn Fair,Mount Stewart,Portaferry Road,Newtownards, Co Down, October 4-5. Enter your home grown vegetables, flower arrangements, homemade jams and chutneys and browse through stalls exhibiting local artisan food produce and crafts. You can also watch demonstrations of local heritage crafts and skills courtesy of ‘Hands on Workshops’.
A Step in Time: The Story of Irish Dance Barony Road, Ulster Folk and TransportMuseum, Co Down, Until January 2016. From the itinerant dance masters of the 1800s to today’s ‘masters of dance’ there is a rich and colourful story will be told.
Acoustic Picnic,Oh Yeah Music Centre, Gordon Street, Belfast, October 4. You are invited to come along to listen to some great live music for free, over a picnic style lunch. All ages welcome, and this year there will be the addition of some giant board games for families and groups of friends to enjoy. Visitors are also welcome to browse the NI Music Exhibition.
The Jungle Book & Jungle Shadowplay Workshop, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, Co Antrim, October 4. Follow Mowgli, as he journeys deep into the jungle and learns “The Bare Necessities” of life from happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear. After the screening artist Frank Quinn will talk to the audience about the origins of shadowplay before the young participants get to create their very own shadow jungle puppets and shadow worlds!
Please note some of the events require pre-booking.
Fancy a ‘selfie’ with an owl, the chance to get up close to unusual creatures or to find out to your surprise, that snakes aren’t slimy? All this and more at the fourth annual Safari Live event will take place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 2014 (noon-five), at Crawfordsburn Country Park, near Bangor, County Down.
Tyrone
The Cultural Crafts with Thai Arts NI Creative programme of workshops will be delivered by ethnic artists exploring arts and crafts from across the world at An Creagan this Saturday 27th September and run for 3 weeks, 11am – 1.00pm. Workshops are FREE but have limited availability. Ages 16+.
Fermanagh
Cleenish Community Hall will play host to a Vintage Fashion Show this Saturday in aid of the Northern Ireland Hospice. The night will also feature a raffle with a host of exclusive, high end prizes, including Sunday lunch at MacNean House and a signed Neven Maguire cookbook, cookery course for two at Belle Isle, champagne afternoon tea at the Lough Erne Hotel, a pair of tickets to see Nathan Carter when he plays the Ardhowen Theatre in October and much, much more. Tickets cost £10 and all proceeds from the night will be donated to Northern Ireland Hospice and Cancer Research to support the vital work of the two charities. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm sharp and guests will be able to enjoy complimentary refreshments.
Derry
The Hope and Gloria Emporium in Coleraine will host a charity event to celebrate brides-to-be and local wedding vendors from every area of the wedding industry on Thursday 25th September. The Wedding Fayre will be a great night of fun, fashion and celebration with a wedding fashion show, First Dance Demonstrations, Hair and Beauty Consultations, the Open House of their new Hair Salon, Live Music, a charity raffles, and yummy drinks and nibbles! With wonderful vendors, you can plan your whole wedding at the “one-stop feel good” shop! Vintage and Modern Wedding Dresses will be on sale too and admission is free.
Armagh
Armagh City Hotel will screen the Movie Premier of of 2Late this Saturday 27th September. 2Late is a New Exciting Powerful Movie Produced and Directed by Gary Wales & Phil McAleavey Written by Adam McCaffrey (Writer / Actor, Lead Role) 2Late is about a young teenage boy ”Sam Hunter” (Adam McCaffrey) who gets bullied for being different by School Boys and his own Dad. His best friend Reece (Gary Wales) tries to look after him and protect him. His mum suspects her husband beats him. Sam can’t take anymore and makes the most important decision that no one would ever wish to make. This movie tells a moving story based on real life events that continues to happen in society, and asks the questions why this happens but also hopes to make the audience understand what part they can play in helping to combat this. Proceeds in aid of Suicide Awareness.
Antrim
The River to Lough Festival is a new and innovative one-day festival that will take place at the Toome Eel Fishery on Saturday 27th September 2014 from 12 noon to 6pm. The festival will celebrate over 8,000 years of fishing on the River Bann and Lough Neagh. It will highlight the rich cultural heritage associated with this very ancient fishing tradition as well as the mythic transatlantic journey of the eel. It will also celebrate the uniqueness of other wild food that comes from the River Bann & Lough Neagh, and will encourage local, national and international visitors to appreciate the culinary uniqueness of the Lough Neagh Eel as well as other local artisan produce.
Belfast
This Sunday 28th September the Merchant Hotel is the place to be for all brides to be, as they invite you to their Wedding Showcase. Speak to their Wedding Consultants about booking your dream day! Each Wedding Showcase features two Wedding Fashion shows with wedding associates on hand to help plan your day. To register go to the app on the Merchant Hotel’s facebook page.
For more details on these and other events across Northern Ireland, news and competitions see www.whatsonni.com, follow us @whatsonni and like us at fb.com/www.whatsonni. Add your events FREE OF CHARGE at www.whatsonni.com
Exclusive Preview of Bill Kirk’s Exhibition of Iconic Images
This Friday, September 26th, as part of The Aspects Irish Literature Festival, Glenn Patterson will host the opening of this remarkable exhibition hosted by celebrated and iconic Newtownards-born photographer Bill Kirk, at Sync Space, Dufferin Court, Bangor.
Bill was among the vanguard of local photographers who, while global documentary photography was focused firmly on the ‘Troubles,’ offered a more complex and heartfelt perspective on Northern Ireland.
Kirk’s life has been shaped by two major passions – cycling and photography. Cycling became a powerful and motivating force following the early deaths of Kirk’s parents due to TB. It was his own life-threatening battle with illness, alongside his redundancy as a draughtsman at Short’s, that prompted Bill to study photography at Belfast’s Art College. He was driven, he says, ‘by a naïve belief that photography could make a difference.’
As conflict erupted in the north, Bill says; “There was a lot of anxiety; everybody was anxious. We were in a fog, not knowing where we were going.’ The approach he brought to his art was inspired by photographers such as Lewis Wickes Hine (whose documentary photography helped bring about a change in American child labour laws), by Robert Frank and, of course, by Cartier Bresson. This dual commitment to social and aesthetic responsibility lies behind a body of work which is steeped in a sense of common humanity, whether its subjects are eminent local figures or random instants of life. Bill’s portraits are warm, perspective, and sometimes funny.
His streetscapes of Belfast at times recall images of Paris or Chicago. His perspective was a fresh one; and a refreshing one in the context of documentary photography during the ‘Troubles.’ Even while working for the Northern Irish Tourist Board, Bill eschewed fluffy-cloud whimsy in favour of a more sophisticated aesthetic.
For Aspects, Bill is exhibiting part of a project where he has located subjects from previous images and photographed them today, hearing the story of the time since they last met.
Sync Space is an inspirational, creative, innovative and collaborative multifunctional visual imaging studio and gallery in Bangor. Currently facilitating Sync Imaging, it is managed and directed by found and photographer Nick Patterson.
This FREE exhibition opens at 7pm on Friday, September 26 and runs until Sunday 28.
Belfast’s multi award-winning Merchant Hotel is celebrating once again, after being named the recipient of the first ever AA Spirit Award at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.
Held at the Grosvenor House in Mayfair, London on Monday 22nd September, the AA Awards recognise outstanding excellence in hospitality.
The AA Spirit Award, sponsored by famous single malt Scotch whisky brand, The Balvanie, was introduced for the first time this year. The highly coveted title was awarded to The Merchant Hotel, which was deemed by the judges to be a “hospitality business that really champions spirits through its product offerings and service, promotes customer awareness and knowledge and is passionate about both pre-dinner and after dinner guest experiences.”
Commenting on the award The Merchant Hotel General Manager, Gavin Carroll said:
“We are thrilled and honoured to be named the first recipients of the prestigious AA Spirit Award. We pride ourselves on the excellence of our product offering and service; our dedicated mixologists and bar teams have curated an enviable collection of quality and often rare, coveted spirits from across the world and are committed to passing on their knowledge and passion to our customers.”
“We are proud of the role that The Merchant has played in the development of Belfast’s hospitality scene and we will continue to strive for excellence, offering five-star service and facilities to visitors and residents alike.”
Attended by world-renowned chefs, prominent hoteliers, hospitality gurus and key industry media, the AA Hospitality Awards are amongst the most prestigious national awards of their kind – widely regarded as the Oscars for the hospitality industry, they draw on the unrivalled knowledge and expertise of the AA inspectorate and other industry professionals involved in the judging process. Winners are selected in recognition of excellence and success within their chosen category, having shown a significant improvement in the preceding 12 – 18 months and proving their dedication to raising industry standards and enhancing both their guest and diner experiences. From top hotels and restaurants to the best of British pubs, the AA Hospitality Awards celebrate everything that is great in British hospitality. All the winners will appear in the latest edition of the 2015 AA Hotel, Restaurant and Pub Guides which were launched at the event.
Guests at the awards ceremony, hosted by Fiona Bruce, were treated to a sensational gourmet meal created by2013 AA Chefs’ Chef, Tom Kerridge as well as entertainment from Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Light Balance.
The Merchant Hotel is owned by the Beannchor Group, which boasts a portfolio of over 50 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Northern Ireland.
