Full ahead, as Galgorm invests to counter virus threat
Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort on the outskirts of Ballymena has met the considerable challenge presented by Coronavirus head-on, recently unveiling a further £2m expansion of its thermal village and spa facilities and opening the doors on its newest attraction – a boutique hotel in upmarket Templepatrick.
Work began on the new spa provision at Galgorm in March and the newly installed facilities include a 10-metre infinity pool on the banks of the River Maine, a 200m2 palm house with six heated loungers and a new Salt Room for halotherapy exercises.
More than 90 per cent of the additions at the resort are in the open air, including two new group hot tubs and saunas, three private hot tubs with waterfall views and six new riverside cabanas.
This is the latest in a series of strategic investments at the luxury resort which have seen its owners, the Hill family, spend £60m there within the last 10 years. And that figure is set to double within the next five years.
The group has also announced the creation of 40 new jobs across its portfolio of properties as a result of recent investment and all existing positions have been protected.
NI’s First Minister, Arlene Foster visited Galgorm in recent weeks to see the new additions to its offering, after which she described the property as ‘a world leader for local tourism’:
And speaking to Licensed & Catering News this week, Galgorm Collection managing director, Colin Johnston said he was delighted to see guests back at Galgorm and safely enjoying the facilities.
‘As a priority, we’re focused on implementing safety measures throughout the resort and we are delighted to be among the first hotels in the UK to receive the coveted AA Covid Confident Mark for our commitment to safety,’ he added.
At nearby Templepatrick, the doors are now open on the Collection’s latest addition, The Rabbit. Formerly known as The Templeton, more than £2m has been spent to transform the popular local venue into a modern boutique hotel, including the new 180-seat Rabbit Bar & Restaurant.
The Galgorm Collection acquired the property, which was built in 1990, last year for £7m and extensive refurbishment work has been undertaken to upgrade its 24 guest rooms and develop outdoor spa facilities which are due to open later this year.
Mr Johnston said:
‘We are excited to reveal The Rabbit’s new name and announce plans for a full opening later this year. While work continues on preparations for the hotel’s accommodation and spa area, it’s fantastic to be able to unlock the doors to The Rabbit Bar & Restaurant and we would like to take this opportunity to thank our team and our guests for their continued support.’
Most recently, Galgorm has also announced that it has been chosen again to host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open golf tournament at its Galgorm Castle course in mid-September. This will be the first time that the venue has hosted the event, which has been played in NI on three previous occasions.
The tournament is a major coup for the local resort. It was to have taken place in May at the Mount Juliet Estate in County Kilkenny, but that event was called off in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown. With quarantine restrictions for travellers into the RoI still in place alongside the ban on mass gatherings, the European Tour made the decision to move its Irish Open competition to the picturesque Galgorm course.
Colm McLaughlin, executive vice-chairman and CEO of the Dubai Duty Free, said:
‘We are pleased that the Galgorm Castle Golf Club has been selected as a suitable venue, with the Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort as the official accommodation. Without a doubt, the tournament will be different this year but we think that the players and fans are going to enjoy this return to world-class golf on the island of Ireland.’
