Collecting the gong from Arisha O’Hagan, above right, of sponsors Titanic Distilleries, Galgorm Collection’s Laura Millar, top left, said: “Winning this award is just fantastic and it is down to the hard work that every member of the team at Galgorm puts in every day of the week. We’ll definitely be celebrating.”

The beaten finalists in this hotly contested category includes Belfast’s Titanic Hotel, Grand Central and Clayton Hotel.

In choosing  Galgorm as the winning venue, Spotcheck judges said: “Staying at this hotel was an enjoyable experience from start to finish. From pre visit communication, to the warm welcome, comfortable and attractive accommodation and excellent facilities, we were treated to a first class experience.  Staff went out of their way to be of service and created an excellent experience in all respects.”

The win comes as the hotel looks to add a 64-bedroom to the resort outside Ballymena.

The development proposal includes plans for a new wing with rooftop pool and spa, external spa garden and an executive lounge linking to the existing hotel.

It comes after a recent expansion at the 380-acre hotel complex which is part of a £30m project to “further expand and enhance the resort and spa facilities” by 2027.

Galgorm Collection says it has invested £60m in the Co Antrim resort since 2010.

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The development proposal includes plans for a new wing with rooftop pool and spa, external spa garden and an executive lounge linking to the existing hotel.

It comes after a recent expansion at the 380-acre hotel complex which is part of a £30m project to “further expand and enhance the resort and spa facilities” by 2027.

Galgorm Collection says it has invested £60m in the Co Antrim resort since 2010.

Last October, the company announced a £10m expansion for 50 additional accommodation units to be established during the next two years to include 18 “shepherd’s huts”.

Last month, Galgorm Collection confirmed it will be investing £2.5m as part of a refurbishment, including a rooftop spa for residents at The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, which it purchased in 2021.

The company also owns The Rabbit Hotel and Retreat in Templepatrick which was named ‘Northern Ireland Hotel of the Year’ at the AA Hospitality Awards 2022.

In August LCN reported that the parent company of the Galgorm Collection of hospitality venues has seen sales rise from £16.5m to £22.7m in the year to October 31, marking a huge bounce back from a pandemic hit.

Between 2019 and 2020 the group took a £10m hit, but its latest accounts filed at Companies House reveal show it is now back on track to pass its record turnover of £26.7m in 2019.

The hospitality giant is owned by brothers Nick and Paul Hill and as well as the landmark Galgorm hotel, its other properties include the Fratelli Group of pizzerias, the Rabbit hotel in Templepatrick and The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn which it purchased in April 2021.

The group is also awaiting further panning permissions for an 18-room boutique hotel and restaurant on Belfast’s Ormeau Road, to be called The Raven.

Its owners hope it will see the former Holy Rosary Church, above, become a foodie destination for residents and non-residents alike.

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The Awards return to Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Friday, September 30, with 17 lucky winners being celebrated on the night.

Categories include Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year and of course the Lifetime Achievement gong, presented to someone who has not only excelled in hospitality but has shown others a blueprint for how to do the same.

The big night itself includes a feast of top entertainment, with hosts Sarah Travers and Joe Lindsay returning to keep the show on the track throughout the big night.

This year promises to bigger and better than ever, with past winners licking their lips at the prospect of a return and the possibility that they could again be among the winners of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious hospitality awards.

Having previously picked up the Hotel of the Year (over 75 rooms) for Galgorm Spa and Resort, the Galgorm Collection’s Colin Johnston told LCN he can’t wait for the return of an award night which gives everyone in the industry a huge lift.

“It’s great to have the LCN Awards back… it has been long anticipated.“It really is the go-to event for the industry, and it will be fantastic to have everyone back in the room again and I know everyone is looking forward to it.

“I know from experience how much of a buzz being nominated gives our teams who thrive on chance to win and get a real kick out making everything the best it can be and even the thought of inspectors popping in

“If you actually go on to get an award that’s the icing on the cake. They are second to none.”

“James McGinn, Hastings managing director and former manager at the Europa, told LCN: “The last event was superb, the razzle dazzle, Greatest Showman. It was the best yet. We are really looking forward to what comes next.”

What comes next will be a bigger and bolder event than any previous LCN Awards, with more than 500 entrants battling it out across 17 categories, with the shortlist soon to be revealed.

So book your table now, get the DJ to the dry cleaners and get dress shopping for the best night in the NI hospitality calendar.

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Two ladies clothing retailers (Zarabella and Molly’s Soul), a gelato store (Nugalato), sweet shop (Scrummies) and a children’s play town / café (Honeybees Playtown) are amongst the new businesses to open over the past year.

BID Manager, Emma McCrea believes that the town is best-known its bespoke make-up of independent stores, combined with the two major shopping centers located on the vibrant high street which offers a unique shopping and visitor experience, which has attracted further investment into the area.

She said: “Ballymena has always been a premier shopping destination town and has attracted visitors from far and wide. Footfall is above the average of other Northern Ireland towns, and you can feel the buzz in the atmosphere as people get back to enjoying everything now on offer.

“It is a unique town in that over 70% of the businesses are independent and we have such a vibrant mix of businesses from the established McKillens, to Camerons, Wallace and Wyse Byse, some of whom have been in the town for over 50 years.

“There’s a real sense of both community and trading confidence with a new artisan market, held on the last Friday of the month, and great new stores opening. With Spring in the air, retailers are looking forward to welcoming customers old and new back to enjoying one of the best shopping experiences in Northern Ireland.”

The wave of new independent stores is building on Ballymena’s popularity and success over the festive period, with the town enjoying one of the busiest Christmas trading periods on record, despite the challenging circumstances.

Cara-Lee Glenn owner of Zarabella commented: “I have worked in women’s fashion for over 20 years and always had a burning ambition to open my own business. I was absolutely delighted to find a recently refurbished, vacant unit in such a central location on Greenvale Street.

“Ballymena is a really lively, welcoming town and the reception to the business has been amazing. I am delighted with our performance so far and look forward to a bumper Spring/Summer. I truly appreciate all of the support from customers, old and new and we now look forward to launching our online platform later this month.”

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Accounts covering the year up until October 31, 2020, showed a turnover of £16.5m, down 38% on 2019’s £26.8m.

The group, whose subsidiaries include Galgorm Manor Hotel Limited, Fratelli (Belfast) Ltd, Fratelli (Ormeau Road) Limited and Pig and Chicken Inn Limited, also saw pre-tax profits dip by over £2m to £1.7m.

Despite the fall in profits the group its employees increased by four staff members to 593 and it pressing on with redevelopment plans, notably at The Old Inn on Crawfordsburn and at the former Holy Rosary church on Belfast’s Ormeau Road.

Responding to the latest figures, Tiarnán O’Neill, group finance director, told the Belfast Telegraph: “2020 was an extraordinary year, unlike any other that our business has faced in more than three decades.

“Despite the impact of several periods of prolonged, forced closure across all Galgorm Collection properties, we are pleased with our overall performance. Galgorm has continued to maintain a strong financial position which underpins our growth and investment plans.

‘Long-term investment’

“During this period, the furlough scheme was a lifeline for our team and the wider hospitality industry and enabled us to continue looking forward to delivering on our long-term investment plans for the wider Collection.

“Despite the obvious challenges, during this period we continued to focus on investing and enhancing our business and growing our team.

“This encompassed two significant new acquisitions including the former Templeton Hotel, Templepatrick and The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn as well as the roll out of multi-million pound refurbishments across both properties.

“We are pleased to end the period in a robust position, and we look forward to further building on our growing success in the coming year which includes rolling out a £10m investment to significantly enhance Galgorm Resort as part of a wider £30m project.

“We pay particular tribute to the hard work and dedication of our people and their commitment to our business in delivering a world-class tourism offering.”

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