Ryan McAleer

The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht The Crolly Distillery is a thriving new hub of industry and tourism in Gweedore

The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht www.irishnews.com/news/busines...

Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex Merchant Hotel owner Beannchor is proposing a new hospitality development along Crown Entry and Ann Street

Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex
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Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event Andrew Ure originally launched Belfast’s first ever whiskey festival in 2016

Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event www.irishnews.com/news/belfast...

Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry Derry City hotel changes hands for second time in eight months

Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry

Average rental listing for a home in Belfast has increased to £1,127 per month - PropertyPal Northern Ireland rental average up 8.5% over the year to £960 per month in the first quarter of 2025

The average home rental listing in Belfast increased 2.3% in the last quarter to £1,127 per month, according to PropertyPal (+9.6% y/y). NI rent average is up to £960p/m (+1.9% q/q +8.5% y/y). Big increase in Lisburn & Castlereagh as well +10.5% y/y.
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Merchant Hotel owner buys Belfast Premier Inn on the market for £8.5m New company set up by Beannchor Group completes deal for 148-bedroom hotel on Alfred Street

A 148-bed Belfast Premier Inn hotel has been bought by the Beannchor Group in a deal understood to be worth around £8.6m

One of Derry’s best-known pubs acquired by Downey group in multi-million pound deal Well-known Waterloo Street pub had been owned by Martin McGuinness’ brother William

Fairly big pub news in Derry City. The Downey brothers have acquired Peadar O’Donnell’s. Take over was completed on Friday.

Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week Budget carrier will add a third service at City of Derry Airport from September

Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week

Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel McKeever Group portfolio extends to seven hotels

Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel

The image isn't backwards, the pub has a mirrored sign. Background story is in the link.

Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue Warrenpoint native Paul Higgins’ MHL Hotel Collection invests £8m in Moxy Belfast City

Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue

‘We’ve been in it all our lives’ Well-known pub owned by the same family for more than a century up for sale Third generation of McAtee’s seek to pass on Fintona pub after 115 years in the family

After more than a century of family ownership, McAtee's Bar in Fintona is up for sale

New Belfast city centre shop and assembly line for watchmaker Peter McAuley’s company to invest £1m to double workforce in next 24 months

Belfast watchmaker Nomadic to open new city centre shop and assembly line

Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner Two Stacks on course for £10m in three years boosted by Foley family connection

Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner

Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer Closures in Armagh, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Larne, Magherafelt, Portadown and Strabane reduces banks branch footprint to just 14

Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer

The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland All remaining Homebase stores in the north will close this week

The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland

Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale The Kilmorey Arms has been trading in Kilkeel since 1843

Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale

Dupe fragrance founder Connor Martin launches £11m bid for new factory in Ballymena ‘creating 300 jobs’ JAQ Group’s Connor Martin claims The Essence Vault is now “a £100m brand”

Dupe fragrances are big business. From a bedroom start-up in 2019, Connor Martin's JAQ Group now employs 230 from a base outside Randalstown. The company is now planning to invest £11m opening a 2nd facility in Co Antrim, which could create 300 jobs
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PropertyPal's analysis suggests monthly mortgage payments for the average first-time buyer have fallen back below the average rent costs for a 2/3-bed home. Rate cuts appear to be filtering through, but rent inflation does not appear to be slowing down. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...

‘Embarrassing’ Belfast Grand Central Station does not sell cross-border tickets on its machines Rail and bus passengers heading to the Republic cannot buy seats using travel hub’s ticket machines

Not surprised given Translink launched a card payment system on buses that can't be used to accept contactless payment for topping up travel cards. I still have to pay in cash to top my iLink travel card. Translink only admitted this after weeks of back-and-forth.
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Mid Ulster hosts inaugural restaurant week The first Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant Week runs until March 16

The first ever restaurant week in Mid Ulster begins today in a bid to showcase the culinary talent and local ingredients of Tyrone and Derry.

Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi Newly refurbished Margot and Rudi venues expected to open in June

Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi

Bushmills unveil oldest single malt Irish whiskey ever released Just 38 bottles of the 46-year-old ‘Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released in Ireland at £10,000 per bottle

Bushmills is launching a new 46yo whiskey, which claims to be the oldest Irish single malt ever released. Just 38/300 bottles of 'Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released on the island on March 17th.

Gas households on Ten Towns network set for 12% tariff cut from April 1 71,000 customers will save, but prices are still double what households paid five years ago

Firmus to cut Ten Towns domestic gas tariff by 11.84% on April 1 following utility reg review. No change for SSE customers in Greater Belfast. Both regulated tariffs broadly average £1k per year (based on avg use), which is around double what customers paid c.5 years ago.

The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt Derry pub group claim new venue will broadcast sport on ‘north’s largest outdoor screen’

The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt

Invest NI chief says relocation should be on the table for discussion on future of Belfast headquarters Kieran Donoghue raises “possibility of relocating” in debate on modernising Bedford Street HQ

The CEO of Invest NI has said "the possibility of relocating" should be among the options when discussing the future utilisation of the organisation's Belfast headquarters
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House: NolaClan seek northern exit from boutique Belfast hotel House Alan Clancy’s hospitality company has launched a search for a new operator to take over its 20-year lease

Irish hospitality group NolaClan has placed House Belfast, its only NI venue, on the market. The 31-bed hotel opened in 2018 in the former Madison's site after being sold by Nama in 2016. NolaClan have it on a 20yr lease from Havana Ltd (Shamus Jennings)

Halt: New street food market ‘to open in Europa Bus Station this summer’ New hospitality venture is the first stage in MRP’s Weavers Cross development

MRP has said its new street food market planned for the old Europa bus station is expected to open this summer (subject to planning). Will be known as 'Halt', creating up to 40 jobs. Will also be a 'community hub' dimension. Co-operation Ireland has confirmed it's moving to the site

Man who oversaw Luas development is new chair of the north’s public transport body Frank Allen has been named as the next chair of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which oversees Translink

Frank Allen, who as CEO of the Republic's RPA for a decade, oversaw of the roll-out of the Luas network, has been named as the new chair of Translink's parent entity, the NI Transport Holding Company.
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Greggs closes in on 30 stores in the north following green light for new outlet at The Junction Sausage roll specialist has opened 24 sites with six more planned for Northern Ireland

Greggs closes in on 30 stores in the north following green light for new outlet at The Junction