BelFeast Food and Drink Festival for the Cathedral Quarter

Posted on

Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th March.

BelFeast is an exciting new Food and Drinks Festival for Belfast. The Festival will showcase everything that’s great about Northern Ireland’s fabulous food and drinks industry. This unique event is supported by Belfast City Council and will be delivered by CQ Trust and the team behind Culture Night with the support of Food NI. The new three day festival will take place between 23rd and 25th of March and will be based in and around the Cathedral Quarter.

BelFeast promises to be a fresh and exciting addition to Belfast’s rapidly expanding menu of world class fare sure to tempt visitors from near and far to sample a taste of Northern Ireland and the Cathedral Quarter

The event will shine a spotlight on Northern Ireland’s outstanding food and drinks industry from the farmers and artisan producers who offer a dazzling variety of choice to the restaurants and chefs who combine local ingredients to create mouth-watering meals and memorable dining experiences.

Destination Food and Drink will also celebrate the unique role that food plays in our lives, encouraging people of all ages to get involved and to learn more about what they eat and where it comes from.

As well as working with local restaurants, cafes and bars BelFeast will bring the streets and spaces of the Cathedral Quarter to life with special events like an Artisan Food Market, Street Food Village, Tours and Talks, while our Food Theatre will feature demonstrations from some of the finest chefs, food writers and creators in the UK as well as showcasing some of the emerging and established stars of the local food industry.

Finally the programme will be topped off with a smattering of arts and cultural offerings from some of Northern Ireland’s best musicians at the festival stage, live street theatre featuring both local and international artists and a selection of performances from local community groups, choirs, musical ensembles and more.

40th Anniversary All Ireland Game Fair- Fine Food Festival

Posted on

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the All Ireland Game Fair we have combined the NI and ROI Great Game Fairs of Ireland into one potentially huge All Ireland event. We already have booked several new attractions; organised a superb range of competitions with an unrivalled prize fund including very special 40th anniversary trophies to be won outright, and planned a huge all-Ireland marketing campaign. This year the show is at Shane’s Castle and is running from the 23rd to the 24th of June.

SPECIAL FOOD NI PROMOTION

We have some very special Fine Food attractions but would like the widest representation of quality fine food producers and thus are offering FoodNI producers an unrivalled promotional package. This includes a 3m x 3m stand space in a quality framed marquee for just £190 (normal cost £300) PLUS a bonus for those companies booking by the 3rd March of a FREE 60mm x 80mm advert (value £115) in the pre-Fair Fine Food Feature in the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine (100,000 plus readers per issue).

For more information and to book a space see here – Food Festival Booking Form

2018 Great Taste Award Entry now open

Posted on

1 February General entry – open to all

Members’ Fortnight ended automatically at midnight on 31 January
Normal rate of entry will now apply to all
Entry for Great Taste is capped at 12,500
ENTER EARLY to avoid disappointment and missing out

16 February Closing date  If entry cap is not already reached before this date

March to mid-June Delivery Instructions calling for products

Download notifications sent via email

20 March Judging begins in London & Dorset

8 June Judging ends

Late June 3 star products re-called for judging

4 July  3-star Judging Day

Early August Results and Feedback

 

Enter Here Now

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT ANNOUNCES £15 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

Posted on

Major works will significantly enhance overall passenger journey through the airport

George Best Belfast City Airport has announced a £15 million infrastructure investment that will include a major upgrade of its departure lounge, incorporating its retail, food and beverage offering.

The investment also includes an upgrade of the airport’s central security area and hold baggage screening facilities, as well as the purchase of a new fleet of Airport Fire appliances.

The capital expenditure will further enrich and enhance the overall passenger journey through the airport, with the upgrade of the central security search area aimed at more efficient processing for all departing passengers.

There will be in excess of a 30% increase in retail space, with an expanded offering from World Duty Free and WH Smith. Food and beverage facilities will be expanded by 25%, with broader choice for customers being introduced along with partner HMS Host, which operates existing facilities including the Bushmills Bar.

Additionally, customer seating will be more than doubled, as will airside customer washroom facilities, which will also be fully refurbished.

The completed works will be contained within the current terminal building and will be completed by October 2018.

Belfast City Airport announced the infrastructure investment at a breakfast briefing for key stakeholders on Tuesday morning at the Europa Hotel in Belfast.

Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport, said:

“In keeping with our overall mission of delivering an airport experience that exceeds our customers’ expectations, Belfast City Airport is fully committed to continually improving the overall journey for our passengers. The £15m investment in our infrastructure is another major reinforcement of our commitment.

“The upgrading of our departure lounge and retail offering will provide greater choice and significantly enhance the experience for our core business and leisure passengers as they travel through the airport.

“The strategic designs help future-proof the airport and we look forward to continuing what has been a successful period across many areas of our business.”

Speaking during the unveiling of the plans, Mr Ambrose said the investment reinforced the contribution the airport is making to key Belfast City Council growth strategies. He commented:

“As a rapidly-evolving city and, as one of Belfast City Council’s key stakeholders, we are proud to play our part in supporting Belfast’s growth and in driving forward strategies to further enhance the city’s reputation on a global stage.

“As a major employer in the city, we will continue working in partnership with the Council and other stakeholders to help further develop a vibrant local economy by improving global connections through our strong network of blue-chip airline partners.

“Situated just five minutes from the city centre, we provide an important gateway for opportunity, not only for business passengers and tourists departing Belfast, but also to inbound holidaymakers from overseas and potential foreign investors.”

The new terminal reconfiguration was designed by Todd Architects and the main elements of the refit will be carried out by H&J Martin on behalf of the airport.

Speaking at the breakfast briefing, The Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast City Council, Councillor Sonia Copeland, said:

“Through regional growth strategies, such as the Belfast Agenda and the Local Development Plan, Belfast City Council remains focused on creating an ambitious and dynamic city for the 21st century, that all our citizens can be proud of.

“Belfast City Airport is one of a range of stakeholders who have a key role to play in the ongoing growth of the city, and we warmly welcome the £15m infrastructure investment. We look forward to the works progressing and the enhanced experience that passengers will be able to enjoy.”

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, commented:

“This investment is excellent news for Belfast and for tourism to Northern Ireland. As an island, direct, convenient and competitive air access is critical to delivering growth in inbound tourism and any improvement in the experience of our overseas visitors, including travelling through our airports, is very much welcomed.

“Tourism Ireland is committed to working with all of our airports and airline partners to maximise opportunities for new and existing flights, helping to deliver further growth in overseas visitor numbers.”

 

To find out more about George Best Belfast City Airport’s Corporate Responsibility strategy, please visit http://www.belfastcityairport.com

 

George Best Belfast City Airport can also be found on Facebook (George Best Belfast City Airport) and Twitter (@BelfastCity_Air).

Nomination Deadline- Institute of Hospitality Awards 2018

Posted on

The deadline for submitting your nominations for The Institute of Hospitality Awards for Professionalism 2018 is Monday 5th February.

The categories for the 23rd Institute of Hospitality Awards for Professionalism are:

  • Independent Bar Manager of the Year
  • Coffee Shop / Café Manager of the Year
  • Restaurateur of the Year
  • Restaurant Chef of the Year
  • Hotel Chef of the Year
  • Contract Catering Chef of the Year
  • Contract Catering Manager of the Year
  • Hotelier of the Year
  • Front Of House Manager of the Year
  • Housekeeping Manager of the Year
  • Business Development Manager of the Year
  • Duty Manager of the Year (New!)
  • General Manager of the Future (New!)
  • Human Resource Manager of the Year (New!) 
  • The Unsung Hero Award (New!) 
  • Hospitality Management Team of the Year
  • Supplier of the Year
  • Lecturer of the Year
  • Outstanding Apprentice of the Year

The largest event within the Northern Ireland Branch calendar will take place on Friday 11 May 2018 at Titanic Belfast. The awards recognise talented individuals who have made a valuable contribution to their business and the industry over the past year.

The award nomination process is open to any eligible candidate who fits the criteria. You don’t have to be a member to take part.  The awards website is live at http://www.iohniawards.com

Morelli’s Ice Cream Launches New Take Home Retail Tubs

Posted on

Northern Ireland’s famous Italian Ice Cream brand, Morelli’s, has launched a brand new range of retail packaging to meet growing demand from consumers to enjoy its famous ice cream at home.

 The family run business has invested time, effort and resources into the vibrant new design to ensure the products pop out at the shopper from the supermarket freezer. The new and convenient 950ml tub range includes the multi award-winning Double Cream Vanilla, Honeycomb, Raspberry Ripple and Sea Salted Caramel. Tesco Northern Ireland is the first retailer to stock the new packaging in all four flavours.

A new range of individual 125ml sized spoon-in-lid pots in five flavours, Double Cream Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Sea Salted Caramel and Honeycomb, is also part of the new retail packaging launch.

Arnaldo Morelli who heads up the family owned business, said:

“It’s key to our growth strategy that Morelli’s continues to meet with consumer demand and this can only be done by constantly innovating and by making our ice cream more accessible to even more people.

“The new look packaging has been a labour of love and, at present, no one else is using this design in Ireland or the UK and we’re confident that it will help draw the shopper in for the all-important first trial.”

The Morelli family has been making ice cream since 1911 and has both ice cream shops and franchises across Northern Ireland, as well as a portable vending pod for festivals and events. The brand has been growing its market share in Ireland with the expansion into Tesco Ireland in 2017 and plans to expand the factory premises in Coleraine during the first part of 2018.