The following document provides you with an overview of the Expression of Interest process. Having read this document thoroughly, operators interested in providing the catering services are asked to formally register their interest by emailing DIIBTender@castlereagh.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 30^th May.

1. Background.

1. Castlereagh Borough Council is in the process of redeveloping its flagship leisure facility – Dundonald International Ice Bowl (DIIB). The Council recognises the need in taking such new opportunities forward that it is their responsibility where possible to reflect and support other cross cutting Government strategies such as Transforming Your Care, Sport Matters and Fit Futures. The redevelopment project has a number of key objectives which align it to the Council’s corporate position, all of which supports the need to develop a flagship facility which promotes health and wellbeing whilst working with partners to reduce health inequalities across the Borough and beyond. The Council is therefore considering options for new activities including health and wellbeing elements as part of the overall redevelopment of the facility. The Council is keen to explore tenancy/partnership opportunities at the facility.

2. Dundonald International Ice Bowl is owned and managed by Castlereagh Borough Council. Millions of visitors have passed through its doors to date and it has been one of the main leisure facilities and tourist attractions in Northern Ireland since its opening in 1986. The NI Tourist Board / DETI NI Visitor’s Survey 2010 rated Dundonald International Ice Bowl as the number one participating visitor attraction in Northern Ireland with 618,000 visitors; this was a higher footfall than the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre and the Ulster Museum. It repeated this success in 2011 with a footfall of over 601,000.

c. Dundonald International Ice Bowl is an important service provider in the local area and across the whole of the Province; it currently employs over 100 staff and is supported by a number of SMEs.

d. The Review of Public Administration will conclude on 1 April 2015, with the facility remaining within the enlarged joint Castlereagh & Lisburn council area. The new Council area will host a number and range of further facilities which may be considered for inclusion of a similar arrangement at a later stage.

e. The final design brief for the new facility is yet to be confirmed, however it is anticipated that the facility will include:

• An Olympic sized ice rink
• 24 lane of tenpin bowling
• An indoor softplay area
• A gymnasium
• A 12 court sports hall
• Entertainment and video arcade
• Catering and vending

f. It will also have other activities owned and operated by partners/tenants such as:

• Climbing wall and high ropes
• Offices for several sports’ governing bodies

g. The facility, which will be linked to a health and wellbeing ‘hub’ encompassing GP surgeries, pharmacy and muscular skeletal (rheumatology, physiotherapy and orthopaedics) etc will open in 2017.

 

h. Vending (soft drinks, snacks and coffee/tea etc) within the facility is currently operated in-house. The Council would wish to retain control of this operation but would be amenable to discussions regarding the proximity of such machines to the catering outlets.

 

2. Aim. Whilst the Council currently delivers catering in-house, as part of a value for money exercise, it is currently market testing the outsourcing of this service for the new facility. Therefore the aim of this document is to provide an overview of expectation and is in no form to be considered binding upon the Council.

 

3. Objectives. The Council has 4 prime objectives with regard to this exercise:

a. To provide a catering service which will complement the other facilities, tenants/partners and services contained within the building.

b. To provide a financial return on its capital investment in the facility.

c. To engage with the successful applicant at the earliest opportunity so as to influence the architectural design of the complex. The successful applicant will be expected to fit-out, equip and provide the catering services.

d. To appoint a tenant/partner capable of delivering a catering service to meet the needs of the facility, on behalf of the Council.

 

4. Need. The Council wishes to offer the following catering options within the new facility:

1. Quality Coffee/Tea and accompaniments.

• The Council foresees a demand for a quality coffee/tea ‘island style’ outlet in the main concourse and adjacent to the health hub which will cater for:
  • Waiting parents
  • Visitors to the health hub
  • The more health conscious customer

2. Healthy Food Options.

 

• The long debated dilemma of what children ‘want’ versus what the Council as a responsible body should be encouraging
• The Council supports healthy lifestyles and will soon have within the facility a gymnasium and major health hub
• An appropriate catering offering is deemed necessary

 

The following four categories below reflect what is currently served and it is anticipated these will be sustained in the new facility:

3. Walk In Fast Food.

 

• No advance notice
• Primarily fast food served and eaten in the café area
• Served all day; but peak periods being post school, evenings and weekends

 

4. Children’s Parties.

 

• Generally booked in advance and served following an activity within the Centre
• Primarily fast food served in a dedicated party room
• Occasional requests for healthy option menus
• Parents generally want to know the cost of adding catering when booking a party activity and therefore a number of fixed price menus has to date proved easier to co-ordinate
• Peak periods being Friday to Sunday

 

5. Functions.

• Requests to cater for larger functions in a function/conference room
• This can range from a 3 course sit down meal to finger buffet food
• No peak period identified

 

• With the addition of a 12 court sports hall to the facility, several sporting governing bodies have indicated that they would require catering when hosting sporting events

6. Tea/Coffee at meetings.

• Function/conference rooms are hired out to external groups who often request tea/coffee served with biscuits or scones pre/during/post meeting
• Peak periods being Monday to Friday office hours

 

• It is anticipated that the health hub will also wish to avail of the catering services on offer

The Council would be keen to see a catering service which promotes the use of local produce.

The Council currently operates a restaurant licence with alcoholic beverages being served as part of a substantial plated meal. It also serves alcohol at ‘closed’ corporate events. It is not anticipated that alcohol would be served in public areas, in other circumstances

5.Process. Whereas it is the Council’s preference to have one operator providing all of the catering services in the new facility, it recognises that some interested parties may wish to express their interest in specific elements. The process to be followed will be:

a. Expressions of Interest. Interested parties are asked to register their interest by emailing DIIBTender@castlereagh.gov.ukby12 noon on Friday 30^th May.

b. Interested parties who register an Expression of Interest, will be invited to a site inspection and powerpoint overview of the project, with Council Leisure Officers on either of the following dates:

Tuesday 3^rd June @ 1430 hrs

Thursday 5^th June @ 1030 hrs

This will take place at Dundonald International Ice Bowl. Please confirm your attendance and preferred date in your Expression of Interest email (paragraph 5a above).

c. Interested parties will then be given until 12 noon onFriday 25^th July 2014 to submit their commercial proposal / business plan, addressing the issues in Appendix A, and in sufficient detail to enable the Council to assess your submission using the scoring matrix at paragraph 6. This should be either emailed to: DIIBTender@castlereagh.gov.uk or hard copied posted to:

Jeremy Knox

DIIB Project Manager

Dundonald International Ice Bowl

111 Old Dundonald Road

Dundonald

BT16 1XT

• The Council cannot accept responsibility for postal or delivery delays.

• The Council does not bind itself to accept any Expression of Interest received.

d. Paper evaluation of the proposals.

e. Negotiations – if necessary.

f. Final evaluation.

g. Presentations to be given to the Leisure Park Board (LPB) – TBC.

h. Notification will follow consideration by the Leisure Park Board.

6.Scoring Matrix. The submissions will be evaluated by the following scoring matrix:

a. Commercial proposal/business plan 65%

b. Previous relevant experience 25%.

3. Design, appearance and image in keeping with the host facility 10%

7.Standing Costs. The successful applicant will be responsible for the following (list is not exhaustive):

a. Rates – if under lease

2. Public Liability Insurance – £5 million

2. Employers Liability Insurance – £10 million

2. PRS and PPL costs

2. Utility costs

2. Maintenance and repair of the demised areas and site curtilage.

2. Waste disposal

2. Service Charge

8. TUPE.

a. Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 and Service Provision Change (Protection of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. Whilst a catering service is to continue to be provided at Dundonald International Ice Bowl, the Council is considering outsourcing as a means of delivering this service which would result in a change of employer for the Council catering staff located at Dundonald International Ice Bowl, therefore TUPE would apply.

b. At present 6 staff employed by Castlereagh Borough Council are assigned to catering at Dundonald International Ice Bowl under Leisure Services contracts of employment.

1. 1 x Catering Manager

2. 2 x Senior Cook

3. 1 x Cook

4. 2 x Catering Assistants

9.Area.

a.The main area under consideration for the catering will be on the ground floor within the main complex. To enable a planning application to proceed, an area of 308sqm has been assigned, inclusive of kitchen, stores and seated areas.

b. Appendix B gives the intended floor space available to the catering operator. The operator will have latitude to liaise with the Council re the positioning of offices or stores etc within this area.

c. It is anticipated that the Quality Coffee/Tea and accompaniments will be located in the main concourse, ground floor. The exact location will be determined in consultation with the successful applicant.

d. An additional ‘servery’ has been located on the first floor adjacent to the function suites. Due to the topography of the site and the building design, this can be accessed directly from ground level without the need to access lifts and enter the main concourse. It is anticipated that this servery will facilitate an operator wishing to bring in pre-prepared food when catering for a function, without the need to disrupt the general flow on the main kitchen. To enable a planning application to proceed, an area of 25sqm has been assigned. It should be noted that this area will not form part of the lease but will be available to service functions within the facility.

10. Agreement. A legal agreement will be drawn up by the Council’s solicitors and issued to the successful organisation. The term of the agreement will be negotiated.

11.Further Information.

a. Further information on the project can be obtained by contacting:

Jeremy Knox

DIIB Project Manager

Dundonald International Ice Bowl

111 Old Dundonald Road

Dundonald

BT16 1XT

jeremyknox@castlereagh.gov.uk

Tel No: 02890 809 101

12.Summary. The Council welcomes ideas and is open to suggestions regarding the proposed provision of these new facilities. It is not the Council’s intention to stipulate a fixed rent but rather will consider each submission on its own merit and how that meets the Councils’ objectives. Applicants must however state a suggested rent per square metre.

 

We are so excited to host the biggest Local Food and Drink Pavilion that Balmoral Show has EVER had! Just have a look at the exhibitors below!

You can also click here to print the Chef Timetable, and to find the mouth watering recipes!

Exhibitor List 2014

Armagh Cider Company

They pride themselves in delivering artisan and hand crafted apple products, from blossom to bottle!  All their products can be sampled at the show.

Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend

Find out about food and farming! Farms all over Northern Ireland will be opening their gates, visit our stand to find out your nearest participating farm.

Belfast Cookery School

The Belfast Cookery School is dedicated to helping those who want to share our passion for food and learn more about the way it should be prepared.

Bella Jo

Becoming a household favourite in Ireland for their unique relishes and chutneys.

 

Bite to Savour.com

Sign up for a year and get four seasonal boxes with local produce, visit our stand to find out more.

Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil

Come visit to try single variety cold pressed Rapeseed Oil & infusions

Broughgammon Farm

The Cole family do every delicious thing you can think of with tender goat kid meat, free- range Rose- Veal and seasonal game.

Bruces Hill

Award winning meat, their signature “Roundhouse Burger and Dexter Burger” will be available at the show.

Chocolate Memories

Chocolate memories will be providing this years shows with a beautiful range of chocolate displays.

Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt

Cows milk yoghurt in a variety of scrumptious flavours

Comber Earlies Growers Cooperative Society Limited

They grow, pack and market the delicious Comber Earlies Potatoes.

Comber Potato Company

Potatoes by the tonne- They eat, sleep and breathe spuds.

Cookstown

Visit their stand where you can taste their deliciously famous sizzling Cookstown Sausage and other scrumptious products.

Country Garden Herbs

50 varieties of Culinary herbs including Rosemary’s sages, Thymes, Mints, Oreganos Chives, Fennels, Dill, Corrianders and basils.

Country Kitchen

Avondale is home to Country Kitchen branded products. Its soups and side salads are well- known across Ireland.

Dale Farm

Northern Ireland’s leading dairy company Dale Farm will be showcasing its quality products from the cream of Northern Ireland’s dairy farms.

Deli Lites

One of Ireland’s best known Gourmet producers of hand held ready to eat convenience snacks.

DJs Juice and Cider

Tempted? Irish Craft Ciders are artisan ciders made by dj’s juice and cider outside Lisburn.

Eagle Restaurant Galgorm

The Eagle Bar and Grill at Galgorm Golf Club is perfect after doing 9 or 18 holes but utterly delicious enough to make a special trip.

Eleanor Craig’s Fudge

Specialise in the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of handmade crumbly fudge

Eva Paris

Hand made macarons made the true French classic way.

Flavour of Tyrone

They will be showcasing the best of local produce.

Flossie’s Fudge

Luxury handmade fudge made from fresh dairy products and fair-trade sugar.

Fluffy Meringue

Fluffy Meringue is a family run business which uses local produce, and specialises in handmade pavalovas and meringue nests.

Food Standards Agency

The Food Standards Agency is an independent government department for food safety and hygiene across the UK.

Food Stories

Also new to the show this year, come visit their stand to find out more!

Foodie Folk

Well hung meat, dry cure bacon, just caught fish, local farm veg, freshly baked bread & lovely deli stuff.

Food NI

Organisers of the Food Pavilion, and working to enhance the reputation of quality food and drink from Northern Ireland

Fosters Chocolates

Sweet creations using their chocolates and their best-seller honeycomb and nougat.

Genesis Crafty

Their range of products include scones, pancakes, rolls & baps, wheaten, sodas and cakes.

Glastry Farm Ice Cream

Producers and manufacturers of dessert ice-creams and sorbets on their farm at Kircubbin, on the Ards Peninsula of County Down.

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. Come and visit their stand to see how they could help you.

Ground Espresso Bars

Voted one of the top 50 coffee bars in the UK. Visit them at the show to taste their award winning products.

Harnett’s Oils

Cold – pressed rapeseed and hemp oils. Infused oils and salad dressings.

Heatherlea

The Heatherlea is a busy and stylish food lovers delight based in Bangor. Come and see them at this years shows to try some of their freshly baked products.

Heavenly Tasty Organics

A range of healthy baby foods such as purees of Apple, pear, mango and carrot.

Hilden Brewery

Hilden can boast of being Ireland’s oldest independent brewery. Check out their Hand- crafted beers at the show.

Home Restaurant

The fantastic Home Restaurant on Wellington Place for fans of feel good food, with a great range of non-seafood, vegetarian and fish dishes.

Hovis Limited

Come and visit Hovis this year to try out some of their breads and bakery products.

Irwin’s Bakery

Home of the famous Irwin’s Nutty Krust, Muffins and traditional breads, they will also be showcasing their new Sandwich Skinnys range available in white and brown.

Joan Boyd Home Bakes

Want to taste the ultimate traybake this year? No better stand to visit than Joan Boyd Home Bakes.

Jolly Pies

They love to jolly up your face with pies. Check  them out at the show to taste their unique flavours such as haddock, cider and shallots.

Just Live a Little

They manufacture handmade granola products that come in a scrumptious range that everyone loves.

Kearney Blue Cheese

A truly spectacular blue cheese that has an amazing story. Don’t miss them at the show!

Keen Nut Butter

Keen Nut Butter makes crazy tasty nut butters such as Almond Cinnamon, Pecan Maple and any other nuts they can smoosh into yumminess.

Kilmegan Cider

For food lovers: Kilmegan “Real” Cider – Dry- Perfect with white meat,seafood,and pasta dishes.

Krazi Baker

Come see the dough mixed,pinned cut baked into Soda Bread Potato Apple and much more the smell and taste is amazing.

KookyCook

On Thursday, make sure you visit Kookycook in the Pavilion to taste the totally mouth watering handmade pesto!

Linen Hill Kitchen and Deli

An exciting new restaurant just opened in Banbridge. Visit their stand to find out more about this great new establishment.

Linwoods

Linwoods Super Foods obtain a variety of milled seeds, nuts and berries that provide a range of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.

Little Treats NI

Go and buy some home- made creations including spectacular cakes and cookies.

Long Meadow Cider

Longmeadow Cider has just been launched at the beginning of this year, consisting of a medium and sweet cider.

Lough Erne Resort

Visit their stand at this years shows to find out information on the fabulous golf and spa resort and if you’re in the right place at the right time you may even get a book signed from their wonderful chef Nevan Maguire.

Made With Love xo

Chutneys, Jams and fudges that are not to be missed at this years Balmoral show.

Mash Direct

They select older heritage varieties for flavour, steam cook, gently mash and prepare on the family farm with the taste and texture of homemade cooking.

Mourne Seafood Bar

The Mourne Seafood Bars are known the length and breadth of the country and beyond for serving no nonsense, affordable and delicious locally caught seafood.

Moy Park

They are the chicken people! Moy Park branded fresh, breaded and added value chicken products as well as retailer own label chicken products.

Mullins Ice Cream

They specialise in making home-made luxury ice cream, speciality ice cream cake desserts and sorbets for scoop parlours, retailers etc. Not one to miss at this years show!

Norr & Brown

Come and see their stand to see wonderful handmade selection of chocolates. Wow!

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

The Signature Kitchen is back! Supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. We can’t wait to see what the chefs have to cook up! Focusing on Great Taste Award winners.

Noir Fine Foods

They care about quality and provenance just like us, so go visit their stand to pick up more information.

P. McCann and Sons

Fresh fruit, pure apple juice range and cider that are not to missed at this years show.

Pizzado

New to the show this year, frozen home- made pizza kits that are such a good idea.

Quails Fine Foods

Deli and online butcher service of foods that are entertaining at home.

Quinns Handmade Gelato

In 2011, the Quinn family began to make its own Italian-style Gelato, with more than forty fantastic flavours and they’ve added sorbets to the range.

Red Dog Artisan Foods

Sauces, Marinades,  Chili Jelly’s, Dry Rubs, Herb infused Sea Salts – ALL produced with local Irish sourced Ingredients!

SD Bell & Co. Tea and Coffee Specialists

S.D. Bell’s have been importing and processing the World’s finest teas and coffees in Belfast since 1887.

Soil Association Certification

A membership charity campaigning for planet-friendly organic food and farming. They believe in the connection between soil and food.

Tayto

Set deep in the heart of Ulster countryside is Tandragee Castle where Tayto have been making crisps and snacks since 1956.

TESCO

TESCO Sponsored Cookery Theatre in the middle of the NI Food Pavilion with dozens of local chefs cooking up a storm for the full three days!

The Big Lunch

The one day get-together for neighbours. Sign up for news about the event on Sunday 1 June 2014 at this years Balmoral show.

The Good Little Company

A little company with big plans and an even bigger mission. Visit them at this years show to obtain more literature.

The Open Bakery

Scrumptious range of freshly baked local products on offer at this years Balmoral show.

The Wild Hog

Love the smell of pork roasting on a spit? Come visit them at the 2014 Balmoral show.

Thompson Family Teas

A family- owned company who are passionate about tea, and have been since thier grandfather Robert first started blending over one hundred years ago.

Thyme & Co Gluten Free Bakery

Gluten – free and Wheat – free baking that was created to meet the demand of their local customers in their award winning cafe.

White’s

A wide range of hot and cold based breakfast cereals for all the family to enjoy. Come and see their wide range of products at this years show.

 

The Mourne Seafood Bars are known the length and breadth of the country and beyond for serving no nonsense, affordable and delicious locally caught seafood. With restaurants in Belfast, Dundrum Co. Down and our new location in Dublin we have the country covered!

The new Dublin restaurant is located on Charlotte Quay, right on the water’s edge, with beautiful views across the Grand Canal it makes for a majestic location both day and night. There is a fully licenced bar for those who just wish to enjoy a quiet drink or an aperitif, as well as large outside seated area. The restaurant itself will comfortably seat 50 guests with an additional raw bar with seating for 28 guests. There is a private bar and dining room which can host 40 guests. The restaurant location could not be more convenient – directly across from the Marker Hotel and the Bord Gáis Theatre, 5 mins walk from Pearse Street Dart Station, 15 mins walk to the Aviva Stadium, O2 Stadium, Connolly Station, the Convention Centre and town centre. Not to mention being only 5 mins drive from the Port Tunnel and 10 mins drive from the airport.

Millennium Tower, Charlotte Quay, Dublin

0035316688862

Dublin@mourneseafood.com

www.mourneseafood.com

 

Click Below to view and download our Chef Timetables!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click Here for Recipes! 

Food NI and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board have challenged local chefs to showcase Northern Ireland’s award winning food produce by developing NI Signature Dishes which they will demonstrate at this year’s Food NI Pavilion at the Balmoral Show. The pavilion is one third bigger than 2013 due to demand from local food companies and its popularity with visitors to the show last year. Over 80 food exhibitors and 30 chefs will showcase the very best of Northern Ireland produce, including artisan and organic products.

The Northern Ireland Signature Kitchen, proudly supported by NITB, will provide some of Northern Ireland’s top chefs the opportunity to showcase their talents, using the best local ingredients from over 80 exhibiting producers. Chefs such as Noel Mc Meel from the Lough Erne Resort and Spa, Will Brown from The Old School House, Comber as featured on the Great British Menu and Joery Castel who won 2014 Best Chef in Ulster at The Restaurants Association of Ireland awards will participate, accompanied by popular local food celebrity and BBC broadcaster Chef Paula McIntyre. Paula will bring her expertise and witty enthusiasm to engage audiences and is a popular commentator on all things regarding Northern Ireland food.

Looking forward to the event, Michele Shirlow, Chief Executive, Food NI said “The Food NI Pavilion is a unique food experience where people can enjoy demonstrations from our Taste of Ulster chefs, sampling and buying local produce from top quality local food and drink companies. The Pavilion provides an unrivalled Northern Ireland food and drink experience.”

Not only is there one Signature Kitchen, but just around the corner from that is the Tesco Cookery Theatre, with more excellent chefs cooking up local produce!

Caoimhe Mannion from Tesco said, “Tesco is delighted to sponsor the key Cookery Theatre at this year’s Food Pavilion at the Balmoral Show. We look forward to meeting lots of our local suppliers and visitors over the 3 days. We hope everybody will enjoy the mouth-watering cooking demonstrations, and look out on Friday for Patryk Sojka, the student chef from Belfast Met who won our Tesco Home Grown Talent Bursary!”

RUAS Chief Executive, Colin McDonald said, “The Food NI Pavilion has seen a growth year on year since it was established at the Balmoral Show in 2008. This growth demonstrates the increasing importance consumers are putting on having access to high quality locally grown produce. It also demonstrates the hard work and commitment that Michele Shirlow and her team have given to increasing awareness and promoting local produce both locally and nationally and we are delighted to have Food NI on board. The Food NI Pavilion is one of the most important aspects of the Show and look forward to seeing what is in store for us this year.”

Elaine Groves, NITB comments, “The Northern Ireland Signature Kitchen is a fantastic platform to tell visitors the unique stories behind our award winning local food produce, as well as celebrate the culinary skills of our top chefs. The Food NI Pavilion is always exceptionally busy and it’s great to see visitors sampling our best food produce cooked by local chefs; a true Northern Ireland food experience”.

It promises to be a busy show, so make sure to get into the Food NI Pavilion early! Visitors will get the opportunity to taste and sample tasty Glenarm beef burgers, Broughgammon goat kebabs, seafood chowder, hog roasts and homemade artisan pies.

There will definitely be something to tempt everyone’s taste buds!

Look out for the chef timetables and other exciting local food news at www.nigoodfood.com Follow Food NI on Twitter @Food_NI before and during the Show to keep up to date with everything as it happens! Also, remember to ‘Tweet while you Eat’ in the #NIFoodPavilion!

 

 

Calm down, take a deep breath, and get ready for May Madness events at Titanic Belfast and Titanic Quarter.

Titanic Belfast will be shouting ‘Ahoy!’ to visitors from all over the world next month with a dock-load of festivals and occasions to suit everyone.

From a Giro d’Italia special After Hours on May 2 right through to the Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival at the end of the month, there’s plenty to experience in-between.

Get on your bike for the biggest cycling show ever to spin in the city – the Giro d’Italia – which actually starts at Titanic Belfast, with all the international media attention that will bring! Join the elite riders and enjoy the fan park from May 8-10, and view the amazing bikes and Formula One style team ‘pits’.

Titanic Belfast will also highlight Northern Ireland’s part in the UK-wide Culture 24 Night At The Museums on May 16 – a special evening opening of its interactive Titanic galleries, plus dining and entertainment. Then, less than 24 hours later, the amazing BRICK CITY exhibition by independent LEGO® artist Warren Elsmore launches (May 17) in Titanic Belfast’s Andrews Gallery, showing off more than 70 of the planet’s iconic buildings made from the world’s most famous bricks.

The Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival from May 24-26 will see a host of festivities take place at Titanic Belfast and Queen’s Quay, including pirates, art and crafts, zip-lining, the brilliant T13 Ramp Rage stars, a Batting Cage, Cable and Wake Boarding, a climbing frame at Titanic’s Dry Dock and Pumphouse, market stalls, entertainment and, of course, ships.

In addition to all this, Titanic Belfast will host Deepa Mann-Kler’s new Art of Cycling exhibition, with an artist appearance and launch night on May 2 (7-9pm), running to May 15.

May will also be a great month to experience the Titanic Belfast galleries, and try out the new Ocean Exploration Centre or the brilliant new Discovery Tour in the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction.

Phew! If it’s all too much to handle, then sit back and relax with Afternoon Tea (every Sunday) in the tranquil Titanic Suite, beside the Grand Staircase and with spectacular views of Titanic’s Slipway and Belfast Lough.

IMAGE: Captain Haratio Hawke and a first class Titanic passenger get ready for a month of festivities at Titanic Belfast and in the Titanic Quarter.

Useful links:

• Titanic Belfast: www.titanicbelfast.com

• Belfast City Council: http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events/Event-36148.aspx

• Visit Belfast: http://visit-belfast.com/

• Culture 24: Night at the Museums: http://www.culture24.org.uk/

• Titanic Quarter: http://www.titanic-quarter.com/news-events

• Northern Ireland Tourist Board: http://www.nitb.com/

• Giro d’Italia: http://www.girostart2014.com/

• Art of Cycling by Deepa Mann-Kler: http://www.cycleprints.co.uk/

• Titanic Dance: www.titanicdance.com

About Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast is an iconic six-floor building featuring nine interpretive and interactive galleries that explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Titanic, as well as the City and people which made her. It is the World’s Largest Titanic exhibition.

The building houses temporary exhibits, a banqueting suite, education and community facilities, catering and retail space, and a basement car park. Visitors learn about the construction of RMS Titanic and the wide and rich story of Northern Ireland’s industrial and maritime heritage.

Supported by the Northern Ireland Executive, Titanic Belfast is a unique public/private partnership funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour and Titanic Quarter Ltd. It is operated by Titanic Belfast Ltd and owned by the Titanic Foundation Ltd.

For more information please contact:

Alex McGreevy

Media Relations Executive, Titanic Belfast

Tel: 07966 276 993

E: alexmcgreevy@titanicbelfast.com

W: www.titanicbelfast.com

T: @titanicbelfast

FB: www.titanicbelfast.com/titanicbelfast

 

 

Discover Armagh’s rich apple growing heritage this bank holiday Monday 5^th May.

The picturesque village of Loughgall, set in the heart of the Orchard County of Armagh will burst into colour for the annual Armagh Apple Blossom Fair on Monday 5^th May as visitors to Loughgall County Park will be able to take part in a whole host of exciting and interesting activities celebrating Armagh’s rich apple growing heritage. The event will take place from 10.30am – 6.00pm with a wide range of activities for all ages to enjoy.

Rural Armagh is widely renowned as the Orchard County, growing some of the finest apples in the world. The origins of the Armagh Bramley Apple are well known and this humble fruit has become a worldwide phenomenon, securing the esteemed PGI status in 2012.

The annual Armagh Apple Blossom Fair brings this traditional fruit into the modern age, showcasing the high quality local food and produce available.

Throughout the day visitors can enjoy cookery demonstrations and dig into a scrumptious selection of all things apple as local chefs present a delicious selection of recipes using the Armagh Bramley.

Once stomachs are satisfied, visitors can enjoy the live musical entertainment whilst browsing through a wide variety of food and craft stalls, featuring some of the finest crafters and artisans from all over Northern Ireland. Over 20 high quality local crafters and apple producers will present a unique variety of handmade crafts and delicious locally produced apple goodies.

Guided tours of the orchards will bring the orchards to life with interesting stories surrounding the Armagh Bramley apple. Learn about the history of the local apple growing and the procedures involved with modern Bramley production. Visitors can choose from a coach tour, a walking tour or a bicycle tour of the Orchards. A limited number of bicycles are available free of charge.

Other activities on the day include live music and a barbeque, traditional afternoon tea with a selection of apple based treats, an apple tart competition and Scrufts Armagh, where local dog owners are asked to bring their canine friends along to the event as they battle it out in 4 categories; most handsomest male, prettiest female, best dressed dog and perfect puppy.

There are plenty of activities for children too with pony rides, cycling tours, an animal petting farm, traditional country games, a teddy bears picnic, children’s music and much more to keep the kids entertained.

Admission to the event is just £3.00 per person and under 4’s are free. Guided tours are included in the admission costs. For further information contact Armagh Visitor Information Centre on 028 3752 1800 or visit www.armagh.co.uk