Tag: Food NI

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT ANNOUNCES £15 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

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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

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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

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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.

New Restaurant Buba opening in St Anne’s Square

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Buba is the latest restaurant to open in St Anne’s Square, in the centre of Belfast’s buzzing Cathedral Quarter. Owned by husband and wife team, Tony and Andrea O’Neill, who own and operate the popular Italian inspired restaurant/cichetti bar Coppi, also in the Square.

The style of their new baby, Buba, is a fun and vibrant open plan eatery serving food inspired and influenced by the rich flavours of the modern day Eastern Mediterranean including Greece, Turkey and North Africa.

The menu is comprised of lots of small plate dishes, designed to share, and to give you a sample of all of the rich culinary traditions, exotic produce, flavoursome spices and cooking techniques this region is known for.

Think NIBBLES of Baba Ganoush & Harissa salsa & Almonds, BITES of Duck Cigars, Cinamon, Raisin & Capers, FLATBREADS of BBQ Chicken, Chilli Hummus, Chermoula & Yoghurt and MUNCHIES of Baked Garlic Prawns, Za’atar & Coriander. Not forgetting SIDES of Persian Style Potato Hash, Pomegranate, Mint & Yoghurt and of course SWEETS including Rum Buba, Goslings syrup & Vanilla cream. Our vegan friends will be delighted too with thirteen tasty dishes, not including sides and sweets, dedicated to them.

Executive Chef, Jonny Philips and Head Chef, Gerard Doran, have been working on these dishes, plus lots more over the last few months, perfecting every delectable mouthful.  Matching such robust flavours with drinks to blow your socks off was the job of Manger, Paul McGuigan, who has devised a fun and interesting cocktail list including House Cocktail, When I Grow Up…..a perfectly blended mix of Poitin, Benedictine, Green Chartreuse, Fresh Passion Fruit, Lemon. Vanilla and Cinnamon; definitely not for the faint hearted!

The design of Buba was a collaboration between the owners and Orla Maguire of Oscar & Oscar. A warm, vibrant colour palate of burnt orange, teal and copper sets the tone. Seating is a mix of comfortable and plush banquette seating around the perimeter with large central tables perfect for getting to know your dining companions that little bit better. You can even dine right in front of the kitchen on high fixed stools, the perfect seat to watch the chefs at work, and play!

Heating, music and lighting is extremely important to set the scene for the perfect dining experience, and this has been well thought of with funky playlists and even funkier lighting with the centre piece of twenty multi coloured origami paper lanterns giving the interior that wow factor.

Buba will be serving food from 4pm – midnight on Friday and Saturdays, and from 4pm – 10pm Sunday to Thursday. So keep an eye out on social media @BubaBelfast  to keep up to date with competitions, special offers, events and other fun stuff! We look forward to welcoming you to Buba!