February 2024


THE Restaurant at The Fitzwilliam Hotel, arguably one of Belfast’s best- kept secrets, has launched a brand- new menu featuring a range of mouth- watering dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Executive Head Chef, Dean Butler,


said: “Our menu is all about the incredible local produce that we have in abundance here across Ireland. Our commitment to local suppliers also supports the hotel’s sustainable culture, and we are proud to work with the best local farmers and food producers.”


Producers include the award winning Lisdargen Butchery, Omagh, which supplies the restaurant with the finest beef, pork and chicken. Dean continued: “Lisdargen also supplies us with sausages, bacon, sugar pit pork loin and spatchcock chicken, which we expertly prepare and cook to allow the natural flavours to come to the fore.


“Some of my personal favourites include the Fillet of Northern Irish Beef Carpaccio, Truffle Oil, Parmesan Shavings and the flavoursome 28 day aged (30oz) Northern Irish Cote De Boeuf Ribeye Steak (to share) with Triple Cooked Chips, choice of two sauces,


Yorkshire Pudding, Roast


Tomato. The quality of the produce speaks for itself.”


The restaurant sources seafood from


Ewing Seafood, Keenan’s Seafood and mushrooms from Hearty Growers.


Northern Ireland’s Most Instagrammable Spots, Revealed...


LOVE is in the air, and couples are


seeking the


www.nitravelnews.com New Restaurant Menu for Fitz Foodies!


Dean continued: “Seafood lovers can enjoy our Grilled North Atlantic King Prawn, Garlic, Chilli, Chorizo, Focaccia. We also serve Grilled North Atlantic Seabass, Saffron, Leek, Risotto. “We source our mushrooms from Hearty Growers in east Belfast who are known for their innovative and


sustainable work with local


communities.” The menu features influence from France, Spain, Italy, Greece and India however the core of each dish is sourced here in


Ireland, continued


Dean. “Our whole menu has been a labour of love, very thoughtfully curated to reflect the current trend for delicious, hearty food, cooked with simplicity. Food provenance is a big consideration for us, so we have used suppliers from Ireland where possible in every dish.”


Going For Gold! Dalata’s Two Belfast Hotels Achieve Double Gold Status


CLAYTON Hotel Belfast and Maldron Belfast City, part of the Dalata Hotel Group, were the first hotels in Belfast to be accredited via Green Tourism in 2019. Throughout the years they have moved to new standards with Maldron Belfast City achieving Gold Status in 2019 and Clayton Belfast achieving Gold in 2022. Green Tourism recognizes


THE LOCAL TOURIST | 53


McKeever Hotel Group to Partner with NI Children’s Hospice


THE McKeever Hotel Group has appointed the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice as its Charity of the Year and committed to a year-long programme of fundraising activity involving staff, suppliers, and guests.


The partnership was the outcome of a companywide consultation with employees and will be supported by its four NI hotels – Dunadry Hotel & Gardens, Corr’s Corner, Dunsilly and Adair Arms.


The new relationship with the NI Children’s Hospice is aligned with the Group’s ‘We Do More’ culture and reflects its commitment to best practice, particularly in terms of sustainability and social benefits. One of the first initiatives to be launched is a coffee fundraising drive, with 5p donated by McKeevers for every cup sold in their hotels. With an average of over 50,000 cups of coffee consumed by guests per year, this alone could generate nearly £2,500 for the charity. Eddie McKeever,


Managing Director of the


sustainable practices of both hotels across a wide range of areas spanning environmental initiatives, procurement processes,


community projects, perfect


backdrop to capture their special moments in Northern Ireland.


So for those in the mood to travel and see new places, travel experts from Deal Points have looked into the most instagrammable hotspots to visit this Valentine’s Day and can officially reveal that Mussenden Temple in Northern Ireland is the place to be with a total of 30,892 hashtags! Here are the top five NI locations ranked : 1. Mussenden Temple 2. Glenariff Forrest Park 3. Castle Ward 4. The Giant’s Causeway 5.


Blackhead Lightkeeper’s House.


and employee wellbeing. This is a testament to the team’s commitment to sustainability and the environment! New for 2024, Green Tourism has recognized the importance of Meetings and Events within the hotel industry and both hotels are delighted to be awarded Gold within this new sector. This gold award recognises sustainable practices specific to meetings and events. Speaking of the awards, Mike Gatt, General Manager – Maldron Belfast City, commented: We at Maldron Belfast City are delighted to be accredited with our 2nd gold award by the green tourism organisation, this underpins our ongoing commitment to the environment when carrying out business in a responsible and sustainable manner.” Gatt continued, “It is reassuring for our stakeholders, guests & conference delegates to know that when they are dealing with the hotel, we are always ensuring environmental best practices are delivered, always. This latest gold award specifically relates to meetings and events which we are very proud of.” Jonathan Topping – General Manager


– Clayton Hotel Belfast; said: Clayton Belfast has been firmly committed to providing sustainable business practices and we are delighted this has been recognised with a 2nd consecutive Gold award from Green Tourism and, in its inaugural year, a Gold award from Green Meetings.”


The Bushmills Inn Create Lasting Memories For Six Deserving Children


THE Bushmills Inn’s fundraising efforts covered the cost of sending another six deserving children to Lapland in December, as the Northern Ireland charity, Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT), marked its 14th annual trip to the winter wonderland.


The Co Antrim venue raised an impressive £5,000 which supports the travel costs of sending six children with life-limiting and/or life-threatening conditions to the magical location of Rovaniemi, Finland. In December last year, the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT) organised its annual Lapland trip, providing a magical experience for 85 local children for the second year after the pandemic. This carefully coordinated journey requires extensive preparation with Trusts across Northern Ireland and relies on generous contributions from donors and corporate partners, including The Bushmills Inn, which has raised over £35,000 for the charity over the years. The Bushmills Inn’s ongoing support underscores its commitment to making the


Lapland trip a cherished annual tradition, contributing to the joy and wonderment of deserving children in the Northern Ireland community. Speaking about the fundraising, Alan


Walls, General Manager of The Bushmills Inn, said “For the past seven years, we’ve actively raised funds for the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, accumulating over £35,000 during this time. Being recognised as one of their corporate partners is a source of great pride for us.


“In the past year The Bushmills Inn and our valued customers have been able to contribute a further £5000 to assist the charity in its invaluable work. “We’re thrilled that our donation has played a part in covering the escalating costs of sending not just one, but six children to Lapland, Finland, to experience the magic of meeting Santa Claus at his home. This contribution aims to create lasting and cherished memories for the children and their families. “The charity’s resilience and commitment to bringing joy to deserving children, are truly commendable. We are


honoured to support the charity in its continued mission to enrich the lives of deserving children.”


Speaking about the recent trip, Colin Barkley,


Chair, of Northern Ireland


Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust said, “There’s no Christmas gift more significant than bringing joy to young children facing life-limiting and life- threatening conditions and easing the usual challenges that come with travel for their families.


“During our 2023 trip, we had the privilege of witnessing the pure delight on the children’s faces and we wish all our supporters could experience the happiness they’ve ignited through their unwavering support. We give our heartfelt thank you to The Bushmills Inn for standing alongside us throughout the years. In a landscape filled with numerous worthy charitable causes, we are honoured by their choice to continue to support us. This partnership significantly enhances our ability to fulfil our mission, offering terminally ill, life- limited, and deserving children from Northern


Ireland truly magical experiences.” cherished and McKeever Hotel Group said,


“This partnership is truly inclusive and has the backing of our entire workforce which is very important to us. As a family-run business the critical work carried out by the Children’s Hospice, together with its supports for local families in the hardest of times, strikes a chord. “In the months ahead, we will be introducing a range of fundraising initiatives which include simple changes to our daily operations such as our coffee cup donations, volunteering opportunities, special events and collaborations with our local suppliers.” As the only children’s hospice in Northern Ireland, the nursing staff provide essential services and care to over 330 life-limited infants and children, as well as emotional support and services to their families. With annual running costs in excess of £20m and demand for its services on the rise, the charity would be unable to deliver its vital caring services without financial support from the business community.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65