54 | THE LOCAL TOURIST
www.nitravelnews.com Translink Record 70% Increase in Journeys
Onboard Late Night Festive Services TRANSLINK’S Late-Night festive services have been hailed a major success, with around 30,000 journeys on bus and train – an increase of over 70% on last year. This marked increase also underlines the vital
role of extended late-night public transport in supporting Belfast’s evening economy. Translink worked closely with the Department for
Sephora UK Reveals Opening Date For It’s First Ever Belfast Store
SEPHORA has officially announced the date it will open its first ever Belfast store. The beauty retailer has revealed that their new
Belfast store will be opening on 12th February 2026 in retail outlet, Victoria Square. This will be Sephora UK’s 13th UK store and will
reinforce their mission to bring prestige beauty to new regions and key retail destinations. Having opened five new stores in 2025 including Liverpool ONE, Sheffield Meadowhall, Manchester Arndale, Cardiff St David’s, and Oxford Westgate, Sephora UK aim to have 20 store locations open by the end of 2026.
Managing Director Sarah Boyd is excited to reveal
the date of their first opening at Belfast’s Victoria Square. She said, “We’re truly committed to living up to our name
of Sephora UK by bringing our beauty playgrounds to all corners of the nation. Belfast is a city filled with important history, areas of outstanding natural beauty and we cannot wait to become a part of the local community.” The store will bring a wide selection of popular
and exclusive brands to Belfast city centre from fragrance to make-up, haircare and skincare making their beauty retail experience more accessible than
ever before.
Kemp Duo Take on the Roads of Ireland in Latest Channel 4 Series
MARTIN and Roman Kemp are set to explore the island of Ireland in ‘spooky’ road-trip, in new Channel 4 series. Tourism Ireland has welcomed the new travelogue
TV series, which is set to air across Great Britain later this year. Celebrity father-and-son duo Martin and Roman
Kemp were in Northern Ireland, filming for a brand- new, three-part TV series. The programme is set to air later this year on Channel 4 and is co-produced by Tourism Ireland. Produced by Rock Oyster Media, the series follows
the father son duo as they delve into myths, ghost, banshees and legends, exploring how ancient traditions have evolved into modern day experiences and festivals. The duo will travel through Antrim, Derry- Londonderry and Tyrone, as well as Cork, Dublin, Kildare and Meath. It will see them discover the island through sport, music and customs that have shaped the island for centuries. Judith Cassidy, Tourism Ireland’s Acting Head of
GB, said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin and
Roman Kemp to film all about the ancient stories and traditions that make this island unique. Their journey will highlight our stunning scenery and rich heritage, capturing viewers’ imaginations and inspiring them to come and explore Northern Ireland for their next holiday.”
Infrastructure and a range of city stakeholders to deliver services that have helped support Belfast’s vibrant nightlife while maintaining a strong focus on safety and sustainability. The year long bus pilot scheme for late-night
services will continue to operate every Friday and Saturday night during 2026. These will be supported by the NI Executive and Belfast City Council.
Time Capsule Concludes 400th Anniversary Celebrations for Ballygally Castle
BALLYGALLY Castle has concluded its 400th anniversary celebrations with the planting of a commemorative time capsule on the historic castle grounds. This has marked its year-long programme
which honoured the castle’s heritage, hospitality and community. The
time and capsule includes commemorative items that
reflect both the hotel’s past and present, including a specially brewed anniversary beer
candle, both
created to mark the 400-year milestone; a Games of Thrones booklet, recognising the hotel’s connection to the globally acclaimed television series, which includes the iconic Game of Thrones Door, carved from wood salvaged from trees that fell at the Dark Hedges and now permanently displayed in the hotel’s Garden Restaurant; and the last Hastings Hotels duck ever produced. Scott Weatherup, General Manager of
Ballygally Castle said: “As a team, we were so proud to mark the
castle’s 400th anniversary and look back on the incredible journey our beautiful property has had. The success of the celebrations is a reflection of the dedication of our staff,
the loyalty of our guests and the ongoing support of the local community. The events throughout the year allowed
us to honour our history while creating new moments with the people who make Ballygally Castle what it is today. One of my personal favourites was the community sea swim and BBQ which brought together residents and guests, underlying the hotel’s long standing relationship with the local community.” “As we conclude our 400th anniversary
celebrations with the sealing and planting of our time capsule, we
are not only
reflecting on 400 years of history, but also looking ahead with excitement as we build on the momentum of the past 12 months. We move forward with confidence, rooted in our community and focused on delivering unique, first-class experiences for generations to come – and as I wrote in the letter placed in the time capsule: ‘with pride, gratitude and optimism for centuries ahead”Scott concluded.
February 2026
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