62 | THE LOCAL TOURIST
Corr’s Corner in Newtownabbey Marks 30th Anniversary under
McKeever Ownership THE McKeever
Hotel Group
is celebrating 30 years of ownership of Corr’s Corner – the Newtownabbey-based hotel which has been an established part of the local community for over a century. The
McKeevers have also
committed to the future of the hotel, with plans to invest a further £320k in Corr’s Corner over the coming year, including the upgrade of its event/function space, and boosting sustainability through the installation of solar panelling.
McKeever
As Chair of the Group, Eugene MBE, has a strong
personal connection to the hotel, dating back to the 1960s when, aged 12, he washed dishes in its busy kitchen. He progressed through the ranks to become head chef, and in 1993 bought the venue from its then owner, John Corr. Over
subsequent years the
McKeever’s developed Corr’s Corner to hotel status through the addition of 68 bedrooms. Today it employs a team of 79 staff, over a third of whom have worked there for over 20 years, with four having been there for the full 30 years. “We recently announced our new strategic direction for the McKeever Group, which included investment across our business and our people. We’re very proud of Corr’s Corner and can confirm that it is central to our future growth plans, said Eugene McKeever. “Corr’s Corner has been here a lot longer than the McKeevers and over time it has earned its reputation as a community hub – serving local customers with a warm welcome, great food and a genuine sense of ‘family’. We will always maintain that ‘local’ focus, but our customer base has expanded, as has their needs,
Belfast Lands on the List of the UK’s Best Cities for Foodies
NEW research has discovered the top 10 cities in the UK for foodies, with London taking the top spot. Women-only tour company Solo Female Travelers Tours analysed data from TripAdvisor, the
number of Michelin
including star
establishments, vegetarian-friendly restaurants and vegan-friendly restaurants in each UK city. Index scores out of 10 were awarded for each factor based on the number of establishments, which determined the ranking. Placing seventh is Northern Ireland’s capital, Belfast,
with
an index score of 46.01. Belfast received a high score for the number of establishments serving local cuisine, 9.89, to be precise. Ulster fry is a traditional Irish breakfast consisting of fried soda bread, back bacon,
black pudding, Belfast.
potato farls, and fried eggs, and it is a must-try local dish while in
A TEMPLEPATRICK hotel has been awarded a four-star accommodation grading by Tourism NI.
Co Antrim Hotel Awarded Four Stars by Tourism NI
sausages,
The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat was found to offer “very high standards throughout the property”. The Tourism NI Quality Grading Scheme is a mark of distinction and gives visitors a clear idea of the standards of accommodation, service and cleanliness that they can expect during their stay.
The scheme is open to hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering, hostels and guest accommodation with businesses capable of achieving a grading of between one to five stars. Claire
Accommodation
Manager at Tourism NI, said: “Tourism NI is delighted to award The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat with a
enabling us to upgrade our events and conference spaces and to make the facility much more sustainable in terms of our energy usage.” From its origins as a roadside
pub in 1919, a core strength of Corr’s Corner has been the quality of its food and beverage offering, marked by the 170,000 meals it serves each year.
97% of its
suppliers are locally based and as part of the McKeever Group’s commitment to sustainability, 0% of waste is sent to landfill. It was also the first hotel in NI to tackle the issue of catering for guests with serious food intolerances, hosting the inaugural Allergy NI Annual Dinner in 2010. This enabled over 100 people who were totally allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, egg, dairy, wheat and gluten, to dine out with friends and families for the first time in years.
“Corr’s Corner is a very important part of our family run business, and everyone on our team is treated as if they are an extension of the McKeever family, with the same levels of respect and care. It’s part of our ‘We do more’ culture, and it’s also been the driving force behind our 30th milestone,”
said Jonny Bailie,
General Manager of Corr’s Corner. “Reflecting on what we’ve accomplished over the past 30 years has inspired us to look to the future of Corr’s Corner and we’re very positive about what’s ahead. Of course, our achievements are only possible thanks to the loyalty of our customers, and the passion and dedication of our excellent staff.”
www.nitravelnews.com
January 2024
Nearly Tenth of NI Adults Now Spend Christmas Abroad
NEW data from
CompareNI.com has shown that nearly a tenth of NI adults are now choosing to spend Christmas abroad.
The number one destination for those holidaying over Christmas was Europe. Worldwide travel and travel to the United States of America were also popular with those choosing to spend the festive period away from home.
The data also showed that 77% of those holidaying abroad at Christmas were adult only couples, suggesting that the festive season is perhaps a popular time for families without children to enjoy less busy resorts as kids stay home and wait for Santa.
THE managing director of Hastings Hotels has been recognised as one of the Top 25 Hoteliers in Britain by leading international hotel design publication, Hotel Designs. The team at Hotel Designs and an experienced panel of judges whittled down more than 200 entries to select the top 25 hoteliers.
James McGinn is the only representative
from Northern Ireland included in the prestigious list.
He has worked for Hastings Hotels for 28 years and was appointed Managing Director last year. Before that, he held a number of senior positions across the group including Operations Director and General Manager of the Europa Hotel where he was at the helm for two decades. James McGinn, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels said: “I am delighted to have been named as a top hotelier – not bad for a boy from Killyclogher! It’s nice to end, what has been a record year for Hastings Hotels, with this prestigious accolade. I would like to thank my colleagues across the group, because without them, this recognition wouldn’t
be possible.”
James McGinn Recognised as One of The Top Hoteliers
4 Corners Festival To Return In February 2024
THE annual 4 Corners Festival is back for another packed lineup of events next year.
The organising committee has announced its dates for 2024 and the theme which will be OUR STORIES… Towards A Culture Of Hope. The festival, which will feature a range of art, music, discussion, sport and faith- inspired events, runs from February 1 to 11 in venues across the city. Now in its 12th year, the festival was conceived as a way to inspire people from across the city to transform it for the peace and wellbeing of all.
The 4 Corners Festival is an embodiment of the change the
organising committee
wishes to see in Belfast – a manifestation of the Gospel’s teachings in action.
four-star grading.” McNaughton continued, “This is a thoroughly deserved award, testament to the facilities and services offered to guests and I wish Lynsey and the entire team here at The Rabbit Hotel every success.” Lynsey Gordon, General Manager Associate Director at The Rabbit said: “The Tourism Northern Ireland grading scheme is a mark of distinction of The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat’s standards and reputation. “It not only verifies our commitment to exceptional guest experiences but boosts our visibility, attracting discerning guests seeking quality and authenticity”.
McNaughton, Certification
TheRabbit Hotel boasts a host of
unique bedrooms as well as dining at The Rabbit Restaurant. The property is a sister hotel of the Galgorm Resort & Spa.
The festival believes in embracing our shared humanity,
fostering connections, and creating
a space where meaningful conversations can flourish. Each year the festival returns with a renewed purpose of transforming hearts, bridging divides, and leaving a lasting mark of positivity on Belfast. Co-founder, Father Martin Magill explained that while in the past there was a focus on peace-making, the festival was about the next step. “I see the 4 Corners Festival as making a contribution towards
peace building,
where people meet, get to know one another and are encouraged to keep meeting long after the festival has finished for another year. In many 4 Corners is a catalyst
in building relationships.” Fellow co-founder, Reverend
Steve Stockman
said the traditional divides have changed much in recent years and that’s one of the things that keeps him involved.
“It is those moments where people come to a part of the city they’ve never been in before and they meet somebody
across the Catholic/
the divides are,” he explained. “Of course, traditional
whatever we have
Protestant divide and that’s one of our major divides in Belfast, but there are other races in Belfast now too so there are all those kinds of divides, but there’s also class divides.”
OUR
STORIES..Towards A Culture Of Hope is about inviting everyone to contribute
their narratives,
weaving a tapestry that reflects the essence of belonging and unity within the city’s diverse community. The
upcoming festival’s
suite of events is designed to entice people out of their own ‘corners’ of the city and into new places where they will encounter new perspectives, new ideas and hopefully meet new friends.
“There is a correlation etween the stories we tell and in.
the common culture we live
Stories can highlight ground,
increase
understanding and create connections. They hold the power to have a positive impact on our community and promote hope for the future” Boyd,
explained Administrator. Megan 4 Corners Festival
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