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1. The Décor  

Northern Ireland’s most iconic wedding venue, The Loft is an exclusive-use venue offering an environment of unabridged luxury. Come see for yourself! 

2. Social Dining Experience

Enjoy your first meal as newlyweds with up to 140 of your family and friends gathered in this one-of-a-kind setting. A unique feasting menu celebrates the joining of two families through a social dining experience.

3. Personal and Heartfelt Service

The Loft’s team of wedding planning experts are proud to do things differently, with all the character and charm of a luxurious wedding setting, couples can expect heartfelt personal service paired with a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere. 

4. The Food

Enjoy a unique twist on a traditional wedding feast. Think sharing boards, dinner served from the pantry and delicious desserts. 

5. On-site Ceremonies

Walking down the aisle is one of the most important moments of your big day. Our beautifully intimate Boathouse Ceremony room sits lakeside and reflects the rustic charm and natural warmth of the Loft. Hosting your nearest and dearest, this elegant setting is the perfect space to say your I Do’s. Licensed for civil ceremonies, partnerships, blessings, and renewals of vows. 

6. Unique Enhancements  

The Loft’s enhancement features are perfect for those wishing to step it up a notch. From a grazing table and canapes to a candy, gin, or cigar & whiskey cart and more, make the day yours. 

7. The Showstopping Spa at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat

Exuding a mix of sophisticated luxury and Bohemian glam, The Spa promises luxurious facilities, laid-back Balearic vibes and a chilled party playlist to match, making it the perfect spot for post-wedding celebrations. If you want to celebrate day two in style, enjoy a dinner in the cosy surrounds of The Restaurant, or BBQ after a day of lounging around The Spa or pool party for an unforgettable night– keep the good times going with endless options available.

Best place to stay in Northern Ireland’ confirms December opening date for new accommodation which will create 14 new jobs.

The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in County Antrim has invested £2.5 million to expand its stylish guestrooms to enhance the property’s awarding winning facilities.

The boutique hotel, named as the ‘Best Place to Stay’ in Northern Ireland for 2024 by The Times and Sunday Times, unveiled the detailed internal and external plans for 17 new guestrooms, at an exclusive behind the scenes visit by the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Neil Kelly.

The stylish new guestrooms, which are part of a new courtyard of accommodation, will blend seamlessly into the hotel’s picturesque grounds, complementing The Rabbit’s existing 33 guestrooms and offering an elevated guest experience that is sure to impress.

The opening of the 17 new bedrooms, scheduled to welcome their first guests from 6 December, will result in 14 additional jobs, bringing The Rabbit’s total workforce to 150.

Tiarnan O’Neill, Galgorm Collection Group Finance Director said:

“It was a privilege to welcome The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly to be among the first to see the plans for the 17 new bedrooms currently in development at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat. “

This £2.5 million investment underscores our commitment to continuously evolve and elevate our guest experience, while also creating valuable job opportunities for the local area. We’re proud to contribute to the regional economy and boost tourism in the area, attracting visitors from across the island and beyond to experience the very best that Northern Ireland has to offer.”

The bedrooms in the new-build accommodation extension will each come with all the luxurious amenities and mod-cons synonymous with stays at The Rabbit, including Dyson hairdryers, retro Swan kettles, Bluetooth speakers and for the one ‘Luxe’ room that complements the 16 other ‘Comfy’ rooms, an indulgent free-standing bath.

The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, purchased in 2019 by Galgorm Collection, has to date received a £12 million facelift – including the addition of a spa, treatment rooms and wedding ceremony space, refurbishment of the bar and restaurant, enhancement of existing bedrooms, and an upgrade of wedding and event spaces.

The Mayor commented:

“I warmly welcome the jobs announcement and accommodation expansion plans shared today by The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, which highlight their unwavering commitment to providing employment opportunities in our borough, and to elevating the hospitality experience for both visitors and locals alike.

“The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat has consistently demonstrated strong leadership in the hospitality industry within Antrim and Newtownabbey, and we look forward to seeing the latest development come to completion in December.”

Perhaps best recognised by the iconic disco ball which hangs above its alluring Roman bath, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, situated just 20 minutes from Belfast and 10 minutes from Belfast International Airport, is perched over a stunning lake in the picturesque village of Templepatrick, and offers a range of unique spa amenities including the only man-made heated pebble beach on the island of Ireland, as well as a series of hot tubs, Swedish sauna, salt room, exclusive spa treatments and unique botanical bathing experiences.

Its restaurant has been officially recognised for its food and dining excellence, achieving an AA rosette for culinary excellence, whilst The Rabbit’s Spa was awarded Recommended Spa at the 2023 AA Hotel Spa Awards.

Lynsey Gordon, Associate Director at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, commented:

“The hotel has been the subject of significant investment since its acquisition by Galgorm Collection in 2019 and we are incredibly proud of the dramatic transformation that has been realised across the site.

“The extensive redevelopment – a result of our team’s talents, dedication and efforts coupled with the unwavering support of our guests – has seen the hotel rightfully recognised both nationally and internationally as offering an outstanding experience to guests.

“As we continue to further progress our planned redevelopment works, we’re pleased to now be able to share our latest expansion plans which will significantly enhance this unique property. With proposals agreed and contractors on site, I’m delighted to confirm that our 17 new bedrooms will be available to book from the 6thDecember 2024 and we look forward to welcoming our first guests just in time for the festive season.”

To celebrate the launch of the new guestrooms, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is offering its exclusive "Ready to Retreat" package. Guests can enjoy an overnight stay in one of the new comfy rooms, access to the spa from 12 noon, a private duo clay ritual, breakfast, and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco, all from just £200 per room. Valid from 6th December until end of February.

Book now at rabbithotel.com.

Galgorm Rewards employs digital tech to elevate the guest experience into 2024 and beyond with an unrivalled rewards programme across its entire portfolio.

Galgorm Collection, renowned for its legacy in luxury hospitality, has officially launched a new, groundbreaking loyalty initiative, Galgorm Rewards.

As the first of its kind for a Northern Irish independent hospitality group, this programme encompasses the Galgorm Collection portfolio; Galgorm, the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, The Old Inn, and the esteemed Fratelli and Parisien restaurants in Belfast.

Creating endless opportunities to save, the new ‘Galgorm Rewards’ programme redefines guest experiences, creating a seamless and rewarding journey across all properties, enabling registered visitors and guests to unlock real value and new possibilities when they redeem their points for a variety of Galgorm Collection reward vouchers which they can use themselves.

Designed with simplicity in mind, the loyalty programme is complimentary to join, meaning every visit now comes with the added allure of earning points towards exclusive rewards. Guests can start to enjoy the benefits when they register, with 1 point gained for every £1 spent across any of its hotels or venues. Rewards span across all properties and can vary from either a pampering spa day to an exquisite dining experience, or a serene retreat.

Effective immediately, the new loyalty programme means visitors and guests can check their balance and redeem their Galgorm Rewards at any time. The App is available to download at the Apple App Store and through Google Play.

Elaine Kelly, Project and Systems Manager at Galgorm Collection, said, "At Galgorm Collection, we believe that every guest should be treated to a remarkable and memorable experience. Galgorm Rewards is our way of thanking our valued guests by adding an extra layer of joy to their visits. It's our gift—a token of appreciation for choosing us. The groundbreaking initiative is safe, simple and easy to use so that our guests can enjoy more of what they like most.

As the region’s first independent hotel group to introduce a digital loyalty reward scheme, our newest innovation underpins our reputation as a future-focused market leader committed to delivering hospitality excellence in every area.”

The new initiative marks the latest in a series of major milestones across the entire Galgorm Collection.

In December, Galgorm was named as the best UK Spa at the AA Hotel Spa awards, with its thermal village gaining the award due to its exceptional and exemplary spa standards and outstanding wellness experiences. It also won an unprecedented six awards at the prestigious 2023 World Luxury Awards hosted in Athens and secured the Best Destination Spa 2024 title at the recent Conde Nast Johansens Awards in London.

One of its newest properties, the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, a historic landmark exuding timeless sophistication, became its latest venue to secure AA 4 Star Silver rating and a prestigious AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence. Since being acquired by Galgorm Collection in 2021, The Old Inn has already achieved a listing within Ireland’s Blue Book 2023 and was also named in the Irish Independent’s ‘FAB 50’ Top Stays in Ireland 2022.

“At Galgorm Collection, we listen to the needs of our guests and then innovate to ensure their experience is the best it can be – and there is plenty to enjoy,” Galgorm Collection Group Marketing Manager Victoria Brown said. “As we continue our focus on innovation, pushing the boundaries in loyalty and service, our new Galgorm Rewards programme marks an important milestone in our growth and in enhancing our guests’ overall experience every time."

Galgorm Collection also became the first hospitality group on the island of Ireland to achieve official ‘Great Place to Work’ certification, based on exceptional employee experience.

A major local employer, Galgorm Collection has dramatically scaled up its hospitality footprint and workforce over the last decade following a £90 million investment into the ongoing expansion and refurbishment of its flagship property Galgorm, with its latest investment project aiming to add new accommodation types and spa facilities by 2027.

Committed to working towards a sustainable future, protecting the environment, and reducing its carbon footprint through its Green Policy 10-Point Plan, Galgorm recently became the first hotel in Northern Ireland to achieve gold in two top sustainability accolades from Green Tourism in recognition of its “exceptional commitment to sustainable practices.”

For more information and to download the Galgorm Rewards App, visit:

www.galgormrewards.com

About Galgorm Collection

Galgorm Collection stands as a beacon in the hospitality sector, offering a diverse range of luxury experiences across hotels, spas, and dining establishments. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a fervor for creating unforgettable moments, Galgorm Collection continues to set the standard for hospitality in the UK and beyond.

NI’s award-winning collection of luxury hotels and restaurants becomes first hospitality group on the island of Ireland to achieve official certification based on exceptional employee experience.

Major Northern Ireland employer Galgorm Collection has become the first hospitality group on the island of Ireland to achieve official Great Place to Work certification across its entire portfolio of award-winning luxury hotels and restaurants.

The prestigious endorsement by Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture and wellbeing, was awarded following an extensive independent employee survey which engaged Galgorm Collection’s workforce of around 1,000 team members.

Employees voted across all six properties - including the globally renowned Galgorm, AA Hotel of the Year The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, Ireland’s Blue Book recommended property The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, and its collection of restaurants Fratelli and Parisien in Belfast city centre - and concluded that their workplace is a great place to work.

The only hotel group on the island of Ireland to achieve the exceptional standard, the distinguished certification rewards outstanding employers who demonstrate a high-trust, ‘people-first’ workplace and cultivate a culture which embodies values such as credibility, fairness, respect, camaraderie, honesty and pride.

Laura Millar, HR Associate Director at Galgorm Collection said:

“What makes this accreditation so important to us is that it’s based on authentic employee feedback which is rigorously analysed using data-driven methodology and can be confident that staff feel trusted, valued and supported in their roles and enjoy the many benefits of working with the region’s premier hospitality group. Our success has always depended on our great people. From chefs to bar tenders, spa therapists and managers, to facilities staff, housekeepers, drivers and night porters, our people are what makes us famous for our warm welcome and unforgettable hospitality experience. Through our dedicated People Strategy, we work hard to ensure we offer the most competitive benefits and lead in the development of skills, training and career development opportunities.”

Based solely on rigorous and validated employee feedback gathered by Great Place to Work – the global authority on workplace culture – the accreditation signifies that employees have a consistently positive experience in the workplace.

“At the heart of every organisation are its people, and looking after their wellbeing should be a priority for every employer,” Great Place to Work managing director Benedict Gautrey said. “We know when employees feel genuinely contented and at ease within their roles, they are much more engaged and productive, which leads to better results for everyone.”

A major local employer, Galgorm Collection has dramatically scaled up its hospitality footprint and workforce over the last decade following a £90 million investment into the ongoing expansion and refurbishment of its flagship property Galgorm, with its latest investment project aiming to add new accommodation types and spa facilities by 2027.

Since 2020, Galgorm Collection has acquired and opened two major new hotels, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick and The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, growing its workforce by 30%.

“Galgorm Collection’s award-winning customer excellence and reputation for first-class hospitality is down to the dedication, skills and professionalism of our team and that’s why we continually invest in our workplace culture, training and development and in enhancing career prospects for everyone to make this a great place to work. We’re thrilled that our team voted with their feet to endorse what we do, and we are grateful for the superb work they deliver for our customers and the group every day,” Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston said.

As an officially certified Great Place to Work, Galgorm Collection will automatically be entered into the prestigious Best Workplaces ™ list which recognises organisations which demonstrate an effective management culture that focuses on the individual, their strengths and potential. All of this promotes innovation in the company and their associated economic success.

With sustainability at the heart of its business, Galgorm Collection last year announced a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, with a bid to become the first premier hospitality group on the island of Ireland to go fully green.

A year earlier, Galgorm Collection has also committed to the rollout of an enhanced benefits package for all eligible team members, including a £1 million investment into premium private health care cover over the next five years as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in its people.

In March 2021, Galgorm Collection announced 180 new roles across its range of hotels and restaurants to meet anticipated post-pandemic demand and announced its investment of more than £5m in annual wages in creating the new roles.

For more information on current roles available across Galgorm Collection, and to apply, visit galgorm.com/work-with-us.html