Top Northern Irish restaurant sets up premium deli

An award winning Northern Irish restaurant has set up a new premium food and drink deli based on ingredients used in its dishes.

The new deli at The Vintage Rooms in Hillsborough, county Antrim is part of a £500,000 investment by owners The Plough Group in its bars and restaurants.

The group, now celebrating its 36th anniversary, is owned and managed by brothers William, Richard and Derek Patterson, the latter, a respected chef. The deli features ingredients, mostly from Northern Ireland suppliers such as Hannan Meats and Glenarm Organic Salmon. It is designed to enable diners to buy and take home ingredients used in meals they've enjoyed in the group's restaurants in Hillsborough, the recently opened The Vintage Rooms and the nearby and longer established Plough Inn.

The group also operates three other restaurants.

"The deli is also geared at people seeking to pick up quality ingredients such as steak and a bottle of wine on their way home from work or a day out," says Derek Patterson.

"We believe they'll be attracted to the deli because of our reputation for original and quality dishes. We'll even provide advice on how best to prepare the dishes. They'll also have access to our extensive wine store."

The expansion of the wider business will provide 15 new jobs. The group already employs 220 local people in its bars and restaurants.

The Vintage Rooms has been designed as a one stop shop for a great night out and as a social hub for Hillsborough, a fast growing tourism centre around the historic Hillsborough Castle, now owned by the Royal Estates and home to the current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Key features of The Vintage Rooms are a Spirit and Wine Library and Whiskey Cellar which showcases the global offering of wines, spirits and cocktails on offer for all tastes to enjoy in an intimate setting. Pride of place is provided to locally produced spirits such Old Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Dunville Irish Whiskey, Jawbox and Shortcross Gins along a range of Northern Irish craft beers.

Adding to the uniqueness of the new bar, customers will also have the option to buy their drinks by-the-bottle, and will be provided with an exclusive locker to stow their personally labelled spirits until their next visit.

In addition to a boost in lunchtime trade and the exclusive drinks offerings on-site at The Vintage Rooms, the restaurant will also offer daily afternoon tea and casual dining in the form of sharing plates in the early evening from Wednesday to Saturday.