30 JOBS AS NEW RESTAURANT OPENS IN BELFAST
The owners of James Street South restaurant have just announced plans to open The Bar + Grill, a brand new, three storey restaurant with private dining facilities and a cookery school in Belfast's city centre.
The ambitious project is located on the corner of James Street South and Brunswick Street which is feet away from its award winning sister restaurant, James Street South.
The new eatery, in which Ulster Bank and the restaurant owners have jointly invested £300k, will create 30 jobs and help breathe life into a building situated in an area of Belfast that is popular with food lovers.
Niall McKenna, the head chef and business mind behind the new restaurant said: "The Bar + Grill is an exciting project that we've been planning for many years.
"The ground floor will occupy a sixty seater restaurant, which we plan to open in early November, seven days a week from midday until late. We have mixed old and new styles to help create an atmosphere that's fresh, casual and fun and our menu has been specially designed to include firm favourites but with a few specialities and surprises thrown in.
"The food will be sourced from the seas and fields in and around Northern Ireland as we continue our commitment to support local producers and growers.
"On the first floor will be the Private Dining Room which can seat up to 40 people. We have deliberately made it a white space to ensure corporate clients and brands get total ownership of the room for whatever they need it for, whilst giving private parties a cool space to enjoy their dining experience."
The addition of the Cookery School completes an offering that is unrivalled in the city of Belfast.
Niall continued: "We have space for 40 people to watch demonstrations and 8 cooking stations for practical sessions or group bookings.
"We plan to use the cookery school to host corporate occasions, cookery demonstrations, wine tasting, food themed launches and parties and team building events.
"Groups of eight, or less, can also use the space for more intimate occasions like birthdays or even cookery competitions."
Niall, who is the only chef in Belfast to have a restaurant listed in the Restaurant Magazine TOP 100 UK restaurants, is about to embark on a recruitment drive to help staff The Bar + Grill.
Julie-Ann Halliday, Business Manager at Ulster Bank said: "Niall knows what it takes to run a successful restaurant business. His new venture will help to further capitalise on their reputation with a fresh offering that compliments their existing business. We are delighted that our financial support has enabled James Street South to realise this exciting new project which is creating a significant number of new jobs."
For further information about The Bar & Grill contact 07724836578 or log onto www.belfastbargrill.co.uk.
Pic caption - Niall McKenna, head chef and owner of new restaurant, The Bar + Grill, due to open in early November, takes a look around as the £300k development nears its completion date . The restaurant, situated on the corner of Brunswick Street and James Street South, will be over three stories and includes a 60 seater restaurant, private dining facilities and a cookery school in Belfast's city centre.