40 Jobs In New Hospitality Investment

40 new jobs are expected to be created in Northern Ireland's hospitality sector this summer as a result of a £700,000 investment by Beannchor, owner of Belfast's Merchant Hotel and one of the largest hospitality groups in the region.

Beannchor group will be investing in two new ventures in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. The National Grande Café Bar will be situated in the former National Bank building on High Street, next to a new bakery and patisserie in the adjacent building.

The group says a further announcement of up to 50 additional jobs is expected to follow in the autumn, with the opening of a third new venue in the Cathedral Quarter later this year.

Bill Wolsey, managing director of the Beannchor Group, said: "The hospitality industry is crucial to Northern Ireland’s economy and will be one of the key drivers for sustainable economic growth here in the coming years. Ongoing investment in the sector is essential, however, if it is to grow and prosper to its full potential amid very challenging economic times.

"Our latest investment of around £700,000 in these two new venues – adding to our major investment of over £16m in the hospitality industry in recent years - will bring an economic boost not only to the Cathedral Quarter, but to the city centre and the wider hospitality industry as a whole.

"The creation of 42 new full –time and part-time jobs this summer and up to 50 new jobs later this year will come as good news to the industry amid ongoing job losses," he continued.

The Beannchor Group recently completed a multi-million pound extension of the Merchant Hotel.

It has an annual turnover of approximately £20m and directly employs 600 staff.

(IT/CD)