'Spa village' planned for Northern Irish resort in £10m upgrade

Northern Ireland’s Galgorm Resort & Spa, UK, has unveiled details of an extension planned at the property, costing £10m (US$15m, €14m). The new leisure and accommodation wing will open in September 2015 and the leisure aspect will comprise a ‘spa village’ – separate to the property’s existing spa.

Located outside Ballymena and 30 minutes drive from Belfast, the property is owned by Tullymore House – which is run by brothers Paul and Nicholas Hill. The venue will house a total of 128 bedrooms when the development is complete, thanks to funding from First Trust and Invest NI – according to the Belfast Telegraph. The number of bedrooms being added is 48.

The new ‘spa village’ is set to include a relaxation pool, riverside sauna – the River Maine runs through the 163-acre (66-hectare) estate – plunge pool and a sheltered area with an open fire and private hot tubs.

Paul Smyth, managing director of Galgorm, said that the spa village will offer a “relaxed, informal and friendly experience to savour."

“We are excited for the future of the resort and feel this new development will firmly place the resort on the international map,” added Smyth.

The property’s existing spa uses products by Aromatherapy Associates and Eve Lom in its therapies. It also hosts an extensive thermal suite, which includes a hydrotherapy pool, two outdoor whirlpools, experience showers, a laconium, herb calidarium, aroma grotto, ice fountain, sauna and heated relaxation loungers.

Tullymore House also has plans to convert the six-storey Scottish Mutual Building in Belfast into a hotel.