‘A deeper connection to nature' - Galgorm to spend €3.5m on new forest spa garden and resort rooms
Luxury hotel and spa resort Galgorm has announced a £3m (€3.5m) investment in guestroom refurbishment and plans for a forest spa garden.
The resort said the changes, part of an overall £40m (€48m) investment plan, enhanced its thermal spa village while reinforcing its commitment to investing in tourism in Northern Ireland.
Parent company Galgorm Collection has spent £2m (€2.4m) on room refurbishment, including renovating the six junior suites at Galgorm, which now have private hot tubs on their balconies overlooking the River Maine.
And work to refurbish 45 superior rooms is due to be finished by July.
A new forest spa garden is due to open in the autumn of this year in a further £1m (€1.2m) investment which the venue said would offer guests 'a deeper connection to nature'.
The garden will be sited opposite the thermal spa village within the resort's woodland area, and will be equipped with four cabanas, three private hot tubs, a sauna and forest walkways.
A new bridge will link the new garden to the main spa, which Galgorm said would create 'a fully immersive wellness journey'.
Colin Johnston, managing director at Galgorm Collection, said: 'These investments allow us to push boundaries in creating exceptional guest experiences.
"The junior suites' private balcony hot tubs offer guests a spa retreat within their own room, while the Forest Spa Garden introduces an entirely new way to relax and reconnect with nature.
'Our guests both from home and overseas can expect even more from Galgorm, and this latest chapter reflects our vision for world-class hospitality here in Northern Ireland.'
The forest spa garden will be open to all overnight and day spa guests, but is particularly aimed at guests staying in its forest dens, eco-friendly accommodation combine luxury and an experience close to nature.
The forest dens, featured in The Irish Independent's Fab 50 list of Ireland's best places to stay in 2025, have a private garden terrace, outdoor shower, wood-fired bath, and private sauna.
This latest investment is part of Galgorm's broader £40m expansion strategy, which the group said was 'futureproofing' the industry in Northern Ireland.
The resort is the flagship property in Galgorm Collection and has benefited from spending of £60m (€71m) since 2010.
Galgorm Collection recently announced the acquisitions of Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena and Roe Valley Resort in Limavady for a total of £28m (€33m), with another £22m (€26m) to be spent to improve both properties in the next five years.
Galgorm Collection opened the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, Co Antrim in 2019, and in 2021 acquired and relaunched The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, adding an outdoor treetop spa and improving its accommodation and dining facilities.
Mr Johnston added: 'As international travel continues to rebound and domestic tourism flourishes, our focus remains on delivering premium, experience-led hospitality across our entire property portfolio.
"We are proud to contribute to the vibrancy of Northern Ireland's tourism offering and look forward to welcoming even more guests from domestic and overseas markets to experience everything Galgorm has to offer.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The Irish sister hotels perfect for relaxing staycation with outdoor tubs, snow cabin, delicious food & resident puppy
TIME spent with a friend is good for the soul – and if you can do it in one of Ireland's top hotels, even better. With that in mind, my pal Denise and I headed for 5 The luxury 4-star Galgorm Hotel & Spa is ideal for a weekend break 5 It is renowned as a pampering hotspot 5 Many relaxing opportunities at the resort after a stressful week The resort is renowned for pampering and we were excited to see what was on offer after hearing so many good things. Our accommodation, the Forest Den, was a private hut in the woods — and it simply blew us away. It came with its own outdoor seating area, a piano, private hot tub, sauna and outdoor shower, as well as a cosy, indoor kitchen and sleeping quarters. Denise was so excited she hopped on a video call straight away to show off the room while I had a nosy around. READ MORE IN TRAVEL After a few glasses of As a The staff were that perfect mix — appearing just as you were about to call them and then leaving you be when you want some time to chat and eat. And just across the courtyard was the bar, with live Most read in the Irish Sun After a couple of drinks, we went back to our den via the resort's free courtesy bus, where we spent two hours soaking in the outdoor bath. We fell into bed content and dozed happily to the sounds of the forest outside. The short Irish train journey perfect for summer day out with 'stunning views' If you are staying at the Galgorm, you get full access to its Thermal Village Spa. This has a number of gorgeous relaxation spots, from the outdoor hot tubs overlooking the river to the sauna huts. Inside, they have a pool and a snow cabin. CABIN FEVER Said to be great for circulation and the lungs, a snow cabin is essentially like walking into a freezer! There were blocks of what looked like snow on the walls, and it was a contrast to the heat of the pool I had been in just moments before. We raced through breakfast to spend as much time as we could there, sunning ourselves in the sauna, and taking a swim. There's no need to dress up, as everyone walks around in their recognisable brown dressing gowns. We only wished we had more time to have a treatment, such as the 90-minute Taste of Galgorm, which includes a back and foot massage, and a head treatment. Or the 60-minute Relaxing Full Body Massage. But by the time we had booked our stay, they were fully booked, so try to book early. ON THE MOVE We packed up the car and head for Galgorm's sister hotel, The Rabbit. Just a 25-minute drive away, I would describe it as the cool, younger sibling. And it gets my vote simply for being dog-friendly. It even has its own resident pup, Florence. While the previous night was more focused on spa and chill — and there is a lot of that at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat — there is also music, for those wanting party vibes. We met groups of women and hen parties, all enjoying the pool with cocktails in hand. Our room was fab, with a retro vinyl player, quirky wallpaper and accessories, as well as a secluded outdoor tub. WELCOME PACK There was also a welcome pack with some chocolates and a bottle of prosecco, so we sat out in the sun and poured ourselves a glass before our afternoon plans. We were booked in for a Private Botanical Bathing Experience. The one-of-a-kind treatment includes your own private jacuzzi, filled with soothing smells and an unbeatable view of the water. A QR code connects you to the bar, which delivers your order. You get to pick the botanicals used, with options such as Sleep Time (best near night-time) and Rest and Restore, but we went for Feel Good. This was a mix of bergamot sweet orange and rosemary, to detox and promote relaxation. GO: GALGORM RESORT AND THE RABBIT HOTEL STAY HERE: Lodging at the Forest Den at Galgorm, is available from £270 Bed & Breakfast per room (2 guests) – coming in at €321.94 based on current exchange rates. The Comfy Room with Outdoor Bathtub at The Rabbit is available from £275 Bed & Breakfast per room (2 guests) – coming in at €327.90. For guests staying overnight at the Rabbit, adding the Botanical Bath is an extra £50 or €60. Then it was time to get changed and head to the hotel's restaurant, where once again I was delighted to see they had a vegetarian menu. To top off our night, we had prime position in the restaurant to watch a man surprise his partner with a proposal — thankfully she said yes! The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, it was time to hit the road again. To anyone who is overdue a catch-up with a friend, this is the one for you. 5 They have an excellent menu for vegetarians 5 Nicola enjoyed her weekend break at the hotel
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘A deeper connection to nature' - Galgorm to spend €3.5m on new forest spa garden and resort rooms
Luxury hotel and spa resort Galgorm has announced a £3m (€3.5m) investment in guestroom refurbishment and plans for a forest spa garden. The resort said the changes, part of an overall £40m (€48m) investment plan, enhanced its thermal spa village while reinforcing its commitment to investing in tourism in Northern Ireland. Parent company Galgorm Collection has spent £2m (€2.4m) on room refurbishment, including renovating the six junior suites at Galgorm, which now have private hot tubs on their balconies overlooking the River Maine. And work to refurbish 45 superior rooms is due to be finished by July. A new forest spa garden is due to open in the autumn of this year in a further £1m (€1.2m) investment which the venue said would offer guests 'a deeper connection to nature'. The garden will be sited opposite the thermal spa village within the resort's woodland area, and will be equipped with four cabanas, three private hot tubs, a sauna and forest walkways. A new bridge will link the new garden to the main spa, which Galgorm said would create 'a fully immersive wellness journey'. Colin Johnston, managing director at Galgorm Collection, said: 'These investments allow us to push boundaries in creating exceptional guest experiences. "The junior suites' private balcony hot tubs offer guests a spa retreat within their own room, while the Forest Spa Garden introduces an entirely new way to relax and reconnect with nature. 'Our guests both from home and overseas can expect even more from Galgorm, and this latest chapter reflects our vision for world-class hospitality here in Northern Ireland.' The forest spa garden will be open to all overnight and day spa guests, but is particularly aimed at guests staying in its forest dens, eco-friendly accommodation combine luxury and an experience close to nature. The forest dens, featured in The Irish Independent's Fab 50 list of Ireland's best places to stay in 2025, have a private garden terrace, outdoor shower, wood-fired bath, and private sauna. This latest investment is part of Galgorm's broader £40m expansion strategy, which the group said was 'futureproofing' the industry in Northern Ireland. The resort is the flagship property in Galgorm Collection and has benefited from spending of £60m (€71m) since 2010. Galgorm Collection recently announced the acquisitions of Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena and Roe Valley Resort in Limavady for a total of £28m (€33m), with another £22m (€26m) to be spent to improve both properties in the next five years. Galgorm Collection opened the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, Co Antrim in 2019, and in 2021 acquired and relaunched The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, adding an outdoor treetop spa and improving its accommodation and dining facilities. Mr Johnston added: 'As international travel continues to rebound and domestic tourism flourishes, our focus remains on delivering premium, experience-led hospitality across our entire property portfolio. "We are proud to contribute to the vibrancy of Northern Ireland's tourism offering and look forward to welcoming even more guests from domestic and overseas markets to experience everything Galgorm has to offer.'
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- RTÉ News
EU and UK deal 'significant', says British Ambassador
British Ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston has described an agreement between the EU and the UK as "significant". The EU and UK reached an agreement to reset relations yesterday, which British Prime Minister Keir Starmer claimed will add nearly £9 billion (€10.6bn) to the UK economy by 2040. As part of the agreement, there will be a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal on plant and animal products, which will not be time-limited. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Johnston said it "will make life much easier" for many businesses. "I think exporters and small businesses, particularly, will notice a big difference once we get the so-called SPS agreement, the agreement that will reduce massively the amount of bureaucracy and checks that exporters have to go through. "About 100,000 British companies export to the EU every year, many of them, of course, to Ireland and of course, the same is true in reverse. So, reducing that bureaucracy, eliminating the checks will make life a lot easier for people, and I'm sure will lead to greater growth in due course," the ambassador said. Mr Johnston said the deal was the start of an important process. "What's been achieved yesterday is significant, both in terms of defence and security and mobility for young people, as well as improving their trade relationships. "But it's not the transformational trade deal that changing any of those red lines would be involved. But of course, that's not on the cards, but it is nevertheless significant," he said. Mr Johnston added that British exports to the EU fell by about 15% in the post-Brexit period. "So, it's really important for the government's growth mission ... that we can start to restore some of that volume and I think yesterday's deal will be at the start of an important process," he added. Mr Johnston said "the British government will have to 'pay to play' in the jargon in the EU rearmament programme". "But I think a lot of defence industries, and I know this from my time in Sweden and working on European security when I was one of our ambassadors in Brussels, a lot of defence industries and a lot of EU partners will be delighted to see the EU playing a constructive role with Britain in the defence industry and defense security space. "It's something that's much needed when you consider the threat that Europe faces and I think will be seen as a constructs of an important partner in that area," he said. In relation to migration, Mr Johnston said that the UK is "absolutely committed to reducing immigration overall and to reducing irregular immigration in particular, and produced a big new White Paper last week with lots of lots of measures on that. "This is a very different thing. This is a time limited and numerically capped scheme which will allow young people from both the UK and the EU to enjoy the benefits of living, studying in the other country for a temporary period of time. "And I think that's a good overall thing for the relationship and it will strengthen higher education links and other links between the countries. "But it's a completely different issue from a widespread freedom of movement operation. it's a specifically limited mobility experience," he said. Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the outcome of the summit, calling it a "landmark moment". Mr Martin said the outcomes from the talks deliver on the "shared commitment to reset relations between the EU and the UK". "The UK is an important like-minded partner for the EU, and for Ireland, sharing our values and commitment to multilateralism and the international rules-based system," he said. "It is essential that we work in partnership to address global challenges. "I therefore welcome the conclusion of the defence and security partnership between the EU and the UK at today's summit." He said the agreements "mark a new beginning in a positive and cooperative relationship between the EU and the UK which is essential for the pursuit of many areas of Ireland's national interest and is an important factor for stability in Northern Ireland". The UK's decision to extend fishing rights for the EU fishing sector by another 12 years, "also provides certainty to Ireland's fishermen and women", said Mr Martin. Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn also welcomed the EU-UK reset agreement. He said alignment with EU plant and animal standards will have significant benefits for businesses in Northern Ireland and Britain.
