Latest news with #TheQuays
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We ran out of Guinness' - The Open fever hits Portrush
Hospitality businesses in Portrush have said this week has surpassed expectations as the town hosts The Open Championship. Almost 280,000 golf spectators are attending the event at Royal Portrush throughout the week. After practice days from Sunday onwards, Thursday was the first day of tournament action and it lived up to expectations for many traders in the County Londonderry town. One bar has been so busy that it will need an extra delivery of Guinness to see it through the weekend. Adrian Calvin, general manager at The Quays said his pub had been busy from mid-morning until late at night all week. "It's great to see that night time trade back which is something we haven't had in a long time," he said. "Its been far busier than I thought it was going to be." He said the upturn in business started in February, with lots of people travelling from all over the world to play the course which is hosting The Open. Mr Calvin said that in preparation for the tournament he doubled the pub's Guinness order but it sold out. "I'm going to have to get a delivery on Friday", he said. Danny Coyles, general manager of The Station bar said the week had been fantastic so far. "We've been busy from we've opened the doors at 11:30 right through," he said. "We're looking forward to three more busy days". "The atmosphere has been amazing, the visitors have been fantastic and really lovely to host." Mr Coyles said the bar bought in a month's stock for the week. "We probably need every bit of it" he said. "It's the whole package really, the scenery is amazing, the golf has been fantastic, the atmosphere in all of the bars is good and the entertainment has been good as well. "This is a beautiful part of the world…I think the tourism thing will grow exponentially after this and we're certainly ready for it." Traders had hoped to see the benefits of a change in policy at The Open compared to when Royal Portrush last hosted the event in 2019. On that occasion spectators could not return to the course once they had left it. This time, fans who get a wristband are free to come and go. Heather Stewart, general manager at The Marcus Portrush, said the atmosphere in Portrush has been "electric". She said guests numbers had been increasing day on day since Sunday. "We are hoping to keep on that upward trajectory," she said. Ms Stewart said The Marchs was already seeing long term benefits from The Open. "People who came in for dinner on Monday have rang back to try and book in for Saturday and Sunday," she said. "We've had guests in the bar who have been in every single day." Nicholas Morgan and Collis Parrish flew in from Texas in the United States for the golf tournament. "Everybody is like your best friend," Mr Morgan said. "You walk into the bars and its like you've known them your whole life". They are staying in Belfast and taking the train to the north coast, he said the prices had been "very reasonable" across the board for them. MrParrish said the pair were trying to play golf while visiting despite having no clubs and that people they met on the course had "went out of their way" to get them clubs so they could play. He said he had found prices "very affordable". "We haven't seen anything out of the ordinary compared to what we pay at home for similar services," he said. Another group of golf fans told BBC News NI they travelled from Newcastle in England to watch The Open. It is their first time visiting the area and they said there had been a "buzz" since they arrived. The environment has been "completely inclusive", they added. "There's been a real blend of people, we've been speaking to someone from Chicago, from England someone from Spain." They are hoping to see Rory McIlroy walk off with the claret jug on Sunday evening. Hawks hired to scare off seagulls at The Open in Portrush What you need to know about the 153rd Open championship
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'We ran out of Guinness' - The Open fever hits Portrush
Hospitality businesses in Portrush have said this week has surpassed expectations as the town hosts The Open 280,000 golf spectators are attending the event at Royal Portrush throughout the practice days from Sunday onwards, Thursday was the first day of tournament action and it lived up to expectations for many traders in the County Londonderry bar has been so busy that it will need an extra delivery of Guinness to see it through the weekend. Adrian Calvin, general manager at The Quays said his pub had been busy from mid-morning until late at night all week."It's great to see that night time trade back which is something we haven't had in a long time," he said."Its been far busier than I thought it was going to be."He said the upturn in business started in February, with lots of people travelling from all over the world to play the course which is hosting The Open. Mr Calvin said that in preparation for the tournament he doubled the pub's Guinness order but it sold out."I'm going to have to get a delivery on Friday", he said. Danny Coyles, general manager of The Station bar said the week had been fantastic so far."We've been busy from we've opened the doors at 11:30 right through," he said."We're looking forward to three more busy days"."The atmosphere has been amazing, the visitors have been fantastic and really lovely to host."Mr Coyles said the bar bought in a month's stock for the week."We probably need every bit of it" he said."It's the whole package really, the scenery is amazing, the golf has been fantastic, the atmosphere in all of the bars is good and the entertainment has been good as well."This is a beautiful part of the world…I think the tourism thing will grow exponentially after this and we're certainly ready for it."Traders had hoped to see the benefits of a change in policy at The Open compared to when Royal Portrush last hosted the event in that occasion spectators could not return to the course once they had left time, fans who get a wristband are free to come and go. Heather Stewart, general manager at The Marcus Portrush, said the atmosphere in Portrush has been "electric". She said guests numbers had been increasing day on day since Sunday. "We are hoping to keep on that upward trajectory," she Stewart said The Marchs was already seeing long term benefits from The Open. "People who came in for dinner on Monday have rang back to try and book in for Saturday and Sunday," she said."We've had guests in the bar who have been in every single day." Nicholas Morgan and Collis Parrish flew in from Texas in the United States for the golf tournament. "Everybody is like your best friend," Mr Morgan said."You walk into the bars and its like you've known them your whole life". They are staying in Belfast and taking the train to the north coast, he said the prices had been "very reasonable" across the board for them. MrParrish said the pair were trying to play golf while visiting despite having no clubs and that people they met on the course had "went out of their way" to get them clubs so they could play. He said he had found prices "very affordable". "We haven't seen anything out of the ordinary compared to what we pay at home for similar services," he said. Another group of golf fans told BBC News NI they travelled from Newcastle in England to watch The is their first time visiting the area and they said there had been a "buzz" since they arrived. The environment has been "completely inclusive", they added. "There's been a real blend of people, we've been speaking to someone from Chicago, from England someone from Spain." They are hoping to see Rory McIlroy walk off with the claret jug on Sunday evening.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eight Southampton swimmers to compete in national championships
Eight City of Southampton swimmers will compete in the British and English national championships next month, the most competitors the club has sent in more than a decade. It comes after a successful summer splash open meet at The Quays with 90 of the club's own swimmers competing. Advertisement Over the weekend, they took part in 514 swims with 421 personal best times, scoring 109 medals - 35 gold, 35 silver and 39 bronze. READ MORE: Bring your horse to your wedding at this stunning new woodland venue The fun open meet, one of three each year boosting club finances, gave lots of swimmers the opportunity to race, allowing younger swimmers to watch the more experienced swimmers race as they prepare for more big competitions this summer. Head coach Matt Heathcock said: "We are starting to see the new structure and training environment come together. "We will have a long way to go, but the change in less than three years has been great to watch and be a part of."
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Galway busker tells story behind viral proposal moment in city – ‘I was more nervous than he was'
Last week saw a clip of a public proposal in Galway's Latin Quarter shared on Instagram as the sweet moment melted hearts. The video shows couple Brendan and Cat passing by a busker playing Cat's favourite song, Beautiful Affair, setting the perfect atmosphere for when Brendan popped the big question. Cat, having no idea that the song was planned for her, can be heard saying 'I love this song' as the pair begin to sway to the serenade. The busker in question, Jamie Harte, who plays under the stage name Echo Harte, says he rarely receives requests to play such a significant role in such grand gestures, so when he received a DM on social media to surreptitiously serenade for Brendan and Cat's special moment, he was surprised – but excited. 'Brendan messaged me and said, 'listen, I have a very easy gig for you' Jamie laughed. 'He asked if I'd be able to play her favourite song for the moment.' Before agreeing, Jamie asked Brendan his own important question: 'I said, 'Are you sure she's going to say yes?'' Brendan asked Jamie if he could play Beautiful Affair by Stockton's Wing, setting the perfect atmosphere for when Brendan popped the big question. Not knowing the song, Jamie was set the task of learning the song within a day of Brendan's request. The plan behind the perfect moment Setting the plan in action, he and Brendan agreed that Jamie would be playing outside Burger House after Cat and Brendan had a few pints at The Quays. Brendan would pass by with Cat, where he would then ask Jamie about his glasses. He would then spontaneously play the Stockton's Wing ditty as Brendan got down on one knee. Jamie said: 'I was nervous. I think I was more nervous than [Brendan] was! 'I was just focusing on not messing up the song and making the moment perfect.' In the video, Cat, having no idea that the song was planned for her, can be heard saying 'I love this song' as the pair begin to sway to the serenade. It was all worth it, however, as Jamie says Brendan was very grateful for his input: 'He was grateful, he was a great, cool guy.' In the video, Cat is clearly blown away by as Brendan gets down on one knee in the heart of the city centre and asked her to marry him. To his delight, Cat replies 'yes' and the video captures the heart-warming moment as the couple embrace. Cheers and applause can then be heard from passers-by and onlookers for the emotional moment. Jamie has been busking for the past seven years after a U2 gig in Paris inspired him to leave his 'mundane' factory job back in 2018 and pursue his dream of being a musician. Since then, he has released an album and is gearing up to put out his second in the next few months. He recently released a single, The Same God Created Us which is available to stream on Spotify. Asked whether he would perform for another proposal, Jame said he would, however added: 'If I started to do this regularly it might ruin the surprise! 'But I'd happily do it again.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The eight local pools taking part in the world's biggest fundraising swim
Southampton swimmers are being urged to make a splash for good causes this spring by signing up for Swimathon 2025. The sponsored event – the world's biggest annual fundraising swim – is returning to eight local pools from March 28 to 30. They are The Quays in Southampton, Applemore Leisure Centre in Dibden, Totton Leisure Centre, Hamble Sports Complex, Places Leisure in Eastleigh, Holly Hill Leisure Centre in Sarisbury Green, Fareham Leisure Centre and Winchester Sports and Leisure Park. READ MORE: The movement method set to become as big as pilates - and where you can do it Swimmers of all ages and abilities are being encouraged to take the plunge and raise money for Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation. There's a variety of individual challenges to choose from on your own or in a team. Take part in an organised session or swim when it suits you. Swimathon President and Olympic gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew MBE, said: "Every year at Swimathon I meet incredible people with incredible stories; those who are swimming for the first time, those that are swimming in memory of a loved one, those that are swimming unimaginable distances, those that are recovering from cancer, or those that are facing a terminal illness - and I know this year will be no different. Sign up at
