Lifestyle

Melissa Brown and Stevie Conlan, two street musicians in Belfast

Buskers react to plans which would make them buy permits

A lottery ticket for the EuroMillions draw

Check the winning EuroMillions numbers for Friday’s £171 million jackpot here

Problem of discarded inhalers (photo: Adobe)

Going Green: Inhaler disposal causes environmental blight

Globally recognised lifestyle retailer Miniso has officially opened its third store in Northern Ireland in Rushmere Shopping Centre, creating 15 new jobs as part of a major expansion plan supported by Ulster Bank. Owners of the Miniso franchise in Northern Ireland, Stuart Dixon and Trevor Finlay, pictured with senior relationship manager at Ulster Bank, Leona McNicholl

Miniso opens third store in Northern Ireland thanks to six-figure investment

The Foxes Den has been acquired by one of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality companies, Nightcap Event Group, marking an exciting new chapter for the Jubilee Road based establishment. Pictured are Declan Holmes and Dean McFarland, founders of Nightcap Event Group

Nightcap continues expansion with takeover of Newtownards restaurant

A major renovation and restoration of the 250-year-old Dundonald Old Mill is taking place with a deli shop, café and restaurant set to open in autumn/ winter 2024. Chef/ patron will be Carlos Capparelli (pictured) supported by Yotam Ottolenghi

250-year-old Northern Ireland water mill set for restaurant development

Northern Ireland's first banking hub is set to open next week with four more to help protect access to cash services following the closure of traditional bank branches. The first hub will be located in Kilkeel and is due to open at 47 Greencastle Street at 11am on Wednesday, December 6 by the Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, councillor Valerie Hart

Northern Ireland’s first banking hub opening date confirmed with more to follow

Nine companies from across Northern Ireland have made it on to this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list, which celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship in the technology sector on the island of Ireland. Pictured at The Ewart in Belfast are Syndeo co-founders Oliver Lennon and Catherine Ewings with Deloitte partner Aisléan Nicholson

Nine Northern Ireland companies make the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 50

Presenters from a number of radio stations in Northern Ireland who have released a Christmas single to raise money for a children's charity. The single and music video featuring radio presenters from Downtown and Cool FM will promote the Cash for Kids charity's annual Mission Christmas appeal. Picture: Simon Graham/PA Wire

Northern Ireland radio presenters release charity Christmas single

Homes and Gardens

Newly opened garden retailer, Dobbies and Northern Ireland housebuilder, Lotus Homes have teamed up to launch Northern Ireland’s first ever shoppable show home in time for Christmas at its new Weaver’s Gate development in Antrim

Dobbies and Lotus Homes open first ‘shoppable’ home in time for Christmas
One of Northern Ireland’s leading housebuilders has joined forces with garden centre retailer, Dobbies, to create a first-of-its-kind experience for shoppers and house buyers alike, in time for Christmas.

Callicarpa ‘Profusion’.

Holly and ivy have their place – but so do many others.

A selection of winter root vegetables.

Some veg can be left in the ground until you need them

Isobel and Maisie decorate the wish tree with their Robin crafts

RSPB: Tips for a more sustainable Christmas

Plans to redevelop city centre site will help meet Belfast’s demand for social housing. Pictured is a computer generated image of the development

Plans at city centre site will help meet Belfast’s demand for social housing

Create your own Christmas wreath from garden sprigs, twigs and cuttings, bright berries and evergreen foliage.

Make your own Christmas wreath

46 Beech Meadows, Waringstown.

Immaculate modern family home is just ready to move in to

Pets

Public asked to adopt a pet rather then buy one this Christmas

Public asked to adopt a pet rather then buy one this Christmas in bid to drive down numbers of abandoned animals

Pictured with Q Radio’s Ibe Sesay at the announcement that he has been appointed as an ambassador of Rosie’s Trust are his dog Barney, charity beneficiary Janet Harris and her dog Rilla, Operations Manager, Jayne McStay and Callie the dog

NI charity, which helps patients stay with their pets, appoints new ambassador

The RSPCA is this year backing Guinea Pig Awareness Week, as it deals with a big spike in the tiny critters coming through its doors (RSPCA/Supplied)

RSPCA centres jam-packed with 'cruelly abandoned' guinea pigs

Cocker spaniels have been named the most expensive pet to own in 2023

How much it costs to be a pet parent in 2023

The Bellflower in Preston, Lancashire, won the accolade of the official best pub for dogs in the UK

Stick library and A La Barke Menu: Inside the UK’s best pub for dogs

Top 20 abandoned breeds: List of dogs most dumped as 50,000 ditched in last three years

Top 20 list of abandoned dog breeds as 50,000 dumped in three years

13 items dog owners should always take on summer walks to keep pets safe - including tick tweezers & blankets

13 items dog owners should take on summer walks to avoid emergencies

Explainer What to do if you see a dog in a hot car - the law explained

Food and Drink

The newest kid on the block is Pizza Street opened just a few months ago by husband-and-wife team Massimo & Dee Fierro. Hailing originally from Naples, Italy, Massimo and his wife Dee, a native of Northern Ireland, recently made the big decision to shut the doors on their Canterbury-based Italian restaurant ‘Pinocchio’s’ and relocate from the UK to Moira. Pictured is Massimo Fierro

County Down village emerging as a hub for independent food businesses in NI
And you can experience the foodie delights available in Moira all in one place, this weekend at the Moira Speciality Food Fair

Hotels.com is offering up to £100 for 100 guests to spend on their unusual room service requests

These are the top 10 wacky room service orders - including diet water

These are the UK’s top 10 unexpected food and drink pairings

Aldi has cut the price of one of its top selling drinks ahead of the May bank holiday

Aldi slashes price of prosecco to under £5 for bank holiday

Lucozade hint return of two past favoured flavours on TikTok

Lucozade hint return of two past favoured flavours

Pepsi’s new recipe contains 57% less sugar than previous versions.

Pepsi makes major recipe change to their classic drink

Best beer subscriptions for 2023: we review craft beer boxes deliveries

Best beer subscriptions: boxes from BeerHawk, Flavourly and Beer52

Staycation

Landal Kenwick Woods is set in abundant greenery as far as the eye can see.

Kenwick Woods: A hot tub break with countryside and coastline on the doorstep

This enchanting country house hotel offers a warm welcome and traditional hospitality.

Reconnect on a romantic spa break or friends’ reunion in the Cotswolds

The £15m Merrow Resort and Spa scheme next to the NW200 paddock on Portstewart’s Ballyreagh Road was first lodged in 2016. The hotel is to include 119 rooms, two restaurants, a spa and conferencing facilities for up to 350 people

Plans for £15m Portstewart hotel and spa deferred over 'land ownership' issues

Retro

A photograph of the Hutchinson family which appeared in the News Letter ahead of the family emigrating to Australia in December 1959. Picture: Darryl Armitage/News Letter archives

Belfast family of 11 to emigrate ‘Down Under’ (1959)

An old postcard showing tractor and binder binding corn with Scrabo Tower in the background. Picture: Darryl Armitage/News Letter archives

The history that lies deep in shadow of old Scrabo Hill

A still from No Poor Parish: Newtownstewart (1988) show fair day in Newtownstewart. Picture: Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive

Watch: No Poor Parish: Newtownstewart (1988)

Eating Out

Pictured receiving the accolade on behalf of ABP Linden Foods at a black-tie dinner and ceremony in the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London are Diane Christie, ABP Linden head of innovation and Caoimhe Mallon ABP Linden retail technical manager with Daniel Murphy, M&S business unit controller

Tyrone firm gets huge business boost with top food manufacturing award
A Tyrone food processor which produces Northern Irish premium steak, other quality meats and gourmet burgers for high-end retailers such as Marks and Spencer across the UK has been named Food Manufacturer of the Year 2023 at an industry event in Britain.

Taurine is found in meat, fish and in certain supplements and energy drinks. Taurine levels are significantly lower in the blood of older people compred to the young, suggesting that the consumption of the nutrient could play a role in increasingly longevity and stalling the ageing process although so far research has been focused on higher taurine consumption in animals

Scientists find taurine could increase chances of longevity

A Tourism NI campaign aimed at encouraging more people to consider a career in the tourism and hospitality industry attracted more than 30,000 visits to its website in less than one month. Pictured are Eimear Callaghan, head of experience & industry development at Tourism NI with James McGinn, MD of Hastings Hotels and waiter, Aaron Hughes

Tourism NI hospitality campaign demonstrates a ‘vibrant industry’

The fifth Belfast Whiskey Week, Ireland’s largest whiskey festival, returns Friday, July 21 - Saturday 29. Featuring multiple events, spanning 9 days in partnership with 18 venues
city wide and delivering sessions with over 30 brands and distilleries. Pictured are mixologist Emily Doherty, Paul Kane from Belfast Whiskey Week and Geri Martin from The Chocolate Manor

Belfast Whiskey Week is back...and it's spanning nine days!

Gareth Hardy, Hardy Distribution, distributors of Boost Drinks in NI, is joined by musician, John Garrity to launch Boost Juic’d Blood Orange and Raspberry Crush’s search for Northern Ireland’s talented buskers, singers and musicians, some of whom will be chosen to perform on Boost’s Busker Corner stage

Are you a busker in Northern Ireland and looking for your big break?

Newry headquartered Around Noon acquires The Soho Sandwich Company to create £80m group with 800 staff. Pictured are Daniel Silverston, managing director of The Soho Sandwich Company, Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon Foods and Howard Farquhar, chairman of Around Noon

Newry's food-to-go firm, Around Noon acquires major London sandwich company

Pictured are Michael Campbell, assistant restaurant manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa and Stacey Hooper, manager of the Cultra Inn are joined by James McGinn, managing director of Hastings Hotels as the leading five -star property celebrates the opening of its new Summer Champagne Garden

Culloden Estate is set for a sparkling summer with new champagne garden

Cars and Motoring

Saltmarine shined at the Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards. Picture – supplied

Ad Feature Awards success for Dungannon motor dealer Saltmarine

Northern Ireland drivers queue for cheap fuel as Black Friday deals begin across garages. Motorists were queued outside the Centra Stewartstown Road forecourt on Wednesday morning

Garages across Northern Ireland slash fuel price in Black Friday deals

Belfast's Northridge Finance has appointed Spencer Halil as managing director, replacing James McGee who announced his intention to retire earlier this year

Belfast car finance and loan firm announces appointment of new managing director

Over 480 motoring professionals representing more than 40 of Northern Ireland’s leading automotive businesses came together to celebrate their achievements at the Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards. The big winner on the night was the Charles Hurst Group, which walked away with eight awards. Pictured at the event are Luke McCready, Christine Gibney and Andrew Gilmore from Charles Hurst Group with Rob McFarland, head of sales at TradeBid

Winners revealed at inaugural Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards

More Lifestyle

The red and gold postbox, located at Belfast's Donegall Square West will be festively-decorated with snowmen, snowflakes and gold stars and merrily respond to post with one of three festive tunes: Jingle Bells, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Deck The Halls

Christmas singing postbox to bring festive cheer in Belfast

One of Northern Ireland’s most famous family-run hospitality venues The Plough Inn Hillsborough is changing ownership to another of the sector’s best-known families, the McGlones of Magherafelt. Celebrating the completion of the deal are Richard Patterson with new owners Ryan McGlone and Henry McGlone. The McGlone family brings a wealth of industry experience to The Plough Inn having successfully founded and developed a number of venues in the mid Ulster area, including Dormans, Mary’s Bar and Secrets

Hillsborough’s iconic Plough Inn acquired by McGlone family

Decorating the Christmas cake with snowmen and Santas was a festive ritual

Retro: Making a homemade Christmas cake

After almost 45 years building The Plough Group into one of the most successful hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland, brothers William and Richard Patterson have sold The Plough Inn. Credit ©Press Eye/Darren Kidd

End of an era at The Plough in Hillsborough after almost 45 years

Young Emma Trainor was delighted to meet Santa and Mrs Claus, during a visit to their Grotto at the 'Chriistmas On The Hill' Celebrations in Rathfriland.

Here are a selection of Santa Claus pictures taken at events through the years

The Apprentice Boys of Derry 335th ‘Shutting of the Gates’ takes place in Londonderry on Saturday, 2nd December. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Advice issued ahead of weekend Apprentice Boys ‘Shutting of the Gates’ event

The Financial Services Union has intensified their campaign against the proposal by Ulster Bank to close ten bank branches in Northern Ireland. Pictured is John O’Connell, general secretary of the FSU

FSU step up campaign to reverse Ulster Bank decision to close 10 NI banks

Almac Discovery and Queen’s University Belfast have announced a five-year project to develop a new chemoproteomics centre of excellence for drug discovery. The multi-million-pound facility, which is jointly funded by Almac Discovery and a BBSRC Prosperity Partnership award, is a first of its kind in Northern Ireland and will be located at Queen’s

Almac and Queen’s launch multi-million-pound chemoproteomics facility in Belfast

Jai is a beautiful 5 year old active Springer Spaniel with a zest for life.

Unfortunately Jai hasn't had an easy life to date. He was found by Dogs Trust in the pound and he was in a very sorry state.

Jai's background means that he struggles to build relationships with new people and isn't used to living indoors.

For the right person, the journey to build trust and a bond with Jai will be very rewarding.

Jai enjoys the company of other dogs and has made lots of doggy friends here at the centre. J

These dogs are now available to be rehomed from the Dogs Trust