Patton Construction - Leisure Development - Ballymena, Tullyglass Hotel
Date: 01 Dec 2005
Patton Construction has helped bring a touch of ancient Corinth to Ballymena by handing over a major building project at one of the town's major hotels.
Around £5m in total has been spent upgrading the Tullyglass Hotel on the outskirts of Ballymena in an ambitious scheme that has included the construction of one of the largest conference centre / ballrooms in Ireland; a 50ft reclaimed 19th Century French bar and a spectacular clock tower, the time piece of which hails from southern Spain. An additional ten full-time and 50 part-time staff have been recruited to operate the new 20,000 sq ft facility.
Tullyglass Managing Directors, Chris and Kathy McConville say the recently-completed project has transformed the hotel which they acquired 12 years ago.
"The addition of the new multi-purpose centre brings a whole new dimension to our offering here," Chris explains. "Up to 2,500 people can be accommodated standing in the main room, or 900 seated which, I believe, gives us one of the largest multi-purpose hotel-based conference centres on the island, equipped with the latest BT Open Zone and audio visual technology including three drop down screens and a dataprojector. Until the opening of the new facility we found ourselves in the unfortunate position of having to turn away functions of a certain size. Now we will be able to compete with the best and we are beginning already to target new business potential in the corporate and tourism sectors."
The new centre boasts two extensive bar areas, specially imported chandeliers, a number of replica Corinthian pillars and several other Roman / Greek architectural features - ideas which have been conceived through extensive travel and many outstanding elements that have been purchased at salvage yards and restored to their former glory.
"I always keep a keen eye out for impressive pieces of furniture, for example," says Chris McConville. "Amongst the new, 'restored' additions to the hotel are two sets of huge medieval wooden doors; several arched stained-glass windows and the 50 feet mahogany bar that brings fantastic character to the place."
Patton's specialist joinery team was commissioned to work alongside the Construction division to help restore the wonderfully ornate former chemist's counter and replicate a number of engraved glass inset panels dating back to around 1888.
"Many of the original glass panels had been damaged in transit from France," says Mr McConville. "It was quite a challenge to match the damaged panes, but I believe we have successfully achieved that. It was fascinating to discover the date of 1888 engraved behind one of the mirrors and to think the people responsible for the spectacular craftsmanship represented in the piece."
The Tullyglass Managing Directors, paid tribute to Pattons for their involvement in the challenging 30 week project.
"We employed those whom we believed to be the best for what was a diverse and detailed project requiring a range of skills and an ability to deliver on time and within budget. Patton's certainly lived up to their end of the bargain."
While delighted with the completion of the multi-million pound project the McConvilles are certainly not resting on their laurels - with plans to upgrade the hotel by adding a further 40 rooms within two years.
TIME TO CELEBRATE ... Patton Construction's Robert McMortie (left) and Tullyglass Hotel Managing Director, Chris McConville outside the hotel's new Clock Tower featuring the spectacular clock which hails from southern Spain.
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