Nostalgia- £1m Drumsill House Hotel development to bring major conference and entertainment centre to Armagh
The development, which has already started, will provide the hotel with the largest and most sophisticated conference and entertainment centre outside Belfast, according to owner Donal Gorman, who has drawn inspiration from major entertainment and conference centres throughout Europe.
First Reported 1990
At a cost of over £1 million , work has already started on an ambitious and major development programme at Drumsill House Hotel, Armagh.
When completed it will provide the hotel with the largest and most sophisticated conference and entertainment centre outside Belfast, says owner Donal Gorman.
“Indeed,” he says, “its facilities will, in many cases, be superior to that of any other similar venue presently available in Northern Ireland.”
Donal with his engineer Phillip Rogers, has visited most of the major entertainment and conference centres throughout Europe to study facilities, layouts and design.
And a meeting which they had with Peter Stringfellow of the famous ‘Stringfellows’ in London’s West End, has helped shape the ultimate design for the new Drumsill Centre, and Peter’s influence , claims Donald, will be very much in evidence.
When completed in September next, the centre will be capable of seating 1,200 people for both concerts and major conferences.
With the seating removed , upwards of 1,800 people can be accommodated for evenings of live band or disco dancing , and Donald is determined to attract some of the biggest names in the world of entertainment to Armagh.
Major research which he has commissioned , indicates there is a substantial market within the hotel’s extensive catchment area, of people within the right age bracket, who at present have to travel, a considerable distance for entertainment of a similar nature.
The development of the centre falls very much into line with the future plans of Armagh District Council, and they have given every encouragement to Drumsill to proceed with all phases of its plan.
Indeed, claims Donald,. It was that encouragement which led to the whole project getting off the ground.
On completion of phase one, phases two and three, which will include the building of an additional 50 bedrooms and suites, together with a luxurious sports and leisure complex.