A POPULAR independent travel agent has reopened its Coleraine office as holiday bookings surge for 2021.

Since the travel industry came to a halt in March as a result of the lockdown, JF Travel's 8-strong team has been working with customers to cancel or reschedule bookings from home.

Around 50 percent of customers who had trips cancelled opted to re-book their holiday for 2021 and in many cases enhanced it with a longer stay or a higher star rating hotel.

While many of those who opted for a refund have since re-booked.

Jonathan Fielding, Managing Director said "Although we have worked the whole way through the pandemic dealing with 100’s of holiday cancellations and amendments it is great to be back in our shop serving customers again, doing what we love. Its been a difficult few months but we are so glad to see some light at the end of the tunnel with customers taking to the skies again.

Travel is our passion and watching the world shut down has been devastating but its a...

Bringing something delicious to the table this August, Coleraine town serves up over 30 different restaurants, bars and cafes as a banquet of choice for the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme.

This month you could enjoy dining out somewhere different every day across Coleraine with a variety of local eateries taking part in the new ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme which offers customers in Northern Ireland up to 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Customers can enjoy eating out as many times as they like during the month – with no voucher needed. Local businesses taking part are encouraged to display the eye-catching ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ logo to help diners take advantage of the scheme which offers an eat-in benefit of 50% off the bill, up to a maximum of £10 per person.

Jamie Hamill, BID Manager for Coleraine said; “Our local hospitality businesses have been hit hard during this year, so this initiative rolled out by the government will...

Christmas celebrations are set to be extra special in Coleraine this year as the town has been chosen to host the North Coast Post Office.

The development was confirmed this week by Santa Claus’s secretary, who said that he was so impressed by the letters he received from the town’s boys and girls in the past that he wanted to give them all a very exciting festive treat.

The North Coast North Pole Post Office, located in the former HMV premises in the Diamond Centre, promises to instil Christmas magic in all those who visit. Follow the mini Christmas Tree trail to meet the fantastical Post Master Elf Berry Glitterpants and his friends or spend some time making arts and crafts and listening to the Elves as they share their secrets about how to make reindeer’s favourite food. At the Christmas stable meet the ponies and goats, or if you’re very lucky, you might even meet Dancer, one of Santa Claus’s reindeer. This very special guest is expected to...

Sporting clubs, charities, schools, business owners, staff and members of their local community have all came together to have some fun this Christmas. Familiar faces from the Capital of the Causeway Coast have created their very own karaoke-style video singing along to the classic festive tune “Santa is coming to town.”

While major retailers have splashed out millions of pounds to create their festive ads this year, schools, sports clubs, charities and business have come together in a Northern Ireland town to showcase some true festive spirit on a very modest budget.

Coleraine BID project manager, Jamie Hamill, said " We wanted to showcase everything that is great about the town of Coleraine, our local community and everyone who makes up our fantastic town! There has been a fantastic response to the video since its release on Small Business Saturday.

We had no big budget and there are clearly no actors involved, these are the real people who work, live, study and love...

Festivities begin in the town centre at 6pm tomorrow evening ( 29th November )with Beatz Entertainment and local choirs carol singing.

Santa will arrive on his horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by a spectacular festive parade, to switch on the lights at 7pm with live music from Hitlist continuing until 8.45pm.

‘Quiet Christmas’ will take place in Coleraine Town Hall from 3pm – 5pm.

As the nights draw in and the festive season arrives, there is a new reason to be proud of Coleraine, our very own local radio station has just launched for the Christmas period.

A former vacant unit in the centre of town has been transformed into the “Our Coleraine” hub including a fully fitted ground floor Christmas Radio station where visitors can see the action live.

This is the latest project to come from Coleraine Business Improvement District which is led by local businesses from the town. The Christmas radio will broadcast 24 hours a day up until Christmas Eve.

A fabulous mix of local people have volunteered to host a range of shows throughout the week each bringing their own sprinkle of positive magic showcasing everything which is great about our town.

Working with local youth, the station has created its very own news team which will give an amazing opportunity to some of our local media students.

Training has now been completed with local radio legends Denis...

Last week’s clue from Coleraine BID was “it launches Wed 27 November, it’s in Coleraine town centre, and it features local faces and local voices”.

Well, stand by for ......“Our Coleraine Christmas Radio”. Yes, you read this correctly: Our Coleraine Christmas Radio!

For the first time in ten years, Coleraine will have its very own radio station in town.   Coleraine BID Manager, Jamie Hamill explained, “We are very excited to have secured a number of experienced local people who will drive this project.   Denis McNeill will command the new ship as Station Manager, while Alistair Nicholl who comes in as Technical Manager. “We’ve 30 years’ experience in radio between us,” said Denis, “and we’ve known for some time how much Coleraine has missed its own local radio station.”

“The 28 day radio station licence has been granted by regulatory body Ofcom”, added Alistair,...

Halloween this year was in the words of one tiny vampire “the best so far”, with celebrations held in the centre of town thanks to “Our Coleraine”, powered by Coleraine Business Improvement district (CBID).

Hundreds of our local people arose from their crypts early to be entertained from lunch time in the centre of town.  Stage shows, circus performers and spooky characters wandered the streets to the amusement of everyone, while Artisan traders surrounded the Town hall which itself had been gripped by giant freaky fingers.  Other buildings had also been overtaken with giant monsters around the town, a first for N. Ireland

The days host and compere, Brian Moore led the entertainment with an outdoor fancy dress disco followed by the highly acclaimed band, “Annas Number” just home from America who played to the crowd with guitar, drums and saxophone..

Hundreds of children joined the first day-time Fancy dress parade through town which...

If you are one of the many enjoying the spooky monsters around Coleraine, well stand by for even more fun coming to the Town centre!

On Wednesday 30th October in Coleraine town centre there will be free freaky family fun from 1pm, all brought to you by “Our Coleraine” (powered by CBID).

Awaken from your crypt and get your little monsters dressed up for a freaky visit to Coleraine. The Big monsters are welcome too.

We have live monster music, spooky stage shows, selfie boards, street characters and an artisan market.

At 3.30 pm we will be taking over the town with a free to enter mini street parade meeting at Kingsgate street, with prizes for the winners and goodie bags for fancy dress so simply turn up looking your worst..!

Find out more info by clicking here.  

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE....

Even more exciting news will follow, while some people have been busy ducking for apples or dressing as skeletons, we have been busy scouring...