Galgorm owners acquire hotel and golf courses as part of £50m investment

Galgorm Collection, the Northern Irish premier luxury hospitality group has acquired Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena and Roe Park Resort in Limavady in a combined £50m investment.

The combined spend, which includes acquisition costs and a multimillion-pound transformation plan for both properties, represents one of the region’s “largest” investments in Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector.

Galgorm Collection, which owns a suite of leading properties including the Galgorm, The Rabbit Hotel and Retreat, and The Old Inn, acquired the historic Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena and the four-star Roe Park Resort and Spa, set in in a magnificent countryside estate in Limavady, for a combined £28m.

In addition to acquiring both properties, Galgorm Collection has committed an additional £22m to enhance the properties and estates over the next five years.

At Roe Park Resort, guests will experience an “enhanced” family-friendly atmosphere, a new bespoke adult-only spa, and continued improvements to its golf offering.

Meanwhile, Galgorm stated that golf enthusiasts will see significant developments at Galgorm Castle Estate, as its golf course is elevated with the “bold ambition of becoming the top parkland course in Ireland”.

The group said detailed plans will be unveiled in the coming months.

Colin Johnston, managing director of Galgorm Collection, said: “We are delighted to welcome both Galgorm Castle Estate and Roe Park Resort to the Galgorm Collection family. These are two iconic properties with strong legacies, and we are committed to building on their successes. Our £22m investment will further enhance their offerings, creating new opportunities for guests to enjoy unparalleled experiences.

“…We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the people of Ballymena. As the home of our flagship property, Galgorm, Ballymena has been at the heart of our journey, and its support has been integral to our success. We look forward to continuing our commitment to this community as we grow Galgorm Collection and welcome these new properties into our family.”

Christopher Brooke, owner of Galgorm Castle, added: “We are both delighted and saddened with today’s announcement – developing Galgorm Castle estate from a state of disrepair to a thriving development has been a life’s work. Securing its future was critical and we have now achieved this; it has been an honour and a privilege to have played a small part in Galgorm Castle’s rich history.

“We felt the time was right for the estate to further evolve and becoming part of a larger organisation will help achieve this. In particular, the Galgorm Collection team has the expertise to develop the Castle into something very special. We wish them well on the next phase of Galgorm Castle’s story.”