New jobs for new city

Lisburn is a busy shopping area

Up to 500 new jobs are on the way to a newly designated County Antrim city due to a £15m expansion at a shopping centre.

The 125,000 sq ft project will almost double the size of Bow Street Mall shopping complex in Lisburn and is due to be ready for business in September.

It is the first jobs boost for Lisburn since last week's announcement that it had been granted city status as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Michael Hopkins of agents McKibben Commercial said: "Lisburn has risen above all other towns in the north to become one of the most attractive and most visited shopping destinations, drawing footfall from south of the border as well as Belfast and further afield."

He said they had agreed terms with a number of major retailers for space in the new facilities.

Both Burger King and KFC had agreed to take space in a new 400-seat food court, he added.

Odyssey

Mr Hopkins expressed confidence there would be 500 full and part-time jobs created.

Meanwhile, 60 jobs are on their way to Belfast's riverside Odyssey complex with the arrival of another international tenant.

The La Tasca tapas bar and restaurant chain is to open its first Irish outlet, it was announced on Tuesday.

The 260-seat restaurant will open in the Odyssey Pavilion in September.

Conference

The Pavilion is already home to Ireland's only Hard Rock Cafe and several other internationally known eateries.

Last week, it was also announced a further 60 jobs were being created with the opening in May of a massive 14,000 sq ft Bar Seven.

The multi-function entertainment venue - with a capacity of over 1,000 - will have cafe-bar, restaurant, DJ box, area for live performances and conference facilities.