A New Chapter for Armagh City Hotel: Our £4 Million Vision
We welcomed over 200 guests to the newly refurbished Fisher Suite at Armagh City Hotel for a strategic briefing that marked a significant milestone in our plans for the property and for the city.
It was an opportunity to reflect on where we have come from, share what we have already delivered, and lay out in detail the investment programme that will shape Armagh City Hotel over the coming years.
What we have delivered so far
In the 12 months since acquiring Armagh City Hotel, we have invested £1.6 million into the property, covering the ground floor syndicate rooms, the Fisher Suite conference room, and bedroom corridors, doors and locks. That investment was shaped in part by the public survey we launched shortly after taking ownership, because we believe the people who use this hotel should have a voice in how it develops.
The next phase: £4 million invested in the experience
The next phase of investment totals £4 million and spans four key areas of the hotel.
The Fringe Lounge will be transformed into a flexible events space capable of hosting sit-down dinners for 200 guests, extending the capacity of the Fisher Suite for larger occasions. Work begins in the coming weeks.
The gym and leisure centre, which currently serves 700 members, will be fully redeveloped, with the swimming and thermal areas and fitness suite all included in plans. Work is expected to commence within the next couple of months.
The lobby and reception will be reimagined to create a welcoming, high-quality arrival experience. Planning permission has been granted to replace the existing entrance with new automatic doors, and a stunning redesign by Brenda Malligan will open up the space for a community meeting area with intimate spaces for coffee and dining.
Introducing The Meridian
The centrepiece of this investment is The Meridian, a brand new conceptual bar that will occupy the former Spires Bar space and open in time for Christmas.
We worked with Drinksology, an award-winning design company whose credits include The Dead Rabbit bar in New York, to develop a concept that is genuinely rooted in Armagh. Their response drew on the city’s extraordinary connection to time and navigation. Armagh holds its own historic meridian line, a point of reference that once helped ships navigate the world. That heritage gave us a concept we are genuinely proud of.
The Meridian is designed to bring people together: a destination bar that locals can call their own and that visitors will seek out. This is the first bar concept Drinksology have designed in Northern Ireland, and it reflects our belief that Armagh deserves world-class hospitality.
Our commitment to this city
Across seven hotels and over 640 members of staff, our ethos has always been the same. Hospitality has the power to change lives and communities, and we carry that belief into everything we do at Armagh City Hotel.
Our goal is straightforward: to develop this hotel to four-star status and to make it one of the best on the island of Ireland. Not just for guests, but for the city around it. We want to create a space where locals feel at home and where visitors admire what Armagh has to offer.
We are grateful for the support shown at the event, including from Lord Mayor Stephen Moutray, and we look forward to the journey ahead. We ask for your support, your custom, and your patience as we bring these plans to life.