105 years after SS Nomadic left Belfast, the vessel has been served up a new lease of life with £80,000 investment for catering facilities on board.
The heritage venue, which is famous as a tender for Titanic, and a quarter of her size in every dimension, is available for exclusive hire and can now fully cater range of private and corporate events, from drinks receptions to fine dining for up to 200 people.
The £80,000 investment for catering facilities on board was supported by Titanic Foundation Limited and Tourism NI. This enables the venue to offer extensive hospitality options to clients for a range of events, alongside its primary role as a visitor attraction. Local renowned catering partners, Posh Nosh, The Fatted Calf and Yellow Door have also been brought on board.
This is the most significant development since Titanic Belfast took over operations of the vessel in April 2015, and is part of an overall £150,000 investment. Nomadic’s improved event offering will be managed and marketing by Titanic Belfast’s in-house team, who considerable experience in the meetings, incentive travel, conference and events industry, having hosted over 1,000 events at Titanic Belfast within the last four years.
Titanic Belfast Chief Executive, Tim Husbands MBE, said, “SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line vessel and largest Titanic artefact in the world, is one of Belfast’s most authentic event venues, as well as one of its favourite tourist attractions. The investment in catering facilities on board takes SS Nomadic’s event capability to a new level and firmly illustrates that it is open for business and events. This combined, with the space on-board and period features, which transports guests back to SS Nomadic’s glamourous past, when she tendered famous Titanic passengers, as well as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Charlie Chaplin, makes it the sought after venue for a whole array of events.”
Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive, Titanic Foundation, commented, “investment in the new kitchen facilities will generate additional income, significantly contributing to ongoing maintenance and running costs of this 105 year old vessel. This underpins the sustainability of the ship for our future generations, ensuring SS Nomadic remains open to the public as one of Northern Ireland’s key heritage assets. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Heritage Lottery Fund and Tourism NI.”
John McGrillen from Tourism NI said, “We are proud to have supported the development of catering facilities on board SS Nomadic. Overlooking Belfast Lough with the iconic Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience, the famous barrel-vaulted Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and the landmark Samson and Goliath gantry cranes as a backdrop, SS Nomadic brings together Belfast’s strong industrial and maritime heritage, and provides a bespoke space for events.”
ENDS
Photo Caption 1: Tim Husbands MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive, Titanic Foundation, Paul Mullan, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund and Rosemarie McHugh, Tourism NI, serve up a new lease of life for SS Nomadic, with new£80,000 catering facilities on board, 105 years after it left Belfast.
Notes to Editors
About SS Nomadic
The SS Nomadic is most famous for the part she played in the Titanic story, but this was only the beginning of her extraordinary journey that stretches over 100 years. Restored to her original 1911 glory and back home in Belfast, a visit to SS Nomadic & Hamilton Dock combines the authentic heritage and atmosphere of this historic ship with the intriguing stories of her passengers and the ups and downs of her dramatic career.
About Titanic Foundation Limited
Titanic Foundation Limited (TFL) is a registered charity, set up to educate the public on Belfast’s industrial and maritime heritage, past, present and future. Titanic Foundation’s ambition is to create a dynamic maritime destination where preservation of heritage complements regeneration and where public realm, events and amenities attract, engage and connects everyone in Belfast to Titanic’s narrative – human endeavour, pride, inspiration and innovation. To date TFL has delivered Titanic Belfast and is currently progressing the restoration of the former Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and Headquarters Building as a heritage centre and boutique hotel. As part of Titanic Foundation’s remit to protect and promote the maritime and industrial heritage of Belfast we have taken on ownership of the SS Nomadic from April 2015. www.titanic-foundation.org
Funders
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife, we use National Lottery players’ money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about. www.hlf.org.uk.
About Tourism NI
Tourism NI is responsible for the development of tourism and the marketing of Northern Ireland as a tourist destination to domestic tourists, from within Northern Ireland, and to visitors from the Republic of Ireland. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and works closely with other tourism bodies to help develop the visitor economy here and to market Northern Ireland to incoming visitors. Tourism NI has provided funding (through its Tourism Development Scheme) to restore the SS Nomadic as a local amenity and tourist attraction. www.tourismni.com
Useful links:
Titanic Belfast: www.titanicbelfast.com
SS Nomadic www.noamdicbelfast.com
Titanic Foundation Limited: www.titanic-foundation.org
Heritage Lottery Fund – www.hlf.org.uk
Belfast City Council: www.belfastcity.gov.uk
Visit Belfast: www.visit-belfast.com
Titanic Quarter: www.titanic-quarter.com/news-events
Tourism Northern Ireland: www.tourismni.com
For information on Titanic Belfast please contact:
Sarah Hamilton-Cardy, PR and Communications Executive, Titanic Belfast
Tel: +4428 9076 6380 or +447557641097
E: sarahhamiltoncardy@titanicbelfast.com
T: @titanicbelfast / FB: www.facebook.com/titanicbelfast