Business Spotlight

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Thirty year milestone for O’Neill’s Funeral Directors

O’Neill’s Funeral Directors have just marked a milestone of 30 years in business having opened up on the Andersonstown Road in May 1991. The business was started in 1991 by Donna and Laurence O’Neill, the husband and wife team who are now joined by their son Laurence Jnr, who still operate the business today as a true family business. Having outgrown their original facilities on the Andersonstown Road, they moved to their current location at 98 Stewartstown Road in 1996. The team has also expanded over the years, as seen in the photograph above, to the most highly qualified and trained funeral directors/funeral arrangers and embalmers within any funeral business in the country today. The business is certified members of the British Institute of Funeral Directors (BIFD), the British Institute of Embalmers (BIE) and the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM). The complete funeral service that the family offer from their funeral home at 98 Stewartstown Road is the most personal and professional service that any grieving family can turn to when they need guidance through the most difficult time in their lives. When a family contact O’Neill’s they know that from the first contact to the day of the funeral that the O’Neill family will ensure any needs or requirements are met and delivered in a personal and sensitive matter. The purpose-built funeral homes' facilities, which have recently had extensive renovations works completed, allows families to be reassured that their loved ones are being given the best care in the most dignified way possible, whether it’s having a private funeral service in their Chapel of Rest or a family wake away from home in their private viewing rooms. Recent expansion within the business has seen O’Neill’s appointed as the funeral directors to act for various government departments across the country for both funeral services and memorial masonry services. An appointment that was only achievable after their services were recognised as the best available which was made possible by the O’Neill family’s decision to constantly invest in their staff, facilities and vehicles. The O’Neill family and staff operate around their motto which is “Our Family Helping Yours” which is important to ensure that every family who require their services receive the same professional service and is overseen by a member of the O’Neill family every time. With 2021 marking this milestone of 30 years in business they look forward to many more milestones like this in the future as the next generations oversee the continuing professional service for years to come. This last 15 months in the business has seen more changes to the funeral service as we knew it than any changes in the previous 15 years but thankfully we are coming out of this Covid-19 pandemic into better days ahead. O'Neill's will continue to follow all appropriate guidelines that are currently applied to ensure the safety of those around them. This milestone would not have been possible without the thousands of families trusting O’Neill’s to help them as they are faced with a bereavement and it is with great honour they will continue to look after any family who contacts them anytime to allow O’Neill’s to assist them. For any more information or general enquires you can contact O’Neill’s 24/7 on 028 90 620099 or visit their website.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: After tough Covid lockdown, Nemos looks forward to return of customers outdoors

Family-run takeaway and café Nemos will be among food outlets re-opening for outdoor customers from 26 April.

LOCAL BIZ SPOTLIGHT: Gibson’s Gourmet Café & Takeaway

Gibson’s have it all! Located at 80 Stewartstown Road facing the entrance to Lenadoon Avenue, Gibson's Gourmet Café & Takeaway was established in 2019 and has proved a massive hit with coffee-lovers, even during the lockdown. Gibson’s is a family-run business. Everything at Gibson’s is cooked fresh daily and all meats are supplied from their very own award-winning butchers next door. Gibson's Butchery & Delicatessen has been in business for over 25 years. This is what makes Gibson’s Gourmet Café & Takeaway so great! The premises are modern, sparkling clean and the staff are very welcoming. You are guaranteed to have a wonderful experience at Gibson’s. In line with government guidelines for Covid19, Gibson's are opened at present for collection, delivery, and walk-ins only. Says Pearse Gibson: “Gibson’s look forward to welcoming customers back for sit in whenever it is safe to do so.” Gibson’s have the ideal restaurant menu with something for everyone. If you enjoy healthy, natural, and fresh food then Gibson’s is the perfect g- to restaurant. The hardest decision you will make at Gibson's is whether you are going to order a mouthwatering gourmet burger or one of their delicious stone baked pizzas. The Double Up has proven to be one of the most popular burgers at Gibson’s, two X ¼ Beef burger with bacon, cheese, fried onions, tomatoes, lettuce & relish.

WATCH - Pizzabaker Belfast: Big on Taste, Great on Price

Pizzabaker is one of Europe’s fastest growing pizza chains. It is a fun, funky and fresh US-style pizza brand that offers sensational pizzas and pizza meals at affordable prices. A fast-delivery and customer-focused company, Pizzabaker delivers directly to customers homes or workplace.

VIDEO FOCUS: West is the best for your gourmet sandwiches

Specsavers Park Centre remains open with safety front and centre

Specsavers in Park Centre will remain open for all eye care and hearing needs in the wake of new restrictions introduced on 16 October for at least four weeks. Opticians and audiologists are recognised as providing essential health care services which means Specsavers will continue to keep their doors open to the public and offer a full breadth of services to the local community. These include routine eye and hearing tests, contact lens consultations, frame repairs and the sale of glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and other products.

You’ve got to love lunch at the Lansdowne

IN recent weeks, the North Belfast News has covered much that the brand new Lansdowne Hotel on the Antrim Road has to offer.

Front door, side door? Always a welcome

BORN and bred in North Belfast, Brendan Rafferty is a well-known figure to many in the food and catering industry. With over thirty years experience in the field, he has been the head chef, first manager and then owner of the popular The Side Door restaurant, located at Febro Buildings on the Antrim Road in Glengormley for 13 years. Brendan grew up on the Cliftonville Road until he was 16 years old when his parents moved to the Antrim Road. His first part-time job came in the old Lansdowne Court as it was known back in the day. Ever since a young age, Brendan was interested in the food and catering industry and decided to pursue a career in the field when he left school at 16. After three years at the College of Business in Brunswick Street in Belfast, he went on to complete a B-Tech qualification and an advanced catering course. Subsequent employment followed in the shape of a full-time role in the Lansdowne before spells in Belfast Castle, the Crawfordsburn Inn and Chimney Corner. But it is with his current venture The Side Door that he has made his name, establishing the 32-seater restaurant ever since taking over six years ago as the new owner. Brendan explained: “The Side Door is basically a family-style restaurant with something on the menu for everyone. The menu is very mainstream. “The previous owner’s menu was something close to fine dining but people were still ordering pizzas. I thought it wasn’t right so I changed the menu about a bit. “I had my own ideas and kept it mainstream to attract anybody and everybody. “The pressure was there to get bums on seats and it has worked ever since so I have no intention of changing it.” Brendan also acts as Head Chef at The Side Door and thanks to his wealth of experience, he has put his own style and spin on food. “I would cook things like lasagne, carbonara, scampi and burgers,” he added. “Everything is home-made. I am experienced enough to know what way things are cooked best and what sells well. “I used to be a sauce chef and I suppose sauces and soups are still my forte. It is still probably my favourite aspect of being in the kitchen. “I was brought up in the catering industry on a French theme which is something I still like doing, especially with some of the specials in the restaurant in some shape or form.” As for how things have changed in the industry, Brendan points to a number of various things he has noticed over the years. “The food industry has changed massively over the years,” he explained. “Themes and customers needs and wants are like night and day now since when I started off over 30 years ago. “Food takes waves now, much like politics. whether Italian or Mexican themed. “There are more vegans and vegetarians than ever before but allergies is such a big thing these days. Celiac is definitely the main one and you just have to be so careful. “I probably wouldn’t have taken as much of an interest in allergies but when I found out my daughter had a nut allergy, it changed everything. It scared me.” Looking ahead to the future, Brendan reflected on what he has achieved so far at The Side Door. “Glengormley is a perfect setting. People thought I was mad taking The Side Door on with the amount of competition but my idea was if you want to buy a washing machine and there is more than one shop available in the same area to buy it, you will still compare it, just like restaurants. “I think we stand out because we are not pretentious. Many restaurants are, in my opinion. We are not – what you see is what you get: fresh food bought from a number of different suppliers who I have built up a relationship with over the years. I buy the best produce that I can get but at affordable prices for customers. “I believe also in good service and to my knowledge, we are still the only bring-your-own restaurant in Glengormley. “As for the future, I am not getting any younger. I thought around two years ago about looking for a bigger premises. What I have to turn away from a Thursday to a Sunday now is scary some weeks, but I thought here was working. I decided to stay because things are good and long may it continue. “Customers keep coming back so I must be doing something right.”

Randox Covid-19 enters testing partnership with Belfast International Airport

Global diagnostics firm Randox is working in collaboration with Belfast International Airport, to provide quick and affordable tests for passengers. A new walk in testing facility has been launched at the airport, providing rapid PCR tests for those who require a negative test before travelling on any essential journeys. The newly formed service will provide passengers with a cost-effective, reliable and convenient Covid-19 testing service prior to their travels. Graham Keddie, Managing Director at Belfast International Airport said: “Many destinations now require passengers, who have to travel for essential reasons, to have a negative PCR Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours before arrival. It is essential that we are able to introduce these measures as testing will help protect travellers and staff, and provide an increased level of confidence for those travelling when current lockdown restrictions ease.“In the long run it should help assist in the recovery of the aviation and travel sector, however it is only a start and we need more to be done in terms of both the vaccine and testing. “Swabs are administered by trained sample collection officers which decreases the likelihood of an inconclusive result. Tests are then conducted by Randox scientists at a state-of-the-art testing laboratory within easy reach of the airport, ensuring the price is kept to a minimum and the results can be turned around quickly. “We already have a close working relationship with Randox and we are delighted to partner with them on this important development for the travel industry.”