First birthday celebrations for Derry hotel which has been a great success since it opened last year

Derry’s newest hotel is celebrating its first birthday.

The award-winning Bishop's Gate hotel in Derry, which was unveiled as one of the UK’s top 25 rated hotels by TripAdvisor earlier this year, opened last March.

Within the hotel's first year of trading it has exceeded both occupancy and business targets.

Ciaran O’Neill, operator of Bishop’s Gate and President of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, said he was delighted with the success of the hotel.

“At Bishop’s Gate, delivering the best accommodation, food and service is our priority and we work tirelessly to provide experiences that exceed expectations whilst positioning ourselves as one of Northern Ireland’s leading destinations.

“This approach has paid off. Within our first year, we have exceeded the occupancy levels projected in our business plan and we are currently employing almost twice the number of people that we anticipated. We set out to create 48 jobs and we've created 76.

"In the month of March, as we celebrate our first year of trading, we will have welcomed over 12,000 visitors.

“Our amazing team is committed to excellence and this is reflected in the comments and feedback we receive.

“Visitors have described the food experience as ‘a fantastic eatery’ while the sensitively restored, exuberant Edwardian surroundings have regularly been termed a ‘fantastic overnight luxury stop’.”