Crumlin Road Gaol celebrates business awards success

Crumlin Road Gaol is celebrating business awards success after winning ‘Best New Business’ at the prestigious Belfast Business Awards 2015. Organised by Chamber of Trade & Commerce, the increasingly popular Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre picked up the award at a glittering ceremony in Belfast’s City Hall on Wednesday night.

The judging panel recognised Crumlin Road Gaol as ‘Best New Business’ for demonstrating how it has translated a great idea into a viable and successful business venture.  Crumlin Road Gaol has grown to be a multi-purpose destination; as well as offering public guided tours and today is one of Belfast’s top tourist attractions, the business was recognised for its expansion of services and facilities in the business and entertainment sectors.

Managing Director Kieran Quinn stated, “We were delighted to be recognised in this category for Best New Business and to win tonightwas a bonus, he said, “we are pleased of the success we’ve had to date and we will continue to improve and expand on our unique products and facilities.”  The business has further plans of expansion for the coming year and has proven to demonstrate a substantial contribution to business activity throughout Belfast to date.

Crumlin Road Gaol, known to visitors as ‘The Crum’ was built in 1845 and closed as a working prison in 1996. After extensive renovations the Gaol re- opened as a Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre in December 2012. The Gaol has exceeded visitor number targets each year and visitor reviews TripAdvisor have rated the Gaol as number one of 267 things to do when in Belfast.

Today the public can take a guided tour of the prison and visit The Circle, C-Wing, the Condemned Mans Cell and the famous Tunnel leading to the Crumlin Road Courthouse and hear the history of the prison and about its past inmates over the years.

History
The Crumlin Road Gaol dates back to 1845 and closed its doors as a working prison in 1996. After extensive renovations the gaol has re- opened as a visitor attraction and conference centre. Today you can take a guided tour of the prison and hear about the history of the site from when women and children were held within its walls through to the political segregation of republican and loyalist prisoners and learn about why the decision was taken to close the prison.

New Business
After being awarded the contract to run the tourist attraction business from OFMdFM, the initial idea for the business of Crumlin Road Gaol were to offer public guided tours of the Gaol after an extensive refurbishment in 2012 which saw the main reception areas, the circle and one of the wings at the prison opened to form part of the tour.

Crumlin Road gaol have expanded their facilities and services to offer the following:

• Live At The Crum concert and events night – Music, Comedy, Cinema  & Drama
• Themed Paranormal tours & seasonal scare attractions.
• First class conference and meeting facilities
• Fully Licenced Bar and in house catering department.
• Trade show and exhibition facilities
• Civil ceremonies & wedding reception venue
• Key Stage 2 education programme ‘A Day in the life of a Victorian Child prisoner’
• Partnerships with tour operators to cater for group tour days and evenings

-Daily Guided tours- run every day between 10am and 4.30pm