Wow. Impressive suet up…read more Modern, new and bright space that is well lit with natural lighting. Has two floors. The upstairs is a gallery that looks onto the gallery below. Was impressed with the World illustrators Award exhibition that I came especially from Belfast to see. Could not believe a show of that calibre would be in NI never mind a galley I had not heard of or been to before rather than the bigger well know Belfast galleries. Also got an invite from the receptionist to the next show by Sea Court printers. Apparently when you sign up to receive emails you get invites to opening events. Pretty cool.

Clotworthy offers many varied create and craft classes for people of all ages and abilities, fair…read moreprices and set in the stunning castle grounds. Plays and concerts are available all year round and the centre has its own recoreding studio on site where young people can record their own music. Lots of the exhibitions tend to be a bit odd but cafe is very nice. Ask about the white lady if you visit. Ni problem with parking

We visited with grandkids who only wanted to run demonically around the grounds oblivious to Wu flu…read moreand its adverse impacts on life so we cheerfully obliged. Antrim castle and gardens are fabulous to see. Historically the castle was built by Sir Hugh Clotworthy and his son, Sir John Clotworthy, between 1610 and 1662. The name Clotworthy derived from Clotworthy near Wembworthy, Devon, England. As the surname suggests Sir Hugh and family weren't Irish natives, rather they gained land in Ireland in the Plantation of Ulster under the reign of James 1. Sir Hugh was a prominent politician during the Civil War. In 1660 he was created Baron Loughneugh (i.e. Lough Neagh) and Viscount Massereene in the Peerage of Ireland, with remainder to his son-in-law Sir John Skeffington, 4th Baronet, of Fisherwick, the husband of his daughter the Hon. Mary Clotworthy, and in default thereof to his heirs general. Plantation is another term for colonisation and some half a million acres of land was handed over to settlers (planters) by the king. The settlers were mostly from Southern Scotland. The colonists were required to be Protestant, English-speaking, and loyal to the king in short not Irish. Imagine today taking half a million acres of Alaska and gifting the land deeds to Canadians. Anyway, back to today, with the effects of plantation still ever present and the Ulster Scots language on the playground fixtures the gardens feature a 17th century Anglo Dutch water garden, one of only three in the British Isles. They are over 410 years old with beautiful features such as the Large Parterre, Her Ladyship's Pleasure Garden and Yew Tree Pond. Within the heart of the gardens is the unique Clotworthy House also created by Clotworthy descendants the Massereene family. So it's not just a house and garden on the shore of Lough Neagh it's living history and part of the political fabric of a complex, scarred divided statelet. If you want an hour or two of serenity you'll find it here unless of course you happen to get close to our grandkids.

I did not know that Antrim had a castle, motte, walls, and a fairly extensive park. The kept that…read moreone quiet! Or maybe I just wasn't listening... Either way, we just so happened to stumble across the grounds, having come out the High Street side of Castle Mall (ahhh, that explains the name!) and dandered over to an interesting looking gate lodge type building. There was nothing to suggest what this area was, so we took a walk down a path, under an over-pass (graffitied to the max), and appeared in an open green space. I noticed a sign, and went over to look. Reference was made to a motte (so, that's what the huge mound was in front of us...), walls (the gatelodge etc) and castle. Oooh! Where was this castle?! Well apparently all that remains of it is a wall tower, which is really a shame, as I had been hoping for a proper, full-sized castle. Oh well. Unfortunately, grey clouds were looming over us, and rain was threatening, so we didn't get much further. However, the gardens are meant to be lovely, with a canal, ponds and walks, and I would love to go back to explore these further, on a more pleasant day of course. There is also a major regeneration project ongoing within the grounds at the minute, and into next year, so I can't wait to see how it will look after the makeover.

I want to watch Titanic in 3d and it was so good, you felt like you were actually in a movie I…read morerecommend

I only come up here for the IMAX, the big screen makes everything screened on it even better to…read morewatch (we went to see Star Wars, was emotional). The seats are comfy, and raised so you are not stuck with someones big head filling the screen! It's not cheap but no more expensive than the Odeon and there are other smaller screens, at cheaper prices if you're not that bothered, and size doesn't matter to you.... You can pre book seats which I love and the selection of snacks is good, love their popcorn! Worth a trip up from Belfast in my opinion, and it was extra special seeing Star Wars on the big screen!

Since my sister turned 18, she's been itching to do all the legal stuff, bless her. We've been to a…read morepub for a drink, and er, that's it really...but today she decided she wanted to go into an arcade, and this one was strictly over 18s, so that made it all the more exciting. Unfortunately, her dreams of 2p machines ("I'm soooo good at them Lynne") came to an abrupt end when we ventured into Pleasuredome. Apart from a couple of pool tables, there were only slot machines, and a few casino style games. Oh deary. I must admit, I was a bit gutted myself. What is an arcade without 2p machines? If you go to any decent amusement arcade in the likes of Portrush or Newcastle, there will always be plenty of 2p / 10p machines, simulation games, dance mats and the like, so this was ever so slightly disappointing. As my sister uttered on the way out (completely inadvertently), "I am not amused..." Amused...amusements, geddit?

This is friendly welcoming local club house. They have a function room which is available to hire…read morefor parties, wedding receptions etc and are extremely accomodating. They have facilites to allow you to bring your own food/catering and there is a large function space - dance floor etc. Prices of hiring are reasonable as are their drink prices etc. I would highly recommend this club for such special occasions especially if you are on a budget. They are a few minutes drive from Antrim Town on the Randalstown Road/Castle Road between Antrim Town and Randalstown. They have easy access car parking facilities, toilets etc

not really too fussed on here - really needs a refurb as its well shabby - in need of a major…read moremakeover & is always freezin! Cheap drinks tho and good atmosphere

I am technically from Antrim (despite being on the periphery between it and County Down), but I had…read morenever come across this newspaper until yesterday. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Covering a whole matter of issues, from UFF statements to Crumlin's new Tesco store, and from stories on animal cruelty to an article on the exorbitant charges in relation to hospitals (all included in this particular edition), the Antrim Guardian features a whole lot more than any newspaper I've ever read. You've got your family announcements (death notices and the like), careers section (including information and advice on career choices / how to cope with exam results), Classifieds, 'What's on in town' (a guide to entertainment etc), a Trades and Services Guide, Appointments (which is really just the job's section), Motor Showcase, pages and pages of pictures and a sport's section. Flip. As if that wasn't enough, they dot loads of little random stories throughout the paper, mainly with regard to legal enquiries / court cases. One such story that particularly caught my eye was a case on assault, with the charged pleading guilty to attacking another man. Apparently this was linked to his relationship with his girlfriend, with whom he had been having problems. The best bit (and this totally made my day) is when the defence says, "You can not be in love and be wise. The defendant decided himself to go and speak to the other male in person to sort things out." Excellent. You would really need all day to read the Antrim Guardian, and despite only incorporating stories from the county itself, it is a long read, and incredibly thorough. It is a great local paper, and I felt I got my money's worth for the £1 I spent on it.