Business

Ten jobs created as new restaurant broadens Titanic Quarter offer

James Eyre (left), commercial director of Titanic Quarter, with Rain Check owner Graham Johnston
James Eyre (left), commercial director of Titanic Quarter, with Rain Check owner Graham Johnston James Eyre (left), commercial director of Titanic Quarter, with Rain Check owner Graham Johnston

A NEW restaurant in the heart of Belfast’s vibrant Titanic Quarter has added 10 more jobs to the growing hospitality, retail and leisure offering in the area.

Rain Check, which is in Arc Retail, has been opened by Andrew Davis  and Graham Johnston, who already have a presence in the complex through their joint ownership of the neighbouring Spar store.

And the new 42-seater licensed restaurant - open for breakfast, lunch or dinner and which will have a Caribbean twist - represents the completion of an £800,000 investment in the area across both units, which overlook the Abercorn Basin and Waterfront Walkway.

ARC Retail is prominently located below the ARC apartments, which are home to more than 1,000 residents, and adjacent to the SSE Arena, Citigroup, Belfast Met and Titanic Belfast, recently voted the world’s leading tourist attraction.

In November Andrew and Graham doubled the size of their existing Spar store to 7,000 sq ft, offering more innovations in convenience retailing including a sit-in area for customers to enjoy their Barista Bar purchases, a green deli breakfast and lunch, off-sales and post office.

James Eyre, commercial director of Titanic Quarter, where 18,000 people currently work, stay, study, live or play on a daily basis. said: “We're delighted to welcome Rain Check to the ARC Retail and wish Andrew and Graham every success with this new venture.

"Titanic Quarter’s growing number of residents, workers, students and tourists have made the ARC Retail a destination of choice and we will see further retail businesses opening here in the near future.”

Graham Johnston, owner of Rain Check, said: “We've been operating our convenience store business in the ARC Retail for over four years so embraced the opportunity to diversify our offer further with our Rain Check restaurant.

“Our chef is Caribbean, so we will have a real mix of local and international dishes. We're delighted with the support of customers in our opening week, and the online reviews have been fantastic.”