A POPULAR restaurant and boutique garden nursery in Co Down has completed its largest-ever expansion following a £130,000 investment backed by Ulster Bank and a £64,000 Rural Development Programme grant delivered through North Down Rural Partnership.
Harrisons of Greyabbey, based on the shores of Strangford Lough, recently completed an expansion project adding a new 55-seater dining room and function space to its existing 120-seater restaurant, balcony and children’s play area.
In addition to the newly constructed Scrabo Room, the investment also supported the creation of several new jobs, including a full-time chef and front of house staff.
The room has been purpose-built to cater for private functions, parties, baby showers and as a meeting space for corporate hire, complete with WiFi access, projector and screen.
Situated on a third-generation family farm, Harrisons of Greyabbey, owned and operated by Helen and David Harrison, boasts idyllic views Lough, Scrabo and the Mourne Mountains which have all contributed to its ever-growing popularity in recent years.
Director Helen Harrison said: “We have witnessed strong growth year-on-year and were operating at full capacity, so expansion was necessary to open up new avenues to grow the business.
"Being situated on a family farm meant we had the room to expand our premises to fulfil a local appetite for these services which we are also able to supply through our on-site bakery.”
On future potential expansion plans she added: “As demand grows, so too will our services and facilities and planning permission has already been granted for a similar extension in the future.”
Gemma Jordan, relationship manager in commercial banking at Ulster Bank, said: “Harrisons of Greyabbey has been a customer of ours since it began trading in 2012. Helen and David share a comprehensive understanding of the local market and their commitment to reinvestment has nurtured a thriving business with a loyal and growing customer base.”
