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Chef Jean-Christophe Novelli to open exclusive new Belfast restaurant

Top chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is to open his first and only restaurant in Ireland at Belfast Harbour’s new AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast hotel next year
Top chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is to open his first and only restaurant in Ireland at Belfast Harbour’s new AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast hotel next year Top chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is to open his first and only restaurant in Ireland at Belfast Harbour’s new AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast hotel next year

CHEF Jean-Christophe Novelli will open an exclusive new restaurant in Belfast next year.

He plans to take the helm of Belfast Harbour’s brand new hotel and signature restaurant development at City Quays.

The multi-Michelin-starred and 5 out of 5 AA Rosette award-winning chef has chosen City Quays for his first and only restaurant in Ireland, which will form part of the new £25 million Marriott Hotel.

The four-star AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast is the city’s newest waterfront hotel development, which will feature the landmark 104-seat restaurant, as well as bar, lounge, gym, meeting rooms and almost 190 luxury bedrooms.

The restaurant will open its doors once the hotel is completed in the first quarter of 2018 as ‘Jean-Christophe Novelli at City Quays’.

Featuring a double height glazed façade with waterfront views across Belfast Lough, the exclusive restaurant will offer a brasserie menu with all the French flair associated with the chef.

Novelli (55) will be in Belfast next month to reveal more details about his plans.

Graeme Johnston, property director of Belfast Harbour, said: "Jean-Christophe Novelli is recognised across the UK, Ireland and Europe as a true champion of high quality, down-to-earth and innovative menu combinations, so his decision to choose City Quays and Belfast is a testament to the success of our development plans for this key site and the strong demand for great hospitality and the vibrancy of our visitor economy.

“This exciting new restaurant is great news for the local economy and will provide a welcome addition to Northern Ireland’s strong hospitality, leisure and tourism offer. It’s a real coup for Belfast.”

A European Chef of the Year finalist, recipient of the prestigious Egon Ronay Dessert of the Year award and voted Chef's Chef of the Year by his peers, his Novelli Academy has been voted one of the Top 25 Cooking Academies in the World, which he still owns and performs his own demonstrations.

City Quays is Belfast's newest and most modern mixed-use regeneration project, providing Grade A office space, a hotel, retail, cafés and restaurants, in addition to new residential accommodation on the key city centre waterfront site.

More than £250 million has been earmarked for investment across the 20-acre site.