Firms selected to deliver marquees and food fair

COUNCILLORS have approved contracts for the supply of marquees and a festive food fair.

At an 'in confidence' sitting of the full monthly meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in October, officers sought approval for the appointment of a suitably qualified and experienced organisation to supply marquees and associated equipment on behalf of the council.

A report before elected reps said: "The council hosts a range of annual and ad hoc events such as Garden Show Ireland, Antrim Castle Gardens Beer Festival and Enchanted Winter Gardens. These events varied in scale and dynamic and therefore, required a variety of marquees, stretch tents and other associated items. "

For Enchanted Winter Garden 2026, as an example, the council would require a large marquee with integrated wooden flooring, ramp and handrails, with lighting, as well as six wooden market kiosks and 120 wooden market kiosks. The supplier is responsible for the supply, set-up, maintenance and dismantling of the various items at each event.

The annual spend for the contract was redacted. The report said that the opportunity was made available on 14 September 2026 and two tender responses were opened on 7 October 2026 and referred to the evaluation panel for assessment.Following a selection process, it was recommended that Portstewart-based Cromore Castles Ltd be appointed at the tendered rates to supply and deliver marquees, stretch tents and associated items with an option to extend for up to a further 24 months, subject to performance and review.

Meanwhile, approval was also sought for a firm to deliver the Enchanted Winter Garden Festive Food Fayre and Market on behalf of the council.

A report before the meeting said: "The Enchanted Winter Garden at Antrim Castle Gardens and Clotworthy House is an outdoor magical experience which showcases the unique historic property and award-winning gardens, providing families, groups of friends, and couples with an all-round feast for the senses. In 2025, over 100,000 people attended the event which included a host of animated experiences and attractions as well as the Festive Fayre which offered food, drink and crafts.

"The service provider would be responsible for the identification and appointment of market vendors which offered artisan foods, crafts and novelty gifts as well as the provision of the technical and structural resources required for the market. To support local economic regeneration, and where applications allowed, a minimum of 40% of businesses trading at the market must be from the Borough.

"The service provider would pay a fee to council each year and would be responsible for all costs associated with the provision of the Fayre. However, they would retain the income from the vendors."

Four tender responses were opened via the eSourcingNI Portal on 29 September 2026 and referred to the evaluation panel for assessment.The minutes of the meeting said: "The Chief Executive and the Director of Finance responded to members’ queries regarding Appendix B and the need for control of visitor costs. The Chief Executive advised that the proposal would operate as a one-year pilot scheme, with the option of a two-year extension. Council officers would monitor and assess the success of the scheme following the initial one-year period."

It was proposed that Urban Affairs Ltd t/a Urban Events be appointed at the tendered rates to deliver the Festive Fayre and Market at Enchanted Winter Garden 2026 with an option to extend for up to a further two years for the events in 2027 and 2028.