'We've been busier than usual these last few weeks and I think that's because of the High Street of the Year award and people rediscovering what Ballymoney has to offer for the first time.'
Retailers in Ballymoney are reaping the rewards after the Co Antrim town scooped a top accolade at this year’s prestigious High Street Hero Awards.
Famous for its annual Spring Fair and thriving with a wide range of independent shops, family- run businesses, boutiques cafés and restaurants – and a finalist two years in a row – Ballymoney boasts great community spirit with a thriving town centre that's packed with traditional charm. "The phone now never stops and as we're not online, the orders come in by phone and then the parcels go out - we have 30 parcels going out today alone.
"As a town and a small community we all work together and every year we have the biggest Christmas lights switch on in Northern Ireland after Belfast and Lisburn." A few years later, his younger brother John Walker joined him and is still working in the shop today, alongside his wife Kathleen and their daughters Rhonda and Joanne.
He added: "People always call on their way to Portrush and the coast as they say they can pick up things here that would only otherwise be available in Belfast. Jonathan said: "The businesses take a lot of pride in Ballymoney and any shop you go into you'll find the owners very pleasant. When we were opening up here, we were trying out all the local cafes and takeaways.Chloe added: "We've had so many tourists from all over the world because of our location close to the Dark Hedges and the Dunlop family so the B&Bs are filled to the brim all year round.
Brian added: "We're still an old traditional butchers and all of our produce is local, our chickens are from Kearns in Dunloy, and Rockvale in Armagh alongside our own beef and lamb.
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