The Balmoral Hotel in Belfast has been host to thousands of special events, from weddings, to christenings, birthday parties and more - with a new general manager hoping to bring out the best of the well-known spot.
Damian Gilvary grew up in Twinbrook, not far from the hotel, and knew the Balmoral as a family-friendly place to be. Now he says he wants the Blacks Road spot to be known for much more than that.
Weekly events ranging from drag queen shows and dinosaur fundays for children are bringing a new lease of life to the Balmoral, with plenty in the plans for the future, Damian says he's hoping that people won't feel obliged to travel too far to experience good craic and an unforgettable night out.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, the 38-year-old man, who welcomed his first child Theo during lockdown, explained how he has climbed the ladder from his first job as a teenager working as a hotel cleaner.
He said: "Back in 1999 I started in Hilton Belfast. My sister working for Hilton International and I tortured her to get me a job, so they had a housekeeping role and I went for it. I hated cleaning and never tidied my bedroom, but thought I would give it a go and ended up loving it.
"I'll always remember servicing a room, I would close the door and open it again, as if I was walking in as a guest. I wanted to make sure the standard was high. At that stage, I felt like I had something, and I wanted to spread my wings, so I applied for a concierge job. I was a teenager, and really lacked confidence and knew I wouldn't be up for fighting for this job.
"But I was picked, and during my trial week, I remember running to hold the lift door open for someone. Little did I know, it was the boss. I panicked and just thought 'speak Damien, this is your chance'. Something came over me and I just told her how much I wanted the job and she gave me a chance.
"After that, I became reception supervisor, and just loved that role and was soon promoted. I was 21 at this stage, and just felt on top of the world, at where I had started and where I was then. I was in a five star hotel in Belfast, with the keys of the building. It was amazing. My goal was always to be manager, and I applied for an assistant manager role, and didn't get it, which was really disheartening, I was gutted.
"But things got better and I ended up getting a job as front of house manager and went on to win awards. I remember looking at the shortlist of some of them thinking there was no way I would win. All I was doing was my job, and enjoying every single day in the hotel."
Damian was soon offered a job as front of house manager in the Hilton, Manchester Deansgate. And although he was homesick, doubting that he would last 12 months, Damian was there for over three years.
When he moved back home in 2016, he worked in the Clayton Hotel on Ormeau Avenue for two and a half years before taking another move overseas to the Shankly Hotel in the heart of Liverpool.
"The Shankly was just glitz and glam and fun. It was amazing," he added.
"But then lockdown came, and I was back at home on furlough. My son Theo was born and I was able to spend that time with him and my wife Louise. I felt really free at that stage, and then I took redundancy. For the first time, I was jobless, and had to go on Jobseekers and couldn't seem to get a job anywhere, so I ended up working for Amazon, but it wasn't for me, and I left after three weeks.
"But one day I was at the gym, and the guy who owns the gym, who knew the owner of the Balmoral, said I should really get in touch with them, so I did. Here I am today, as general manager of the Balmoral. And I have huge visions for this place, it is a great hotel and it's only going to get better.
"After my first day in the Balmoral, I felt like I had been here for 20 years, like I was part of the team. Now it was stressful because we had the second lockdown soon after I started, so all that adrenaline, the excitement, the plans, they were put on hold.
"When things started to open up again, I just wanted to make sure that we gave people the best experience as possible when they are here. I had a vision for this place, and we decided to put on a Drag Show, which did go really well, and continues to work. We aren't about doing the norm anymore. Yes people know this place historically for your family events and weddings, but I thought, why can't it be known for much more?"
The shows at the Balmoral Belfast are now sellouts, ranging from the Drag Shows, to boxing events, children's days and more. Damian says he wants people to be able to enjoy a family day out, or evening with friends, without having to travel into the city centre.
His team has now dedicated their passions into providing the best possible experience for their hotel guests and those who come for their highly thought of entertainment nights.
"We have a really great team here," he added.
"They are all dedicated to the job, and we want to make them proud to say they work here, and are part of the Balmoral team, because that's how I feel.
"When I heard compliments about the experience people have had, that means the most."
Megan McNeill, the events manager at the Balmoral, says she sometimes forgets that she is at work, because she enjoys her role so much. Looking over all the major events at the hotel, Megan says she has plenty in the pipeline, with ideas galore for how they can bring the very best to West Belfast.
"I have about eight years of experience in events, and actually started off as a face painter," she said.
"Having known of the Balmoral before coming here, I never know of the events they put up, and was actually blown away when I learned of everything that goes on.
"It is really important that Damian trusts me to do an event. If there is a date in the diary free, he gives the freedom to really put on something special. The drag brunches are unreal, just so different and enjoyable.
"The energy in the room is electric and the relationship you build with customers is just unmatchable. It is easy to forget you are in work at times, because you are just having so much fun.
"Staff here are fabulous and there is never, ever a dull moment. There's always something happening at the Balmoral, and we have so much to look forward to in the future. It is all big and wonderful! We are currently planning for New Years Eve... one to watch out for."
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