Corr’s Corner Marks 30th Anniversary under McKeever Ownership
The McKeever Hotel Group is celebrating 30 years of ownership of Corr’s Corner – the Newtownabbey-based hotel which has been an established part of the local community for over a century.
The McKeevers have also committed to the future of the hotel, with plans to invest a further £320k in Corr’s Corner over the coming year, including the upgrade of its event/function space, and boosting sustainability through the installation of solar panelling.
As Chair of the Group, Eugene McKeever MBE, has a strong personal connection to the hotel, dating back to the 1960s when, aged 12, he washed dishes in its busy kitchen. He progressed through the ranks to become head chef, and in 1993 bought the venue from its then owner, John Corr.
Over subsequent years the McKeever’s developed Corr’s Corner to hotel status through the addition of 68 bedrooms. Today it employs a team of 79 staff, over a third of whom have worked there for over 20 years, with four having been there for the full 30 years.
“We recently announced our new strategic direction for the McKeever Group, which included investment across our business and our people. We’re very proud of Corr’s Corner and can confirm that it is central to our future growth plans, said Eugene McKeever.
“Corr’s Corner has been here a lot longer than the McKeevers and over time it has earned its reputation as a community hub – serving local customers with a warm welcome, great food and a genuine sense of ‘family’. We will always maintain that ‘local’ focus, but our customer base has expanded, as has their needs, enabling us to upgrade our events and conference spaces and to make the facility much more sustainable in terms of our energy usage.”
From its origins as a roadside pub in 1919, a core strength of Corr’s Corner has been the quality of its food and beverage offering, marked by the 170,000 meals it serves each year. 97% of its suppliers are locally based and as part of the McKeever Group’s commitment to sustainability, 0% of waste is sent to landfill.
It was also the first hotel in NI to tackle the issue of catering for guests with serious food intolerances, hosting the inaugural Allergy NI Annual Dinner in 2010. This enabled over 100 people who were totally allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, egg, dairy, wheat and gluten, to dine out with friends and families for the first time in years.
“Corr’s Corner is a very important part of our family run business, and everyone on our team is treated as if they are an extension of the McKeever family, with the same levels of respect and care. It’s part of our ‘We do more’ culture, and it’s also been the driving force behind our 30th milestone,” said Jonny Bailie, General Manager of Corr’s Corner.
“Reflecting on what we’ve accomplished over the past 30 years has inspired us to look to the future of Corr’s Corner and we’re very positive about what’s ahead. Of course, our achievements are only possible thanks to the loyalty of our customers, and the passion and dedication of our excellent staff.”
