Entrepreneur brothers Nicholas and Paul Hill, owners of the Galgorm Resort & Spa in Northern Ireland, will invest £2m in expanding the resort’s spa and wellness offering.

The expansion will see the development of a two acre spa garden, the creation of a two-tier fitness suite and a new spa restaurant.

Due to open in July 2017, the new spa garden and fitness space will be available for hotel guests as well as members of the public.

The landscaped Spa Garden, located adjacent to the existing Thermal Spa Village, will feature sun sheltering olive trees imported from Tuscany, meandering walkways, bespoke water feature designed by local artist Billy McCullough and relaxation beds.

The work follows two years after the launch of the Thermal Spa Village, a major part of the resort’s 75,000sq ft (6,968sq m) riverside spa facilities.

Existing wellness facilities at Galgorm include a spa with treatment rooms offering a menu using Voya and Aromatherapy Associates, riverside hot tubs, indoor and outdoor heated pools, steamrooms, Celtic sauna, sanarium, snow cabin, Orangery relaxation room, and River House yoga studio.

There is also an infinity hydrotherapy pool, outdoor hot tub and spa pool, laconium, herb caldarium, aroma grotto, ice fountain, sauna, experience showers and heated relaxation loungers.

Colin Johnston, general manager at Galgorm Resort & Spa said: “This is the next exciting phase of the development of Galgorm.

“Our investment is entirely privately funded and clearly displays our faith in the future growth and prosperity of Ballymena.

“We believe that through this development we can continue to raise international awareness of the Ballymena Borough and Northern Ireland and illustrates that Northern Ireland can compete on the global stage.”