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Ryan McAleer

@ryanmcaleer.bsky.social
1K followers 330 following 139 posts

Business journalist at The Irish News

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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht
The Crolly Distillery is a thriving new hub of industry and tourism in Gweedore
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex
Merchant Hotel owner Beannchor is proposing a new hospitality development along Crown Entry and Ann Street
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event www.irishnews.com/news/belfast...
irishnews.com
Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event
Andrew Ure originally launched Belfast’s first ever whiskey festival in 2016
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry
irishnews.com
Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry
Derry City hotel changes hands for second time in eight months
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
The average home rental listing in Belfast increased 2.3% in the last quarter to £1,127 per month, according to PropertyPal (+9.6% y/y). NI rent average is up to £960p/m (+1.9% q/q +8.5% y/y). Big increase in Lisburn & Castlereagh as well +10.5% y/y. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Average rental listing for a home in Belfast has increased to £1,127 per month - PropertyPal
Northern Ireland rental average up 8.5% over the year to £960 per month in the first quarter of 2025
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
A 148-bed Belfast Premier Inn hotel has been bought by the Beannchor Group in a deal understood to be worth around £8.6m
irishnews.com
Merchant Hotel owner buys Belfast Premier Inn on the market for £8.5m
New company set up by Beannchor Group completes deal for 148-bedroom hotel on Alfred Street
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Fairly big pub news in Derry City. The Downey brothers have acquired Peadar O’Donnell’s. Take over was completed on Friday.
irishnews.com
One of Derry’s best-known pubs acquired by Downey group in multi-million pound deal
Well-known Waterloo Street pub had been owned by Martin McGuinness’ brother William
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week
irishnews.com
Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week
Budget carrier will add a third service at City of Derry Airport from September
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel
irishnews.com
Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel
McKeever Group portfolio extends to seven hotels
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue
irishnews.com
Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue
Warrenpoint native Paul Higgins’ MHL Hotel Collection invests £8m in Moxy Belfast City
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
After more than a century of family ownership, McAtee's Bar in Fintona is up for sale
irishnews.com
‘We’ve been in it all our lives’ Well-known pub owned by the same family for more than a century up for sale
Third generation of McAtee’s seek to pass on Fintona pub after 115 years in the family
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Belfast watchmaker Nomadic to open new city centre shop and assembly line
irishnews.com
New Belfast city centre shop and assembly line for watchmaker
Peter McAuley’s company to invest £1m to double workforce in next 24 months
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner
irishnews.com
Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner
Two Stacks on course for £10m in three years boosted by Foley family connection
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer
irishnews.com
Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer
Closures in Armagh, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Larne, Magherafelt, Portadown and Strabane reduces banks branch footprint to just 14
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland
irishnews.com
The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland
All remaining Homebase stores in the north will close this week
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale
irishnews.com
Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale
The Kilmorey Arms has been trading in Kilkeel since 1843
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Dupe fragrances are big business. From a bedroom start-up in 2019, Connor Martin's JAQ Group now employs 230 from a base outside Randalstown. The company is now planning to invest £11m opening a 2nd facility in Co Antrim, which could create 300 jobs www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Dupe fragrance founder Connor Martin launches £11m bid for new factory in Ballymena ‘creating 300 jobs’
JAQ Group’s Connor Martin claims The Essence Vault is now “a £100m brand”
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
PropertyPal's analysis suggests monthly mortgage payments for the average first-time buyer have fallen back below the average rent costs for a 2/3-bed home. Rate cuts appear to be filtering through, but rent inflation does not appear to be slowing down. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Not surprised given Translink launched a card payment system on buses that can't be used to accept contactless payment for topping up travel cards. I still have to pay in cash to top my iLink travel card. Translink only admitted this after weeks of back-and-forth. www.irishnews.com/news/norther...
irishnews.com
‘Embarrassing’ Belfast Grand Central Station does not sell cross-border tickets on its machines
Rail and bus passengers heading to the Republic cannot buy seats using travel hub’s ticket machines
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
The first ever restaurant week in Mid Ulster begins today in a bid to showcase the culinary talent and local ingredients of Tyrone and Derry.
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Mid Ulster hosts inaugural restaurant week
The first Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant Week runs until March 16
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi
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Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi
Newly refurbished Margot and Rudi venues expected to open in June
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Bushmills is launching a new 46yo whiskey, which claims to be the oldest Irish single malt ever released. Just 38/300 bottles of 'Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released on the island on March 17th.
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Bushmills unveil oldest single malt Irish whiskey ever released
Just 38 bottles of the 46-year-old ‘Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released in Ireland at £10,000 per bottle
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Firmus to cut Ten Towns domestic gas tariff by 11.84% on April 1 following utility reg review. No change for SSE customers in Greater Belfast. Both regulated tariffs broadly average £1k per year (based on avg use), which is around double what customers paid c.5 years ago.
irishnews.com
Gas households on Ten Towns network set for 12% tariff cut from April 1
71,000 customers will save, but prices are still double what households paid five years ago
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt
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The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt
Derry pub group claim new venue will broadcast sport on ‘north’s largest outdoor screen’
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
The CEO of Invest NI has said "the possibility of relocating" should be among the options when discussing the future utilisation of the organisation's Belfast headquarters www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Invest NI chief says relocation should be on the table for discussion on future of Belfast headquarters
Kieran Donoghue raises “possibility of relocating” in debate on modernising Bedford Street HQ
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Irish hospitality group NolaClan has placed House Belfast, its only NI venue, on the market. The 31-bed hotel opened in 2018 in the former Madison's site after being sold by Nama in 2016. NolaClan have it on a 20yr lease from Havana Ltd (Shamus Jennings)
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House: NolaClan seek northern exit from boutique Belfast hotel House
Alan Clancy’s hospitality company has launched a search for a new operator to take over its 20-year lease
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
MRP has said its new street food market planned for the old Europa bus station is expected to open this summer (subject to planning). Will be known as 'Halt', creating up to 40 jobs. Will also be a 'community hub' dimension. Co-operation Ireland has confirmed it's moving to the site
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Halt: New street food market ‘to open in Europa Bus Station this summer’
New hospitality venture is the first stage in MRP’s Weavers Cross development
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Frank Allen, who as CEO of the Republic's RPA for a decade, oversaw of the roll-out of the Luas network, has been named as the new chair of Translink's parent entity, the NI Transport Holding Company. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Man who oversaw Luas development is new chair of the north’s public transport body
Frank Allen has been named as the next chair of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which oversees Translink
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Greggs closes in on 30 stores in the north following green light for new outlet at The Junction
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Greggs closes in on 30 stores in the north following green light for new outlet at The Junction
Sausage roll specialist has opened 24 sites with six more planned for Northern Ireland
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Record year for ferry freight, grain and feedstuffs at Belfast Harbour www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Record year for ferry freight, grain and feedstuffs at Belfast Harbour
The agri-feed market enjoyed “exceptional demand” in 2024 says W&R Barnett CEO
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Latest NI house price index from LPS/Nisra: Average home sold for £183,259 in Q4 2024: +£15k in a year... +£50k in 5 years. Average new build cost £241,683 in Q4 2024: +£23k y-y and +£75k v Q4 2019. 6/11 districts saw prices increase by 10-11% last year. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Average house price in Northern Ireland jumps by £50k in five years, while new builds surge by £75k
Double-digit price inflation recorded in four districts
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Reposted by Ryan McAleer
The Irish News @irishnews.com · 19/02/2025
History to be made as Fleadh Cheoil to be held in Belfast for first time
irishnews.com
History to be made as Fleadh Cheoil to be held in Belfast for first time
Festival of Irish music and arts to return to the north for only the second time in its history
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Fears are growing of a further 'drip drip' tranche of job losses at US-owned technology giant Allstate as its Northern Ireland workforce slumps to its lowest level since 2012 www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
‘Drip drip’ process sees 400 jobs axed from Allstate
Former employee claims firm 'has gone from a place filled with inspirational leaders to a structure that is clueless'
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Titanic Distillers look to new markets after securing £5m equity investment from Whiterock
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Titanic Distillers look to new markets after securing £5m equity investment from Whiterock
Belfast spirit-maker is planning to establish new US team
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Andras House pay £8.75m to buy back Belfast hotel it sold 27 years ago
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Andras House pay £8.75m to buy back Belfast hotel it sold 27 years ago
Travelodge on Brunswick Street is latest acquisition by the north’s largest hotel group
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
French Connection set for return to the north’s retail scene after 12 year absence
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French Connection set for return to the north’s retail scene after 12 year absence
UK fashion brand is latest new name to open at The Boulevard retail complex in Banbridge
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Figures used by developers to justify the construction of major student accommodation schemes in Belfast may be years out of date it has emerged. I have been speaking to well placed sources in the university sector and analysing the numbers...
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
News Letter has new owners as Irish media group takes control
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News Letter has new owners as Irish media group takes control
Shareholders at National World agree to £65.1m offer from Malcolm Denmark’s Media Concierge
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Tile Market’s Belfast base on the market after appointment of liquidators
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Tile Market’s Belfast base on the market after appointment of liquidators
Latest collapse of well-known home-grown retail brand
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Special Killowen oats-led whiskey up for auction in aid of Southern Area Hospice
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Irish whiskey
Only 80 500ml bottles of Killowen Barántúil cask KD056, ‘Threshing Oats’ are available at the Irish Whiskey Auctions site
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Seagate reveal 63% surge in pre-tax profit after cutting Derry workforce by 20%
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Seagate reveal 63% surge in pre-tax profit after cutting Derry workforce by 20%
$100m of retained profits sent to tech manufacturer’s parent company in September 2024
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Derry-based Brunswick Moviebowl owner progresses bid for £3m south Belfast family leisure venture
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Derry-based Brunswick Moviebowl owner progresses bid for £3m south Belfast family leisure venture
£3m bid includes plans for a new bowling alley, restaurant, indoor golf, soft play and VR zone next to Boucher Road
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Administrators appointed to Filthy McNasty’s business just hours before demolition
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Administrators appointed to Belfast bar business just hours before demolition
Process followed HMRC petition to High Court weeks before night venue closed for good
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Dublin-based Staycity Group to open its first aparthotel in the north
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Dublin-based Staycity Group to open its first aparthotel in the north
Tom Walsh’s rental group have signed up for a 98-room venture in the former HMRC headquarters in Belfast city centre
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Lidl acquire Homebase site for new retail development next to Belfast’s Forestside complex
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Lidl acquire Homebase site for new retail development next to Belfast’s Forestside complex
Deal comes as Homebase prepares to close four sites in the north in February
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Belfast’s Ten Square Hotel to undergo multi-million pound revamp and Hilton rebrand
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Belfast’s Ten Square Hotel to undergo multi-million pound revamp and Hilton rebrand
Latest franchise deal with Paddy Kearney’s property group follows moves by Hilton to ramp up brand presence in north
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Belfast’s Neighbourhood Café back on Donegall Street with new ‘forever home’
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Belfast’s Neighbourhood Café back on Donegall Street with new ‘forever home’
Oisin McEvoy and Ryan Crown open new permanent base in Cathedral Quarter
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
‘I’m not naively coming back’ - award-winning chef Chris McClurg confirms plans for new Belfast restaurant
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‘I’m not naively coming back’ - award-winning chef Chris McClurg confirms plans for new Belfast restaurant
Co Down chef departs Paul Ainsworth’s Michelin star No6 venue in Cornwall after 13 years
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Planning refusal for controversial Belfast student accommodation block overturned on appeal www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
irishnews.com
Planning refusal for controversial Belfast student accommodation block overturned on appeal
Commission rejects argument that 795-unit scheme will prejudice future social housing development
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Ryan McAleer @ryanmcaleer.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Ulster Tatler to relocate Belfast operation after 41 years
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Ulster Tatler to relocate Belfast operation after 41 years
Magazine group’s Boucher Road headquarters now up for sale
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