Monte Carlo Chips

29/04/2026

Its BBQ weather, and we have you covered with our Texan BBQ chip! Loaded chips with Southern Fried Chicken, Bacon, BBQ sauce and metled cheese!

Order now www.themontecarlo.com

28/04/2026

BIG NIGHT OF FOOTBALL? Get 35% off on our app or online using code ''SOCIAL35''

www.themontecarlo.com

27/04/2026

A HUUUUGEEE 35% OFF EVERYTHING! On our App (download in comments) Or at

Monte Carlo

24/04/2026

Want £5 off your 1st order on our new app? Download the app in the comments below and get £5 in points to use on your 1st order!

22/04/2026

GET ON OUR SITE FOR 30% OFF YOUR ORDER!

Use code APR30 to get a 30% discount on your order only on our site or app!

www.themontecarlo.com

20/04/2026

Our NEW Buffalo Blue Stack Burger, Crispy southern fried chicken burger fully dipped in buffalo sauce, fresh coleslaw, crunchy pickles and topped with our new rich blue cheese dressing!

15/04/2026

NEW - BUFFALO RANCH STACK!

Crispy southern fried chicken burger coated in our buffalo sauce, topped with lettuce, melted american cheese, pickles and our brand new Buttermilk Ranch Dressing!

16/02/2026

Our Monte Carlo Cavehill store is getting some work done today and will be closed, but don't worry you can still order from our Lisburn Road and Lurgan Branches

www.themontecarlo.com

05/02/2026

CODE ''TRY30'' ON OUR APP! Kick off the 6 Nations right with 30% off all the way until the end of the tournemant! Download links in comments!

Monte Carlo

25/01/2026

Our recent business rates revaluation has come in! 😱

Our annual rates have increased from £51,900 to £85,000 — a rise of £33,100, or 63%. (Despite this, we don’t even receive bin collections, so we also have to pay an additional £13,000 per year for waste removal.)

Our gas and electricity costs have risen significantly too, increasing from £28,000 in 2019 to £45,000 in 2025 — a 60% increase.

Last year, changes to National Insurance thresholds and rates, combined with wage increases, added £60,000 to our wage bill. While we did introduce some price increases, we absorbed a portion of these costs as it simply wasn’t realistic to pass them all on.

This April, our wage bill will rise by a further £25,000 per year.

At the same time, food and drink suppliers continue to increase their prices.

We’re proud to offer outstanding value, with two courses for £15, and we’re committed to maintaining that price point. Drink prices will have to increase but we aim to keep those rises to a minimum.

Thankfully, we remain busy, and for now the jobs of our amazing staff our safe.

We do, however, worry for other businesses facing the same pressures.

Support your pubs. Use them or lose them.

We look forward to welcoming you all and providing you with the best value we can in these difficult times in hospitality.

24/01/2026

I don’t often talk about the ‘business’ of Ben Madigan’s on our social media. We try to keep our page, lighthearted and fun, our customers have enough going on in their own lives and we try to keep their minds off the serious stuff. However it has to be said, running a local bar in has never been harder.

Yesterday’s increase in business rates comes at a time when hospitality is already under serious pressure.

For Ben Madigans, this means a 61% increase in our business rates. For our neighbours at Seatons of Sailortown, it means a staggering 282% increase.

These rises come on top of:
•Employers National Insurance increasing from 13.8% to 15%
• A lower NI threshold so we pay employers NI from a lower level (an extra £40k increase in our wage bill this year when coupled with NMW increases)
• Rising utility bills
2021 - £25k
2023 - £43k
2025 - £53k
• Higher food and drink costs

These aren’t luxuries — they’re the basic costs of keeping local businesses open. Unfortunately increases like this simply can’t be absorbed. Margins are being squeezed at every opportunity and unfortunately prices will have to rise, more than we would like.

On some quick back of the envelope calculations I worked out that the Government take over 6 times more from our business in taxes than we are left with profit. Through VAT, National insurance, PAYE, Employers National Insurance, Business Rates, Corporation Tax, and Dividend Tax among others.

Our industry has become glorified tax collectors.

Behind every bar and hospitality venue throughout the country, there are real people: local staff, families and suppliers who depend on hospitality for their livelihoods.

We’re proud to serve our North Belfast community and we’ll continue to do everything we can — but the reality is that the cost of doing business is rising faster than most people realise.

Hospitality doesn’t need sympathy — it needs fairness, understanding and meaningful support. It needs action from our elected representatives, and that action needs to be taken NOW, not tomorrow, or next financial year or at the time of the next election.

👉 If you value local pubs, local jobs and local communities, please support your local hospitality businesses when you can — and let your local representatives know that hospitality matters.

Every visit, every pint and every share truly makes a difference ❤️🍻

Kelvin Collins
Director

Hospitality Ulster John Finucane MP Carál Ní Chuilín MLA Nuala McAllister MLA Brian Kingston MLA Phillip Brett MLA Gerry Kelly MLA