Coleraine Connect’s hugely successful National Brick Events weekend has helped deliver an exceptional boost to town centre footfall, with Coleraine significantly outperforming Northern Ireland and UK averages during the week of 12 - 18 October 2026.

Official figures from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council reveal that Coleraine recorded a 10.3% increase in footfall compared with the same week in 2025, against just 0.9% growth across Northern Ireland, 4.3% across the UK High Street Index and 1.2% across the UK overall.

The impressive results coincide with National Brick Events making its Northern Ireland debut in Coleraine on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, alongside Coleraine Connect’s free Bricks Fairytale Trail, which continues throughout October.

Coleraine also recorded an 18.2% week-on-week increase in footfall, compared with just 5.2% across Northern Ireland and 0.9% across the UK.

Weekend Footfall Soars

The figures for the National Brick Events weekend are particularly striking.

On Saturday 17 October, Coleraine recorded 56,707 footfall movements, an increase of 32.8% compared with 2025 and 35.7% compared with 2024.

Sunday’s figures were even more remarkable, with 23,103 footfall movements, an extraordinary 175.3% increase compared with 2025 and 109.5% higher than 2024.

Across the two days, Coleraine recorded almost 29,000 additional footfall movements compared with the equivalent weekend last year.

The event, staged across Coleraine Leisure Centre, the Town Hall and the Event Space Marquee, brought families and LEGO enthusiasts into the town, whilst the free Bricks Fairytale Trail encouraged visitors to explore local shops, cafés and businesses.

A Major Boost for Coleraine

Jonny Fielding, Chairman of Coleraine Connect, said: “These figures are absolutely fantastic for Coleraine and demonstrate exactly why we are investing in major events that give people a reason to come into our town.

“At a time when high streets across the country are facing challenges, Coleraine is outperforming both Northern Ireland and UK averages, and that is something we should be incredibly proud of.

“Our aim has always been to bring people into Coleraine, encourage them to explore our shops, cafés and restaurants, and support the businesses that make our town what it is. To see such an extraordinary increase in footfall, particularly on Sunday, is hugely encouraging.

“We want Coleraine to be a town people choose to visit, not just for special events, but time and time again. These results show what can be achieved when we think big and give people something exciting to come here for.”

With Coleraine’s year-on-year footfall growth more than 11 times the Northern Ireland average, the latest figures underline the value of an ambitious programme of events designed to attract visitors and bring additional activity into the town centre.

Coleraine Connect is now looking to build on that momentum with further events and initiatives aimed at keeping Coleraine vibrant, welcoming and firmly on the map as a destination for shopping, dining and family days out.

Source: Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council / MRI OnLocation Footfall Report, 12-18 October 2026.