When 14-year-old Terri McNiece started her first shift at The Mill Court in Coalisland, she could scarcely have believed that more than two decades later she would be managing the popular family restaurant.
First opened in 1992, The Mill Court has proven to be a meeting place for many in the Co Tyrone town and further afield.
The building itself, on Main Street in the town, is almost 100 years old, but will celebrate three decades next year as a place for those in ‘the island’ to get fed and watered.
Terri took over management of The Mill Court shortly before the onset of the pandemic, and she said it has been a challenging time.
“This was actually my first job when I was 14 and then later I left and came back to run it two years ago,” Terri told MyTyrone.
“Sure everybody knows what happened since that with the various lockdowns and all that.
“But the business community here in the town has really come together during this time.
“Sometimes if you drive through Coalisland you don’t think there is much here but when you actually sit down and work out what businesses are in the town and surrounding areas, you don’t have to travel far for anything.
“In my first few months here we got nominated for Best Gastropub in Tyrone at the Restaurant of Ireland Awards, and the support around the town from that was great.
“In and around the town everybody supports everybody and there is definitely a great sense of community and support.”
Terri added that The Mill Court has always been known as a focal point for those from Coalisland, and that’s why she was keen to take over the business.
“I suppose it’s always been a focal point, it’s the food and the atmosphere you get when you come in," she said.
“The majority of people that come in we would know, or they have been told to come to us because somebody recommended it.
“My vision was to create a place where people could come to enjoy good food. Our slogan is good food, good friends, good times.”
