Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps

BELFAST
Enjoy your
COMPLIMENTARY COPY
of Belfast In Your Pocket

“In Your Pocket: a cheeky,

well-written series of guide-
books.” New York Times
February - March 2011

Shamrock and Roll

In celebration of Saint Patrick

Titanic 100
Centenary commemorations
for the Belfast-built ship

NI Highlights & Hidden

Gems
From Derry to Down,
we’ve the six counties covered

N°34
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 £ 5.95
menus, log on to...
For more info and full

M o n - Th u r s 1 2 n o o n t o 3 p m

2
Courses £ 13.00
www.21social.co.uk

3
Courses £ 16.00
M o n - Th u r s 5pm to 7pm

Fridays
4pm to 7pm

B e e r*
£ 2 .75
D r a u g h t
Glass of Wine
£ 3.00

u r s d a y,
LIVsE T h
r i d a y a n d
mu ic F Sunday
follow us on
T: (0)28 9024 1415 1 Hill Street, Belfast
*Does not include Premium Draught Beer

E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S
Contents
Arriving & Basics 6
History 8
Belfast’s Quarters 9
There’s more than four
Culture & Sport 10
Events 11
St. Patrick’s Celebrations 12
Up close and personal with Ireland’s patron saint
Titanic 100 Festival 14
Centenary commemorations for the Belfast-built
ship
Where to stay 15
Restaurants, & Cafés 20
belfast.inyourpocket.com
Contents 3
Nightlife 29
Stags & Hens 36
Aisle altar hymn
What to see 37
Photo ops at every turn
Titanic in Belfast 44
She was alright when she left here
West Belfast & Shankill 45
Political murals and taxi tours
NI Highlights & Hidden Gems 47
The best beyond Belfast
Shopping 50
Getting Around 54
Maps & Street Index
NI Railways 55
City Centre 58-59
Greater Belfast 60
Northern Ireland 61
Index & Street Index 62
February - March 2011
4 Foreword
This time every year, our thoughts turn to Ireland’s Patron
Saint. Not many people know that Patrick’s grave is in Europe In Your Pocket
Northern Ireland - the Co. Down town of Downpatrick,
to be precise. This simple granite slab attracts pilgrims
from across the world who come to pay respects and
lay flowers on 17 March. Find out more about events
here and in Belfast in our St. Patrick Celebrations
feature (p.12).

And Patrick isn’t the only legend on our minds. Titanic

centenary celebrations begin in earnest next year, but
there are several key events in the ship’s history that took
place in 1911. Which is why Titanic 100 will be all over
the city very soon. Get ahead of the game on p.14, and
book your return passage to really immerse yourself in
the ill-fated liner’s Belfast story.

Another event you won’t want to miss if you’re here

on Sun 20 March is the Festival of Colours (p.11). Get
messy - in a good way - at St. George’s Market at this
lively Indian celebration.

Then, if you’ve got the legs for it, sign up for May Day’s
Belfast Marathon (p.10), raise money for charity and do
some sightseeing into the bargain. St. Patrick in Nikes?
We’d pay to see that.
Cover story
Our ‘good enough to lick’ cover
would have our Patron Saint
smiling. These yummy Shamrock
lollies are among the many
sugary delights available at Aunt
Sandra’s Candy Factory (p.51).
By the way, don’t actually lick
the cover - it looks better than it
tastes. Pic. Chris Huston.
In Your Pocket has broken much new ground of
late, publishing new guides in the Netherlands
(Den Bosch, Utrecht), in Austria (Vienna), in
Croatia (Brac and Senj), in Slovenia (Celje), in
Serbia (Nis) and in Switzerland (Zurich). A new
guide to Minsk, Belarus, will be the next In Your
Pocket to launch.
We have also begun rolling out iPhone apps to
all our cities. We will be launching even more In
Your Pocket guides as apps throughout 2011:
to find out which cities we will be covering, and
to keep up to date with all In Your Pocket news
and events, like In Your Pocket on Facebook
(facebook.com/inyourpocket) or follow us on
Twitter (twitter.com/inyourpocket).

Editorial Copyright notice

E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S
Belfast In Your Pocket
belfast@inyourpocket.com
www.inyourpocket.com
ISSN 1747-0021
© Belfast In Your Pocket
Managing Editor
Heidi McAlpin (+44) (0)28 9047 1328
heidi.mcalpin@inyourpocket.com
Advertising Director
Sinead Faulkner (+44) (0)28 9145 4050
sinead.faulkner@inyourpocket.com
Layout & Design Vaida Gudynaite
Text copyright Belfast In Your Pocket
2000-2011. Maps copyright Northern
Ireland Tourist Board. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form, except brief
extracts for the purpose of review,
without written permission from the
publisher and copyright owner. The brand
name In Your Pocket is used under license
from UAB In Your Pocket (Vokieciu 10-15,
Vilnius, Lithuania tel. (+370-5) 212 29 76).

Published six times per year. Editor’s note

Find us on The editorial content of In Your Pocket
Next issue April - May 2011 guides is independent from paid-for
and advertising. We welcome all readers’
Published by In Your Pocket Ltd. comments and suggestions. We have
made every effort to ensure the accuracy
For all enquiries and comments
of the information at the time of going to
contact belfast@inyourpocket.com press and assume no responsibility for
changes and errors.

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com

 NEWS 5

A Welcome from the Lord Mayor NI Public Holidays

Welcome to Belfast.
Whether a native, newcomer or
regular visitor, I hope you enjoy our
city and everything it has to offer.
From the birthplace of Titanic
to the stunning Edwardian and
Victorian architecture, beautifully
landscaped parks and gardens to
a year-round calendar of cultural events, there is some-
thing to experience, explore and enjoy at every turn.

Beyond the city centre, the renaissance of Belfast’s

vibrant communities has also attracted a new generation
of visitors. Take time to discover areas off the beaten
path, and learn about our diverse history from the locals
who are proud to call Belfast “home”.

Ours is a city steeped in history and it is my hope that

Belfast continues to be one of the most popular destina-
tions in Europe.
Visitors are discovering a thriving cultural scene com-
bined with a unique heritage, in a city transformed by
astonishing levels of investment over the last few years.
A city has emerged whose legacy and tradition lives on in
the stories, humour and vibrant culture of its people.
Paddy’s Day parade
N. Ireland has ten bank holidays, sharing eight with England
and Wales and adding St Patrick’s Day and the Anniversary
of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne, commonly known as
The Twelfth. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Royal
Wedding is an extra one-off for 2011.

Contemporary and traditional hotels, cafes and bars are 2011

designed to keep your days and nights well catered for.
And the city’s stylish shopping scene ensures you return
home with that something special.
Use Belfast In Your Pocket to keep you on the right track,
so you leave with fond memories, new friends and a
desire to return for more.
Enjoy your stay.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Pat Convery
3 Jan*: New Year’s Day
17 March: St. Patrick’s Day. The date refers to the death
of Ireland’s Patron Saint in AD460.
22 April: Good Friday. On Good Friday pubs can only sell
alcohol between 17:00 and 23:00. On Easter Saturday,
bars close at 23:00, or midnight if they have a late exten-
sion, while on Easter Sunday pubs can only open from
12:30 to 22:00.
25 April: Easter Monday

Free Downloads 29 April: Royal Wedding

2 May: Early May Bank Holiday

There’s far more to In Your Pocket than this print version
of our latest guide. We print guides in more than 60
cities across Europe, and In Your Pocket offers the
vast majority of them for free download, in PDF, at our
website. A number of guides are now also available as
post-PDF, iPaper documents. Just visit our website at
inyourpocket.com for all our available downloads.
30 May: Spring Bank Holiday
12 July: Battle of the Boyne (1690) anniversary. Com-
monly known as The Twelfth, this is NI’s major holiday. If
the Twelfth falls on a Sat or Sun, the following Mon will mark
the official public holiday. It’s worth noting that many city
centre businesses now remain open to take advantage
of increased visitor numbers.

29 Aug: Summer Bank Holiday. Always held on the last

Mon in August.

26 Dec*: Christmas Day. If Christmas Day falls on a Sat,

the following Mon will be a holiday in lieu.

27 Dec*: Boxing Day.

*Substitute day.

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

6 Arriving & Basics
Symbol key Belfast Weather
20 100

Temperature (°C) Rainfall (mm)

H Conference facilities R Internet 18 90

L Parking F Fitness centre 16 80

14 70

K Restaurant J City centre location

Temperrature °C
12 60

Rainfall (mm)
D Sauna C Swimming pool 10 50

8 40

M Metro Bus W Wifi 6 30

4 20

2 10

By plane 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Rainfall (mm)
Jun Jul

Min Temp (°C)
Aug Sep Oct

Max Temp (°C)
Nov Dec
0

George Best Belfast City Airport H-1/2, tel.

(+44) (0)28 9093 9093, www.belfastcityairport.
com. In May 2006, on what would have been George
Best’s 60th birthday, Belfast City Airport unveiled its new
name. The signage bears Best’s signature and provides a
lasting tribute to this East Belfast-born footballing legend.
The airport is just 3km east of the city centre, off the A2
Sydenham bypass, and has conference facilities, ATMs,
foreign exchange, wifi, and a small selection of shops and
food outlets. To get to town by bus, hop on the Airport
Express 600; tickets £2/3 single/return, buses run every
20mins peak times Mon-Sat, reduced service Sun. Ap-
proved airport taxis charge c. £8 for the 10min ride into
the city centre. You can take a less frequent train into the
city or, in the opposite direction, to Holywood and Bangor,
from the nearby Sydenham halt.
Belfast International Airport K/L-3, tel. (+44) (0)28
9448 4848, www.bial.co.uk. Situated 29km north of the
city centre along the M2 motorway, facilities include postal
services, ATMs, currency exchange, a business lounge, wifi
and a tourist information desk. To get to town by bus,
Airport Express 300 to the Europa Buscentre runs every
15mins at peak times Mon - Fri, (reduced frequency Sat &
Sun) and hourly through the night. The 30-40min journey
costs £7/10 single/return. A taxi to the city centre takes
30mins and costs c.£30; a list of other sample fares is
displayed in the exit hall.
By train & by bus
Translink (tel. (+44) (0)28 9066 6630, www.translink.
co.uk) operates all NI bus and rail services; its three main
Belfast transport hubs are listed below. There are no left
luggage facilities at any Translink stations.
Central Station D -2, East Bridge St. All major
destinations are ser ved such as Derr y (including a
picturesque portion of the North Coast) and Dublin (a c.2hr
journey on the flagship Enterprise service). ATMs dispense
Euros and £Sterling. Keep your rail ticket for a free bus ride
into town via any Metro service outside the main entrance.
Alternatively, turn left outside the main entrance and take a
5min stroll into the city centre.
By boat
Ferry terminals are a swift 5-10min well-signposted drive
north of the city centre.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (G-2), Albert
Quay, tel. (+44) (0)8722 992992, www.steam-packet.
com. (seasonal sailings)
Liverpool: Norfolkline (G-1), West Bank Rd, tel. (+44)
(0)8712 300330, www.norfolkline.com.
Scotland: Stena Line (G-1), West Bank Rd, tel. (+44)
(0)8447 707070, www.stenaline.co.uk.
By taxi (incl. Taxi Tours)
Taxis range from the traditional black hack (see p.46) to
conventional cars. The former can be hailed if the orange
TAXI light is on, the latter is more a phone and wait affair. On
weekends, hailing a taxi at closing time, particularly in the city
centre and Queen’s Quarter, can be a heartbreaking affair.
Try and book ahead and wait indoors until it arrives (and,
even better, calls you back). Here are two tried and trusted
companies who also run tours:
Fonacab (+44) (0)28 9033 3333, www.fonacab.com
Taxi Trax (+44) (0)28 9031 5777, www.taxitrax.com
Border
NI’s border with the Republic of Ireland is 360kms long from
Carlingford Lough in the south to Lough Foyle in the north.
Crossing it is a seamless affair. Non-EU drivers should hold
an International Driving License. Drive on the left on both
sides of the border, and look out for speed limit changes
- marked in kph in the Republic of Ireland and mph in NI. A
quick calculation is 100kph = 60mph (ie 3/5).
Customs
Check what you can and can’t bring into and out of NI at
the Imports & Exports section of the HM Customs & Excise
website www.hmce.gov.uk.

Europa Rail & Buscentre B-2, Great Victoria St.
Buses from the city’s most centrally located transport
hub serve the South and West, including Dublin, Derry,
and Belfast and Dublin airports. National Express buses
from GB and continental Europe also terminate here.
The Gt. Victoria St. railway stop is at the far end of the
concourse.
Laganside Buscentre D-1, Donegall Quay. The city’s
second shiny bus station serves the North and East including
Portrush, Bangor and the Ards Peninsula.
Disabled travellers
The Disability Discrimination Act ensures public places
provide access for people with a disability. Contact
Disability Action, tel (+44) (0)28 9029 7880, www.
disabilityaction.org.
Electricity
Belfast buzzes with 240V coursing through its domestic
electricity supply. Plugs are of the bulky three-pin variety so
pack your two-pin adaptor for a closer shave.

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com


Tourist Information Centres
Belfast Welcome Centre C-2, 47 Donegall Place,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 6609, www.gotobelfast.com.
Open Mon-Sat 09:00 - 17:30, Sun 11:00 - 16:00. Info
desks also at both airports.
Shankill Information Centre F-2, Spectrum
Centre, 331 Shankill Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031
1455, www.shankilltourism.com. Open Mon-Sat
09:00 - 17:30, Sun 11:00 - 16:00.
West Belfast Tourist Information Point E-3,
An Cultúrlann, 216 Falls Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9096
4180, www.culturlann.ie.
Money
Northern Ireland’s unit of currency is the £ Sterling, the same
as used in the rest of the UK. Banks open Mon-Fri 09:30-
16:30 and some city centre branches open Sat 09:00-12:00.
Note that when getting cash from an ATM or in change you
will often be given Northern Irish notes. These are different
in design to those used in England though they remain legal
tender in all parts of the UK. Publicans and shopkeepers in
England have been known to turn their noses up at the sight
of a Northern Irish tenner, so best to change them if travelling
to mainland Great Britain.
Post Office
C-1, 12 Bridge St. Open Mon-Sat 09:00 - 17:30, Tues
09:30 - 17:30.
Safety
Despite its reputation, Belfast is very safe for tourists.
However, if you feel unsafe, freephone 999 or track down a
police officer - usually found pounding the city in pairs.
Smoking & Alcohol
It is against the law to smoke in enclosed and substantially
enclosed workplaces and public places, including bars
and restaurants, and in certain vehicles. The legal drinking
age is 18.
Telephone dialling codes
If calling from a UK landline or mobile, add the prefix 028
before all eight digit numbers. The international dialling code
is (+44)(0)28. From the Republic of Ireland you can also
use the prefix 048.
Visas
EU citizens, and those from most other western countries,
do not usually require a visa. Check with the British Embassy
in your home country or contact UK Visas, www.ukvisas.
gov.uk.
The Pound in your pocket...
£1 = €1.17, US$1.60, CAD$1.60,
AUD$1.60
(xe.com: 31/01/11)
belfast.inyourpocket.com
Arriving & Basics 7
Northern Ireland in a nutshell
Population: 1.77 million (est. June ‘08)
Area: 13,843 km2. c.175km wide and 135km high.
Border: 360km (with the Republic of Ireland)
Counties (in order of population): Antrim, Down,
Londonderry, Tyrone, Armagh, Fermanagh (Northern
Ireland’s six counties fall within the ancient Irish Province
of Ulster which also includes Counties Cavan, Monaghan
and Donegal).
Capital city: Belfast (pop. 267,500)
Other cities (in order of population): Derry (83,652),
Lisburn (71,465), Newry (27,430), Armagh (14,590)
Largest town: Bangor (2001 pop. 76,403)
Inhabited Islands: Rathlin (2001 pop. 75)
Highest point: Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains
(852m)
Largest lake (landlocked): Lough Neagh (392 km² - also
largest in the British Isles)
Largest inlet: Strangford Lough (150 km2 - also largest
in the British Isles)
Longest river: River Bann (129km)
Government: Part of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland (also comprising England,
Scotland and Wales). Prime Minister David Cameron.
Secretary of Sate Owen Paterson MP (head of the
Northern Ireland Office). There are 18 NI MPs. Due to
their opposition of NI’s inclusion in the UK (and Parlia-
ment’s oath of allegiance to the Queen), Sinn Fein’s five
MPs do not take their seats at Westminster.
Political Parties (in order of 2010 UK General Election
public vote): Sinn Fein (Nationalist, 5 seats), Democratic
Unionist Party (Unionist, 8 seats), Social Democratic
and Labour Party (Nationalist, 3 seats), Conservatives
and Unionists (aka Ulster Unionists, 0 seats), Alliance
(1 seat), Independent (Unionists, 2 seats), Traditional
Unionist Voice (0 seats), Green (0 seats).
Northern Ireland Assembly: (devolved power-sharing
government with specific powers including policing
and justice, health, education, environment and local
economy). 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly
(MLAs). First Minister Peter Robinson MLA MP (Demo-
cratic Unionist Party). Deputy First Minister Martin
McGuinness MP (Sinn Fein).
Currency: £Sterling (though some areas, particularly in
West Belfast’s Falls Road and around the border with
the Republic of Ireland, also accept Euros).
Languages: English (predominant), Irish Gaelic, Ulster-
Scots (dialect variant of the English language originating
in Scotland).
www.inyourpocket.com
February - March 2011
8 HISTORY
Belfast dates back to the early 17th century and, although
a relatively young settlement, is Northern Ireland’s largest,
and the island of Ireland’s second largest, city. The name
’Belfast’ comes from the Gaelic ’Beal Feirste’ (’mouth of
the sandy ford’).
1641-49 & 1688-90 Two major Catholic risings are
put down, first by English Protestant revolutionary Oliver
Cromwell, then the Dutch King William lll of Orange. The
fledgling Protestant plantation is secured and Ireland
becomes firmly British.
18th Century Belfast becomes a major linen-producing
centre, earning the tag Linenopolis.
19th Century Belfast experiences a ’golden age’ under
Queen Victoria. The Harland & Wolff shipyard is founded in
1862 and city status is granted in 1888. Belfast becomes
one of the world’s leading industrial cities and most of
its great buildings are constructed. The 1847 Famine re-
awakens Irish Catholic Nationalism.
Early 20th Century In May 1911 RMS Titanic is launched
from Harland & Wolff. The following year the White Star liner
sinks on its maiden voyage, killing over 1500 passengers.
1912 The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is formed and
Unionists sign the Ulster Covenant, pledging to militarily
fight Home Rule.
1914-1918 The UVF, and most of the Irish Volunteers,
joins up to fight for Britain - both hoping to gain support
for their causes. In 1916 Ulster Divisions suffer heavy
causalities at the Battle of the Somme.
1921 Following the 1919-21 Irish War of Independence,
six of Ireland’s 32 counties remain British and the state - or
Province - is named Northern Ireland. Belfast becomes its
capital city and the Unionist-controlled government oversees
direct rule from the purpose-built Stormont.
1941 Belfast Blitz. During WW2, the city is bombed three
times by the German Luftwaffe, killing 955 people and
destroying 3,200 homes. Northern Ireland becomes a
staging post for over 300,000 American GIs.
1968 The Civil Rights movement grows as Nationalists
protest Unionist bias at Stormont. The British Army is
deployed in the streets of Belfast and Derry.
The Troubles
1971 August 9 Internment, or imprisonment without trial,
is introduced. The city experiences a week of intense fighting
as massive gun battles break out across North and West
Belfast. December 4 15 people, including two children, are
killed in a UVF bomb attack on McGurk’s bar in North Belfast.
It is the first major atrocity of the ’Troubles’.
1972 January 30 Bloody Sunday. During a Civil Rights
march through the streets of Derry 14 unarmed civilians are
shot dead by British troops. Both internment and Bloody
Sunday ensure increased support for the IRA. Meanwhile, the
British government introduces direct rule from London.
1972 July 21 Bloody Friday. Nine people die when,
without warning, 21 IRA bombs explode across Belfast in
just over an hour.
1981 Bobby Sands and nine other IRA and INLA prisoners
die after going on Hunger Strike at the Maze Prison in protest
at the removal of political prisoner status.
1985 November 15 The British and Irish governments
sign the Anglo Irish Agreement, giving the Republic of Ireland
a greater say in NI affairs.
1988 Three IRA members are killed in March 6 by the SAS
in Gibraltar. During their funerals loyalist Michael Stone
launches a gun and grenade attack killing three mourners.
At the funeral of one of Stone’s victims, two British Army
corporals inadvertently drive into the cortege and are
ambushed by an angry mob and shot dead by the IRA.
Belfast In Your Pocket
Reconciliation, Stormont Estate
Early 90s Violence continues on both sides as both the
British and Irish governments attempt to break the political
impasse.
The Peace Process
1994 August 31 The IRA announces ’a complete
cessation of military operations’. The Combined Loyalist
Military Command follows on 13th October.
1995 Security measures are relaxed and troop numbers
reduced throughout Belfast and NI.
1998 The Good Friday Agreement is voted in by 71% of
the population. It marks a new power-sharing Assembly,
early release of all paramilitary prisoners and looks toward
withdrawal of British troops and decommissioning of
paramilitary weapons. August 15 IRA dissidents plant a
bomb in Omagh killing 29 people making it the single worst
atrocity in the history of the Troubles. November 30 US
President Clinton pays an historic visit to NI.
2000 February 11 The Assembly is suspended following
the breakdown of decommissioning talks. May 27 The
UUP re-enters the power-sharing Assembly despite no
IRA decommissioning. Devolved power is restored two
days later.
2000 December Belfast’s landmark Odyssey Millennium
project opens, heralding major redevelopment of the historic
Titanic Quarter.
2002 October 14 Devolution is suspended at midnight
and direct rule returns to London.
2005 May 5 At the UK General Election the DUP and Sinn
Fein strengthen their positions as NI’s two major political
parties. July The IRA formally ends its armed campaign.
2005 November 25 Belfast-born football legend George
Best dies aged 59 after a long battle with alcoholism. The
former Man Utd and NI player’s funeral was held at Stormont
on Sat 3 December.
2007 March 26 Following local elections, and in an historic
face-to-face meeting, DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin
leader Gerry Adams announce the restoration of the NI
Assembly on May 8. Paisley becomes First Minister and Sinn
Féin’s Martin McGuinness Deputy First Minister.
2008 May Having founded the party in 1971, Ian Paisley
steps down as leader of the DUP and, therefore, First
Minister. He is succeeded by Peter Robinson.
2010 Jan Peter Robinson temporarily steps down as First
Minister following revelations of his wife, former MLA and
MP Iris Robinson’s financial dealings and affair with a 19
year-old man. Robinson returns shortly after to take part in
on-going talks to agree on devolution of Policing and Justice
and secure the Assembly’s survival. May At the UK General
Election, the DUP and Sinn Fein once again emerge as NI’s
two main parties. In a shock result, however, First Minister
Peter Robinson loses his 30-year seat to the Alliance Party’s
Naomi Long. Ian Paisley becomes a Lord.
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Belfast’s quarters 9

Put simply, Belfast is made up of five areas: North, East, Titanic Quarter (East Belfast)
South, West and the City Centre within which cosmopoli- This is perhaps the
tan Quarters are emerging, providing a focus for culture, most ambitious devel-
tourism and economic development. Cross reference this opment of all, with a
quick guide with our What to see key (p.37): SB - South major project to trans-
Belfast, WB - West Belfast, EB - East Belfast and NB - form 75 hectares of
North Belfast. Easy peasy. East Belfast’s former
shipyard into ‘one of
Cathedral Quarter (city centre) t h e l a r ge s t wa t e r-
Named after St. Anne’s front developments
Cathedral (pic), this city in Europe’. Plans will
centre Quar ter is a vi- incorporate a Titanic
brant hub for the ar ts, museum, with the work
restaurants, nightlife, ho- timed to coincide with
tels and big city events. the ship’s 2012 cen-
Custom House and Writ- tenary (not to mention
er’s Squares often stage the London Olympics
free concerts and street which should have even
entertainment. And Don- more folk flocking to
egall Street (where the these shores).
Cathedral stands), War- Beyond this icon, East
ing Street and cobbled Belfast is also the birth-
Hill Street are the Quar- place of three inter-
te r’s m ai n ea ti n g a n d national names - The
drinking drags. Chronicles of Nar-
nia author CS Lewis,
Queen’s Quarter (South Belfast) singer-songwriter Van
S o u t h B e l fa s t ’s l e a f y Morrison and football legend George Best - each has a
thoroughfares boast the plaque, statue or mural marking their local lineage. And
eponym ous U ni versi t y don’t miss Stormont Estate and Parliament Building, head-
(pic), Botanic Gardens ing out of the city along the Newtownards Road. Closer to
and the Ulster Museum. the city, the Lower Newtownards Road has a large Loyalist
It is here, too, that you’ll political mural, big B&W Titanic mural (pic) and a couple of
find th e Lisburn Road, NI football ones, too. Shoppers should navigate their way
a stylish shopping strip to Bloomfield Avenue with its bijou selection of independ-
sometimes re ferred to ent shops, boutiques and cafés. Get more info at www.
as Belfast’s Bond Street. goeastbelfast.com.
F o r m o re i n fo o n t h i s
area, check out Shopping North Belfast
(p.50) or click www.visit- While North Bel fast
southbelfast.com. has yet to establish
its own Quarter, its
Gaeltacht Quarter (West Belfast) Cavehill pinnacle is a
West Belfast’s Falls Road real city highlight with
has initiated a Gaeltacht dramatic views across
Quar ter prom oti n g th e Belfast Lough and all
use of the Irish language the way to Scotland
in its shops and services. on a good day. Belfast
A West Belfast map has Castle and Belfast Zoo
also been put together are also top-class at-
showing historic sights, tractions nestled in
including St. Peter’s Ca- this verdant backdrop.
thedral (pic), along both And, though much less
t h e S h a n k i l l a n d Fa l l s frequented by tour-
Roads. Copies are avail- ists, the Waterworks
able at the Falls Road’s Park (pic), along the
West Bel fast TIC at An Antrim Road, makes
Culturlann. And you can for a pretty daytime
find out yet more interest- stroll. Back towards
ing neighbourhood tours the city, there are sev-
and attractions in our West Belfast section (p.45) or by eral Nationalist and
visiting www.visitwestbelfast.com. Loyalist i nter fa c es
with their respective
political murals, Con-
versely, the area also
Follow Belfast In Your Pocket boasts some grand
old houses once owned by wealthy and industrious linen
on and merchants - particularly along Fortwilliam Park off the Antrim
Road (map: off F-1). Crumlin Road Courthouse and Gaol also
falls within its remit. Find out more at www.nthbp.org.

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

10 Culture & sports
Theatres & Concert Venues
Belfast Waterfront D-2, 2 Lanyon Place, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9033 4455, www.waterfront.co.uk. Opened
in 1997, Belfast’s newest concert hall and conference
centre is a striking architectural riverfront addition. The
glass-fronted three-storey building holds two bar areas,
a gift shop, several coffee spots and the Arc Brasserie.
The spacious foyer also hosts regular free ar t exhibi-
tions. Performances in the main 2245-seat arena range
from big-name performers and classical music to cheesy
tribute bands and international opera and ballet. Many
of the city’s business conferences are based here, and
the 380-seat Studio provides a more intimate setting for
drama, comedy and music events.
Grand Opera House B-2, Gt. Victoria St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9024 1919, w w w.goh.co.uk. Catch a show
at this striking Victorian theatre and gaze in awe at its
opulent gilt moldings, carved plasterwork, angels-and-
cherub fresco and elephant boxes. Designed in l894
by the famous theatre architect Frank Matcham, the
landmark building’s contemporary atrium-style extension
has a Baby Grand performance space for smaller shows,
Luciano’s restaurant, named after opera giant Pavarotti
who made his UK debut on these very boards. Catch a
varied year-round programme of drama, musicals, ballet,
opera and the hugely popular Christmas panto. Tours
available.
Lyric Theatre F-4, Crannóg House, 44 Stranmillis
Embankment, tel. (+44) (0)28 9038 1081, www.
lyrictheatre.co.uk. Nor thern Ireland has no National
Theatre, but if it did it would be the Lyric. Established at
a purpose-built venue on the banks of the River Lagan, it
is the only full-time producing theatre in the country and
offers an eclectic range of quality drama, particularly the
classic Irish plays and works by exciting new writers. Film
star Liam Neeson began his acting career here and is the
Lyric’s patron. The Lyric is due to reopen on 1 May 2011
following a major £multi-million rebuild.
Odyssey D-1, 2 Queen’s Quay, tel. (+44) (0)28 9045
1055, www.theodyssey.co.uk. This modern entertain-
ment complex at the edge of the old shipyard is Belfast’s
landmark Millennium Project and a major symbol of the
city’s rejuvenation. When the Belfast Giants ice hockey
team isn’t in residence, the main 10,000-seat Arena pulls
in music big guns including Beyonce, Kylie and, er, The X
Factor. You get the picture.
Ulster Hall C-2, Bedford St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032
3900, www.ulsterhall.co.uk. Over the years this grand
old Victorian building has hosted international boxing, or-
chestra recitals, rock bands, comedy... and iconic names
as diverse as Charles Dickens, The Rolling Stones and
Belfast-born singer Ruby Murray. Its main interior feature
is the magnificently restored Mulholland Organ, named
after a former Belfast Mayor who funded its purchase.
During WW2, the venue was used as a dance hall to
entertain US troops based in the city. And its rock claim
to fame is that is was the location for Led Zeppelin’s first
public performance of Stairway to Heaven. The hall has
long been the city’s social heartbeat and, following a
major renovation, continues to attract a diverse range
of year-round events and entertainment. It is also the
home of the internationally acclaimed Ulster Orchestra.
If you’re feeling peckish, check out the foyer’s Café Grand
Dame, and peruse the exhibition telling the story of this
lauded space.
Belfast In Your Pocket
Sport
Belfast Giants D-1, Odyssey Arena, Queen‘s Quay,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9073 9074, www.belfastgiants.com.
The Belfast Giants debuted at the sparkly new Odyssey
Arena in December 2000 and, to everyone‘s amazement,
quickly established a huge following. The non-sectarian,
community-friendly team ticks all the right boxes and, with
Canadian players dominating the squad, the Giants con-
tinue to attract an impressive fan base. The season runs
Sept-April.
Football A-5, Windsor Park, Tates Ave, off Lisburn Rd,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9066 9458, www.irishfa.com. Owned
by local team Linfield FC and leased for national games,
this 14,000-seater stadium rises up amid rows of terraced
houses on the lower Lisburn Road. Soccer legend George
Best is NI’s most famous alumni and the team reached the
World Cup Finals in ‘56, ‘82 and ‘86. NI memorably beat
England here during the 2006 World Cup Qualifying campaign
when David Healy scored the only goal. Belfast’s clubs play
in the local Premier League from Aug-May.
Ulster Rugby G-3, Ravenhill Stadium, 85 Ravenhill Pk,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9049 3222, www.ulsterrugby.com. The
12,500 capacity Ravenhill Stadium is home to Ulster Rugby -
one of the four rugby teams representing Ireland’s provinces
(the others being Leinster, Munster and Connacht). The most
illustrious moment in the club’s history was in January 1999
when the team lifted the European Cup. Each season the
team competes in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup. The
season runs Aug-May.
30th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon
On Bank Holiday Mon 2 May, an estimated 18,000
runners will take part in the 2011 Deep RiverRock
Belfast City Marathon.
The route begins at the City Hall at 09:00, ends at
Ormeau Park and takes in every part of the city, with
thousands of spectators lining the streets to cheer on
the runners.
And to mark the 30th anniversary of what is N. Ire-
land’s largest sporting participatory event, organisers
have lined up some extra goodies for runners and
spectators.
The first male and female athlete to break the cur-
rent records set by Marty Deane in 1985 (2:15:51) and
Marashet Jumma in 2008 (2:39:22) will receive a ‘roll-
over’ bonus of £3000. An International Expo will be
held in the City Hall with bigger exhibitions than ever
before and official merchandise on sale. And, on the
race day itself, Ormeau Park will host a family fun day
with bands, food and drink and a funfair to celebrate
all finishing athletes.
Whether a dedicated athlete or marathon rookie, now’s
the time to turn your running dreams into reality. You
have between now and 15 April 2011 to enter at www.
belfastcitymarathon.com or call the hotline (+44)
(0)28 9060 5933.
As well as experiencing the euphoria at completing
the 26+mile circuit, participants can also turn their ac-
complishment into money for charity. Choose your own
charity or donate your winnings to 2011’s nominated
charities - Macmillan Cancer Support and Transplant
Sport UK.
Visit the website for lots more info, including a route
map and details on how to volunteer on the day.
belfast.inyourpocket.com

Celebrating Culture, Colour & Creativity
Sunday 20th March 2011
St. GeorGe’S Market, 1pM-6pM
live bollywood & bhangra
DJ, Multi-Cultural Music & Don’t miss
Dance and World Food & the colour
powder
Craft Market
www.artsekta.org.uk
BIYP 124x90.indd 1
Belfast Nashville Songwriter’s Festival
Wed 23 - Sun 27 Feb
Various Venues
Nanci Griffith, Billy Bragg, Cerys Matthews and Brian
Kennedy are among the big name artists performing at this
year’s music and songwriting showcase. The locals’ love
of all things music, coupled with the fact that Belfast and
Nashville are Sister Cities, makes this annual event all the
more symbolic. Five days of concerts and workshops are
designed to entertain and enlighten all those with a love of
good music. And the concurrent Song Writing Convention
confirms the all-round event’s status as one of the city’s
foremost festivals. Get the lowdown at www.belfastnashville.
com and book your tickets through the Belfast Welcome
Centre, 47 Donegall Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 6609.
All-concert ticket £60. Individual tickets also available.
Belfast Fashion Week
Wed 9 - Fri 11 and Sun 13 March
We may not be Paris, London or New York, but in just
seven years this glamour-fused showcase has become
a firm favourite with the city’s stylistas (who would have
thought?). Expect achingly cool models, the latest local
retail and design finds, funky sounds and catwalks a go-go.
Venues include the House of Fraser at Victoria Square and
the Europa FASHIONWEEK Centre, Glengall St. Click www.
belfastfashionweek.com or contact the Belfast Welcome
Centre to bag your ticket for the best dressed shows in
town.
www.inyourpocket.com
belfast.inyourpocket.com
Events 11
party!
25/01/2011 21:36
Festival of Colours
On Sun 20 March, fistfuls
of vibrant powder will fill
St. George’s Market as
it hosts the Festival of
Colours. Known as ‘Holi’,
which literally translates
as ‘Colour’, the Indian fes-
tival is a celebration of the
coming of Spring which
signifies brotherhood and unity. Colour is used to
symbolise equality, with everyone drenched in differ-
ent colours to lose their identity and become one.
The festival, developed by ArtsEkta, the proud organ-
isers of the Belfast Mela, is a great family day out.
And although traditionally an Indian festival, visitors
will experience the vibrancy of all cultures that live in
Belfast. The UK’s top Bollywood dance group ‘Desi
Brave Hearts’, an Asian DJ, local cultural perform-
ances and a world food & craft market are among the
international acts and activities on offer.
The main highlight of the festival, though, will be
the colour powder party when visitors are positively
encouraged to embrace the festival atmosphere and
swathe fellow revellers with brightly coloured daubs.
They supply the colours - just don’t forget to leave
your Sunday best at home. For more info visit www.
artsekta.org.uk or get the latest news on ArtsEkta’s
Facebook page.
February - March 2011
12 st. patrick’s celebrations
Will the real St. Patrick please stand up?
Many myths surround the world’s best known patron
saint. But what is known about the real life of the saint
they call Patrick?
Patrick was from Bannavem Taberniae, a 5th Century
Roman Briton settlement. No-one knows exactly where
this was, but several English, Scottish and Welsh sites
lay claim including Somerset, Dumbartonshire and
Holyhead.
Though his father was a deacon, and grandfather a
priest, the young Patrick showed no signs of religious
conviction. Aged 16, Patrick was captured and brought
to Ireland as a slave. He tended sheep on Slemish
Mountain where he found God (scholars now believe
he was brought to Co. Mayo, but never let truth get in
the way of a good marketing opportunity).
Every St. Patrick’s Day pilgrims climb 437m to the
summit of this 60million-year-old volcanic plug, 48km
from Belfast and signposted from the picturesque
village of Broughshane, near Ballymena. The site has
washroom facilities and a small display recounting the
early life of St. Patrick.
Patrick escaped to Britain six years later but, after
spending around 20 years in Europe, heard voices
calling him back to Ireland. This time, he arrived via the
mouth of Strangford Lough and built his first church at
Saul, Co. Down. Patrick died at Saul having devoting
the remaining three decades of his life converting the
Irish to Christianity.
Patrick used Pagan symbolism, most notably the
shamrock and the banishing of the snakes from Ireland,
Leaving City Hall 12noon
Custom House Square 1-3pm
Terms and conditions apply
For more information please
contact Belfast Welcome Centre
on 028 9024 6609
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events
Belfast In Your Pocket
to convert the Irish to Christianity. Snakes were a
metaphor for the devil and the shamrock’s three leaves
symbolised the holy trinity. Legend also suggests Patrick
designed the Celtic Cross by uniting the Pagan symbol
of the moon with the Christian cross. Ireland’s largest
Celtic Cross is on the side of Belfast’s St. Anne’s
Cathedral.
The first St. Patrick’s Day celebrations weren’t in Ireland,
but in Boston in 1737. Nearly two decades later - and
16 years before the Declaration of Independence - Irish
soldiers in the English military commemorated their
culture and common bond with a St. Patrick’s Day
celebration in New York. The city’s first parade was
in 1762, and today around 2m people line the famous
5th Avenue route.
Over the years, St. Patrick’s Day Stateside has been
used by politicians to lobby for Irish votes. On March 17
you’ll find the Irish Prime Minister hobnobbing with Mr.
President at the White House, and other prominent
political figures from Ireland and NI popping across the
pond for a bit of tactical shamrock waving.
St. Patrick’s Day is also a public holiday in Canada’s
Newfoundland and the Caribbean island of Montserrat
where, ironically, it marks not only the island’s strong
Irish lineage, but also its unsuccessful slave uprising
against the Irish settlers.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in cities as diverse
as Tokyo, Sydney, Munich, Moscow, Beijing. and
Buenos Aires But it’s in the US and Canada where this
patron saint will really feel ’at home’.
St. Patrick’s Day in Belfast
He’s the world’s most celebrated patron saint and
the reason why millions of people around the world
declare themselves Irish, if only for a day. And here in
Belfast, the city is gearing up for yet another traffic-
stopping parade to honour St. Patrick.
This year’s March 17 celebrations begin at the City
Hall at 12:00 when the Carnival Parade will snake
its way along Royal Avenue, turning right at High Street
and finishing at Custom House Square.
The aptly-hued parade theme is ‘the environment’ -
what can we do to reduce our waste and keep Belfast
clean and green. So expect thunderous drummers,
a huge rainbow float and shamrocks like you’ve
never seen before in this festive and eco-friendly
procession.
Then, from 13:00 - 15:00, the party faithful will be
treated to a free Custom House Square Concert
featuring a mix of traditional music and dance. The
headline acts are still to be confirmed so keep an
eye out for the latest news or check on-line at www.
belfastcity.gov.uk/events.
Tickets are on a first-come-first-served basis and
gates open at 12:00. Under 16s must be accompa-
nied by an adult. For more info, contact the Belfast
Welcome Centre on (+44) (0)28 9024 6609 or
visit the website.
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 St. Patrick’s Celebrations 13

Armagh’s Cathedrals Down Cathedral

English St, Downpatrick, tel. (+44) (0)28 4461
4922, www.downcathedral.org. Dating back to 1220,
Down Cathedral is the site of St. Patrick’s grave, and
the first Kodak moment for any green-gilded pilgrim. The
grave’s carved Mourne granite stone was laid in 1900 by
the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club and, while many dispute
the site’s authenticity, we wouldn’t advise standing over
it and casting aspersions... especially not on March 17,
the supposed date of St. Patrick’s death. Ever the altruist,
Ireland’s patron saint shares his final resting place with St.
Brigid and St. Columcille - both of whom are also depicted
in the Cathedral’s Saint Patrick window. QOpen 09:30 -
16:00, Sun 14:00 - 17:00. Free admission. L

Heralded as the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland and

City of St. Patrick, Armagh is Ireland’s oldest city with
records showing inhabitants as far back as 4500BC.
It was granted official City Status by Queen Elizabeth
ll in 1995.
The Archbishops of the Catholic Church and Church of
Ireland are based here, and both Church’s Cathedrals
share St. Patrick’s name.
The Saint’s links with Armagh began at St. Patrick’s
Church of Ireland Cathedral where he built his first church
in 445 and decreed Armagh the home of Christianity
in Ireland.
Remnants of the current building date back to 1261 and
today’s Cathedral stands testament to centuries of wars,
fires, erosion and painstaking restoration.
The hilltop setting and twin Gothic spires of St. Patrick’s
Catholic Cathedral make it a particularly prominent city
landmark. Inside its renovated interior a series of stained
glass windows depict important moments in St. Patrick’s
life. Two statues straddle the imposing door; on the right
is local boy made good St. Malachy and on the left our
hero St. Patrick.
Legend has it that the Cathedral’s site was prophetically
’chosen’ 1400 years before its construction when St.
Patrick saved a fawn from capture and carried it to safety
on the hill. Construction work began on St. Patrick’s Day
1840, but was suspended during the Great Famine. The
final consecration ceremony took place in 1904.
For more info on both Cathedrals, including tours, visit
their excellent websites at www.stpatricks-cathedral.
org and www.armagharchdiocese.org.

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

14 TITANIC 100 festival

inspired

31 March - 31 May 2011

Easter 4 day event
23 April - 26 April
Exhibitions, talks, tours, films Titanic Drawing Office

and more at Belfast City Hall. As the centenary of its launch approaches, Belfast’s most
famous creation is commemorated throughout the city
For a full programme of from 31 March-31 May 2011.
events, log onto our website
or call Belfast Welcome With all the connotations of luxury, glamour and engineer-
Centre on 028 9024 6609 ing feats, there’s much more to the story of Titanic than
tragedy and lost lives. Designed and built in Belfast, each
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic year the city commemorates and celebrates the ship’s
simultaneously breathtaking and mournful story.

And this year is all the more poignant, as it marks the cen-
tenary of some of Titanic’s significant anniversaries. In
1911 the Thompson Dry Dock opened on 1 April, Nomadic
- the tender that ferried 1st and 2nd class passengers
to the ship - launched on 25 April and Titanic herself
launched from her Belfast slipway on 31 May.

The Titanic 100 festival will feature a variety of exhibi-

tions, tours, plays, films and special events. One of the
highlights will be a photographic exhibition in the grounds
of City Hall from Thur 31 March to Sat 30 April. Focusing
on the work of R.J. Welch, Harland & Wolff shipyard’s
official photographer during the Titanic era, the images
will showcase the great scale of the ship, from its incep-
tion to launch.

There’ll also be a variety of Titanic-related activities

each weekend and over the Easter holiday period (23-26
April). Free bus tours of the Titanic Quarter, free Titanic
walking tours from Belfast City Hall’s Titanic Memorial,
artefact displays in the City Hall and a series of Titanic-
related talks, plays, debates and films are among the
many events and activities taking place. The festival will
culminate in a unique ceremony on the Titanic slipway
commemorating the ship’s magnificent launch on 31
May 1911.

For more info on the Titanic 100 Festival, contact the

Belfast Welcome Centre, tel: (+44) (0)28 9024 6609
or visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic.

Titanic’s sister ship Olympic. Pic. R.J. Welch © Ulster Folk See also Titanic in Belfast p.44
and Transport Museum.

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com


International names, boutique one-offs and gloriously homely
guest houses and B&Bs are plumping their collective pil-
lows ready for your weary wee head. Get here quick before
word gets out... you’ve never had it so good. Prices quoted
are based on hotel rack rates, but much better, often last
minute, deals can be had online. Our categories are based
on the star ratings as dished out by our wonderful friends
at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Cream of the Crop
Culloden Hotel L-3, Bangor Rd, Holywood, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9042 1066, fax (+44) (0)28 9042 6777, res@
cull.hastingshotels.com, www.hastingshotels.com. Set
amid landscaped gardens overlooking Belfast Lough, this
former 19th century bishop’s palace offers a secluded, rural
alternative to the downtown mêlée. The sumptuous interior
boasts fine antiques, Louis XV chandeliers and the elegant
Mitre Restaurant. The Cultra Inn, a second, more relaxed bar/
restaurant is situated in the grounds, just in front of the hotel’s
helipad - handy for all those visiting VIPs from U2 to Tony Blair.
Its suites, Spa and new extension confirm the hotel’s five
star status. Q105 rooms (105 Total rooms ). (single £190 -
£215, double £240 - £260, suites £390 - £670). Breakfast
£16 - £20. HRFLKDCW hhhhh
Europa Hotel B-2, Gt. Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9027 1066, fax (+44) (0)28 9032 7800, res@eur.
hastingshotels.com, www.hastingshotels.com. Heads
of State, movie icons, rock gods and sports stars have all
bedded down at the Europa, one of the city’s most enduring
landmarks. Its location, standing tall between the Grand
Opera House and Gt. Victoria St. Bus and Rail Station, makes
it a great base from which to explore the city and beyond.
Grab a window seat at The Piano Bar Restaurant for excellent
people-watching opportunities or drop in on the more informal
ground floor restaurant The Causerie. Delegates can network
to their hearts content at the Exhibition Centre, then retire
to an executive bedroom replete with CDs, plasma TVs and
Ralph Lauren bedding. And every room has a little rubber duck
to call your own. Q272 rooms. (single £140 - £190, double
£210 - £230, suites £310 - £430). Breakfast £12 - £16.
JHREKWhhhh
Fitzwilliam B-2, Gt. Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9044
2080, fax (+44) (0)28 9044 2090, enq@fitzwilliamho-
telbelfast.com, www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com. From
the double-height glass-fronted foyer to the immaculately pre-
sented rooms, this luxury city centre hotel exudes uncompro-
mising elegance at every turn. Acid yellow, burnt orange and
lime green set the tone in the guestrooms, and dark wood is
cleverly incorporated to balance out the vibrant shades. Each
room offers retro ‘dial’ phones, MP3 connections, flatscreen
TVs, sunflower showers and great city views. Splurge on the
Penthouse Suite and you’ll also get your very own limo service
and 24/7 butler. Around 90% of all materials used is of Irish
origin, and the theme continues in the restaurant where all
food is locally sourced to keep those airmiles down. Right
beside the Grand Opera House, this downtown abode really is
a cool, classy city stand-out. Q130 rooms. (standard execu-
tive £180, superior £210, deluxe £240, studio suite £270,
penthouse £1500). JHRFLKWhhhhh
Hilton Belfast D-2, 4 Lanyon Place, tel. (+44) (0)28
9027 7000, fax (+44) (0)28 9027 7277, reservations.
belfast@hilton.com, www.hilton.co.uk/belfast. This
centrally-located 12-storey hotel is a relatively recent red-
brick addition to the city skyline. Outside it’s imposing but
inside the atmosphere is much more refined. Natural light
floods through the glass-fronted foyer, and many of the
belfast.inyourpocket.com
Where to stay 15
immaculately presented bedrooms offer fabulous views
along the River Lagan. The top three floors have executive
bedrooms (Molton Brown goodies for the ladies, Irish whiskey
for the men) and a classy airport-style business lounge. The
Sonoma restaurant serves Irish fusion food and Cables Bar
is ideal for a pre-Waterfront tipple or post-shopping espresso.
Q 198 rooms. (single/double from £69, executive from
£109, junior suite from £139, executive suite from £209).
JHFLKWhhhhh
Malmaison C-1, 34 Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9022
0200, fax (+44) (0)28 9022 0220, bhd.reception@
malmaison.com, www.malmaison-belfast.com. One of
the UK’s most stylish hotel chains has landed in Belfast... and
not before time. This former seed warehouse with whimsical
flora and fauna friezes gives way to an interior draped in gothic
opulence. Crushed velvet boudoirs, black leather sofas and
roll-top baths adorn the Samson and Goliath suites:named
after Belfast’s landmark cranes. The urban theme extends
to the restaurant with fabulous canvases featuring the city’s
political wall murals. A wonderland of flickering tealights,
extensive cocktail menu and flat screens showing classic
films bring diners back to the hotel’s goth-chic ambience.
Q64 rooms. (room £160, superior £180, Goliath suite £315,
Samson suite £400). HRKW hhhh
Merchant Hotel C-1, 35 Waring St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9023 4888, fax (+44) (0)28 9024 7775, info@themer-
chanthotel.com, www.themerchanthotel.com. As you
walk through this stunningly renovated Victorian bank build-
ing, the wow factor never lets up - from the lavish chandelier
in The Great Room restaurant to the magnificent Art Deco
extension with spa, gym and rooftop hot tub. Exquisitely
groomed, antique-festooned suites are named after well-
known local writers and artists, with the laters‘ work forming
part of the decor. And all rooms have the latest mod-cons
including downloadable bedtime stories read by local actor
James Nesbitt... who could possibly resist? Award-winning
cocktails in The Bar and live music at Bert‘s Jazz Bar,
along with The Cloth Ear trad pub and Ollies nightclub, at-
tract hotel guests and Belfast‘s nightowls ever in search
of the latest‘in’ place. This is without doubt the city‘s most
fabulous overnight option. Q64 rooms (64 Total rooms ).
(rooms from £160, suites £370-450). JHFLKDW
hhhhh
Radisson Blu D-3, 3 Cromac Pl, Ormeau Rd, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9043 4065, fax (+44) (0)28 9043 4066, info.
belfast@radissonblu.com, www.radissonblu.com/hotel-
belfast. Set in the revamped Gasworks complex, Belfast’s
newest big-name hotel reveals a minimalist mantra reflecting
its stylish Scandinavian origins. Glass panorama lifts spirit
guests to their choice of two rooms: warm, contemporary
Urban, with its dark woods and burnt ochres, and cool chic
Nordic featuring ice tones and natty pin-stripe chairs. If mon-
ey’s no object, check into Suite 7 - NI’s largest one-bedroom
suite - and check out spectacular views along the River Lagan.
Contemporary Italian cuisine served in Filini restaurant. Q120
rooms. (single £125 - £160, double £135 - £180, suites from
£260). HRLKW hhhh
Ten Square C-2, 10 Donegall Sq South, tel. (+44) (0)28
9024 1001, fax (+44) (0)28 9024 3210, reservations@
tensquare.co.uk, www.tensquare.co.uk. A favourite of the
city’s visiting celebs, and recently voted one of the world’s sexi-
est hotels, this super-chic boutique hotel stands out for many
reasons. The renovated linen house’s cream exterior blends
in beautifully with its envious position overlooking the back
of City Hall. Look up and you’ll see Michelangelo, Washington,
Newton and Shakespeare staring out from their plasterwork
February - March 2011
16 Where to stay
portholes. Inside, the Asian-themed bedrooms are individually
designed with one - the Bradley Suite - a veritable private art
gallery featuring paintings by Terry Bradley, one of Ireland’s most
acclaimed artists. The hotel’s self-styled ‘Oriental opulence’
spills over into The Grill Room & Bar, an exquisite restaurant
with carnivore-friendly menu and colonial-themed watering hole
attracting the city’s aspirational sophisticates. For business
and private events with a glossy sheen, try the multi-functional
Porcelain Events Suite. Room rates include full Irish breakfast.
Q23 rooms. (standard £150, superior £170, deluxe £220,
Linenhall suite £265). Rates include a full-Irish/continental
breakfast. HRBKW hhhh
Upmarket
Holiday Inn C-3, 22 Ormeau Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 8511, fax (+44) (0)28 9062 6546, reservations-
belfast@ihg.com, www.ichotelsgroup.com. Situated
opposite the BBC and a favourite with suits and creative
types, this city centre hotel offers top class business and
leisure facilities. The bright, contemporary rooms come
with Playstations and ‘pillow menus’ with a choice of five
plumps. The ‘good night’s sleep’ theme continues with
wooden shutters, complimentary cocoa and a selection of
dream-inducing meals at The Junction Restaurant and Bar.
Q170 rooms. (single £65, double £75, weekend special £89).
JHRFKDCW hhhh
Malone Lodge Hotel A-5, 60 Eglantine Ave, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9038 8000, fax (+44) (0)28 9038 8088, info@ma-
lonelodgehotel.com, www.malonelodge.com. In a short
space of time this locally-owned, Queen’s Quarter hotel has
become one of the best four stars in city. The spacious bed-
rooms are elegantly decorated in calming cream and stylish
charcoal tones, and their large bay windows positively encour-
age the sun to shine. Macklins Bar serves snacks and more
substantial meals from its grill menu while The Green Door
Restaurant offers a great value Sunday Carvery. Q50 rooms
(singles £95, doubles £105 - £120, triples £120 - £140.
Apartments also available.). HRFLKDWhhhh
Stormont Hotel off H-3, Upper Newtownards Rd., tel.
(+44) (0)28 9065 1066, fax (+44) (0)28 9048 0240,
res@stor.hastingshotels.com, www.hastingshotels.com.
This large, contemporary hotel is one of Belfast’s most popular
corporate centres. Its purpose-built Confex Centre fulfills every
conferencing desire, and the hotel’s bright and airy reception is
a Mecca for networking execs. Its proximity to the eponymous
parliament building makes it popular with politicos and public
sector VIPs. Join the movers and shakers at the cocktail bar or
eavesdrop at La Scala or Shiraz eateries. Q110 rooms. (single/
superior £140 - £160, twin/double £180 - £200, suites £300 -
£320). Breakfast £13 - £16. HRILKW hhhh
Wellington Park Hotel B-5, 21 Malone Rd, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9038 1111, fax (+44) (0)28 9066 5410, info@
wellingtonparkhotel.com, www.wellingtonparkhotel.com.
Known locally as the Wellie Park, a moniker adopted by its night-
club, this Belfast institution is a grand survivor of the city’s more
turbulent times. Established in 1957 and family owned, the hotel
has undergone a recent refurbishment and is both an excellent
business venue and a party haven for the 20+. Look around the
large foyer and adjoining dining areas and you’ll find an impres-
sive collection of Irish art. The Piper Bistro is named after local
artist Raymond Piper whose drawings of local celebs adorn the
walls. The bedrooms are stylishly sedate with floral bedcovers,
handcrafted furniture and pristine bathrooms. A great Queen’s
Quarter location and plenty of free parking are added bonuses
for Wellie guests. Q75 rooms. (single £89, double/twin £99,
executive £130, family £110).HRLKW hhhh
Belfast In Your Pocket
Mid-range
Crescent Townhouse B-4, 13 Lower Crescent, off
Botanic Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 3349, fax (+44)
(0)28 9032 0646, www.crescenttownhouse.com.
This charming boutique hotel’s elegant, 19th century exte-
rior certainly promises something different in the Queen’s
Quarter area. The deluxe rooms offer stylish extras such
as a Belfast-style sink, plasma TV and internet access,
while the suites crank the luxury up a notch with Victorian
roll top baths and canopy beds. The Metro Brasserie is one
of the best hotel restaurants in the area and Bar/Twelve’s
comfy leather sofas, good lunch menu and live music nights
go down a treat with well-heeled professionals and media
luvvies. Q17 rooms. (single £75, double £85, suite £100).
JREKW hhh
Days Hotel B-3, 40 Hope St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
2494, fax (+44) (0)28 9024 2495, reservations@
dayshotelb elfast.co.uk, w w w.dayshotelb elfast.
co.uk/. This huge, eight storey monolith is the biggest
hotel in town and a great base for city centre shopping and
nights on the tiles. The short stroll to Great Victoria St. Bus
and Rail Station makes daytrips and International airport
connections a doddle. Many of the great value bedrooms
have superb views across the city and feature spacious
power showers and video games for hire. If you can tear
yourself away from that little lot, grab a pre-nightlife drink
in the bar with ‘prices cheaper than nightclubs!!’. The free
car parking is a nice city centre bonus. Q 250 rooms.
(rooms from £59 per night). Breakfast £5.95 per person.
Free WIFI in lounge, bar & restaurants. JHRLKW
hhh
Express by Holiday Inn C-4, 106a University St, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9031 1909, fax (+44) (0)28 9031 1910,
mail@exhi-belfast.com, www.exhi-belfast.com. This may
be Holiday Inn without the frills but, with free breakfast and
car parking thrown in for good measure, the price is hard to
beat. Some rooms have fine views of Cavehill, and Chambers
restaurant aims to lure diners to this convenient Queen’s
Quarter location. Q114 rooms. (rooms from £59 per night).
Breakfast included. Free WIFI in lounge, bar & restaurants.
HRLKW hhh
IBIS Belfast City Centre B-1, 100 Castle St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9023 8888, fax (+44)(0)28 9023 8893, www.
ibishotel.com. Rising nine storeys behind CastleCourt shop-
ping centre is one of two new IBIS’s in the city (the other is in
the Queen’s Quarter). This one is the most centrally located,
with shops, restaurants, bus tours and other tourist treats
mere minutes away. The hotel’s arrival also marks the start
of the immediate area’s redevelopment. Inside, the compact
yet functional rooms feature a flatscreen TV, tea and coffee-
making facilities and ensuite shower room (more akin to
a corner ‘pod’ than anything fancy). Book the top floor for
great city views. Free wifi in communal areas and payable
in room. Discount parking available at adjoining multi-storey
car park. Q124 rooms. (Rooms from £49. Breakfast £6.95).
JRKW
Jurys Inn B-2, Fisherwick Place, Gt. Victoria St, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9053 3500, www.jurysinns.com. Yet another
fantastically located hotel: literally a minute’s walk from the
Grand Opera House and on the doorstep of some of the city’s
best shopping and nightlife. The big, bright foyer, with free wifi
and cosy sofas, affords great views of historic Church House.
Revamped rooms are swathed in subtle, sophisticated dark
woods and neutral tones, and come with plasma screens,
proper-sized hairdryers and plenty of sprawling space. And
belfast.inyourpocket.com

the corner rooms have particularly pretty vistas across
the lawns of Inst. Grammar School. Six meeting rooms are
ideal for business pow-wows before digesting your deals
or daytrips over a pint in the contemporary Inntro Bar or
dinner at the Innfusion restaurant. Q190 rooms. (Rooms
from £59. All rooms max 2 adults + 2 children, or 3 adults).
JHRKW hhh
Park Inn C-3, 4 Clarence St. West, tel. (+44) (0)28
9067 7700/(+44) (0)28 9067 7701, info.belfast@rezi-
dorparkinn.com, www.belfast.parkinn.co.uk. The city’s
central and affordable three star hotel has rooms reflecting
the international chain’s design concept - block primary
colours, functional and modern rooms, and all the features
you’d expect including tea and coffee, wifi, laptop-sized safe
and satellite TV. Standard rooms come with super-sleek
shower rooms and branded toiletries. Upgrade to Business
Friendly and wallow in the bath, recline in the seating area
or direct your gaze at the double aspect vista. The adjoining
RBG restaurant and bar is the perfect spot for a spot of lunch,
dinner or drinks (see separate listings for more details). And
the fitness centre with sauna and steam room, and seven
conference suites, keep this hotel punching above its weight.
When you’re checking in, check out the wall of Belfast photos
in the double height foyer. Loving their work... Q145 rooms.
(Advanced booking from £59.25). JHRFKDW
hhh
Premier Inn, Alfred Street C-3, Alfred St, tel. 0871
527 8068, www.premierinn.com. This sleek budget hotel
has a fantastic city centre location - with great views on
higher floors - and sparkly clean rooms. Premier Inn patrons
will instantly recognise the bedrooms’ multi-channel TVs,
tea/coffee-making facilities, hairdryers and squeezy soaps
in the ensuites. The hotel prides itself on quick turn-around
times and ‘A good night. Guaranteed.’ (Sssshhh! signs and
special mattresses shore up their promise). Single female
travellers are reassuringly looked after and deals with a
nearby fitness club and business centre ensure suits and
swimmers have everything they could possibly need. Q
(Room £59). Eat all you like breakfast £7.50, U-16 free.
JLKW hhh
Premier Inn, Titanic Quarter G-2, 2a Queens Rd, tel.
0871 527 9210/(+44) (0)1582 567890 - from outside
UK, fax 0871 527 9211, belfasttitanicandcityairport.pi@
whitbread.com, www.premierinn.com. Sitting pretty for
the major rejuvenation of the Titanic Quarter, this great value,
new-build chain hotel has all the Premier Inn staples including
(chargeable) parking and wifi and those snazzy purple and
white en suite bedrooms. If you‘re here to see a show at the
Odyssey Arena, this is the hotel for you - it‘s right next door.
The city centre is a gentle 10min stroll across the Lagan Weir,
and George Best Belfast City Airport is but a mere mile away.
Q (Rooms from £60). LKW hhh
Premier Inn, Waring Street C-1, 2-6 Waring St,
tel. 0871 527 8070, www.premierinn.com. Another
great value hotel rises up in the city centre’s historic heart
- right next to Cathedral Quarter’s bars and restaurants
and a very short stroll from all the main shops, tours and
attractions. Abundant with all Premier Inn’s expected
features, including that Good Night Guarantee or your
money back, this latest arrival also offers meeting rooms,
chargeable wifi access and the contemporary-style Four
Corners Bar & restaurant. The sympathetically restored
brickwork facade of this listed building lends the hotel a
touch of elegance and continues the area’s stylish renais-
sance. Q171 rooms (Rooms from £59). Breakfast £7.50,
Continental £5.25. JLKW hhh
belfast.inyourpocket.com
Where to stay 17
Ramada Encore C-1, 20 Talbot St, tel. 0844 801
0331, fax 0844 801 0332, enquiries@encorebelfast.
co.uk, www.encorebelfast.co.uk. An elegant piazza is
emerging at the back of St. Anne’s Cathedral, and this
hotel is sitting pretty at one corner. Inside, light reflects
around the reception’s dominant white space, with subtle
colours and specially-commissioned local artwork adding
a cool, design hue. The stylish SQ Bar and Grill, and Hub
Bar and Lounge, take centre stage on the ground floor,
along with three meeting rooms (each named after an
Irish writer). Bedrooms have clean wooden floors, wet-
room style bathrooms, plasma TVs and, apart from four
executive rooms, are all the same size. Ask for a room on
one of the upper floors for good views across the city. Wifi
is free in public areas and charged in-room. Call for park-
ing arrangements. Q 169 rooms. (Rooms from £69.95).
Breakfast not included. JHRLKW hhh
Travelodge B-2, 15 Brunswick St, tel. 0871 984
8484, fax (+44) (0)28 9023 2999, customer.ser-
vices@travelodge.co.uk, w w w.travelodgebelfast.
co.uk. If you’re after a great value, no frills room with an
excellent city centre location then this could be it. Great
Victoria Street Rail and Bus Station are across the road
and the surrounding area is replete with all manner of
cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. Back at base, newly
spruced up bedrooms feature flat screen TVs and stream-
lined furniture to make the most of the space. The first
floor conservatory-style Bar Café serves up a buffet-style
breakfast and, come the night, transforms into an informal
drinks area complete with jukebox accompaniment... just
the spot for a wind-down tipple with family, friends and
fellow guests. Q 90 rooms. (Rooms from £49). Breakfast
£5.95-7.95. JW hhh
Guesthouses and B&Bs
An Old Rectory F-4, 148 Malone Rd, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9066 7882, fax (+44) (0)28 9068 3759, info@
anoldrectory.co.uk, www.anoldrectory.co.uk. This
delightful late 19th centur y conver ted rector y serves
a top-notch breakfast with the emphasis on fresh food
with venison sausages and smoked salmon adding a
gourmet touch. The spacious bedrooms (all with sofas,
one with romantic open fire) and guests’ lounge are im-
maculately presented in a manner befitting this well-heeled
Victorian residence. Once again, a good South Belfast
location within easy bus, taxi or car reach of the city centre.
Q5 rooms (single ensuite £52, single private bathroom £42,
double twin £82). L hh
February - March 2011
18 Where to stay
Hostelling International in Belfast and beyond
Exploring the city and N. Ireland’s six counties is all good
and well, but if you’re on a budget and want to pay less
for sleeps, then these guys have it sussed. With six hostels
dotted across the country, there’s always a bed within sight-
seeing distance of all NI’s main attractions.. So read up and
plan your expedition with plenty of ££s to spare.
Belfast International Youth Hostel B-4, 22 Donegall
Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031 5435, fax (+44) (0)28 9043
9699, info@hini.org.uk, www.hini.org.uk. This huge
hostel is the biggest in Belfast and the only one affiliated
with Hostelling International. It’s a short walk from all a
tourist heart desires, from Queen’s Quarter pubs and at-
tractions to city centre shops and restaurants. A recent
renovation has heralded a slew of top class amenities
including en-suite rooms, left luggage, currency exchange
and laundry facilities. The Causeway Cafe serves up good
value grub and keep you connected with all your lovely new
travel chums. Minicoach tours are based at the Hostel
for trips to the Giant’s Causeway and north coast. And if
you’re exploring beyond Belfast, check out sister hostels at
Armagh, Enniskillen, Newcastle, Bushmills and Whitepark
Bay. Q54 rooms. (Prices pppn - child, family and group
rates available. HI members £1 discount. singles from
£21, doubles & triples from £14.50, quads from £11.50,
6 bed dorms from £10, large ensuite dorms from £11).
JHRLKW
Armagh Hostel K-4, 39 Abbey St, Armagh, Co.
Armagh, tel. (+44) (0)28 3751 1800, armagh@hini.
org.uk,www.hini.org.uk/hostels/Armagh-Hostel.
Slap bang in Armagh ci ty centre, this hostel is the
ideal spot if you want to wallow in all things St. Patrick.
Armagh‘s two cathedrals (both named after our Patron
Saint) make it Ireland‘s ecclesiastical capital, and its mix
of Georgian architecture, luscious Mall, nearby Navan
Fort and NI’s only Planetarium make it an historic and
unique city-break destination. Free wifi and parking, a
fully equipped self-catering kitchen and ensuite rooms
keep costs down and hostellers happy. Q 18 Rooms.
62 Beds. (Twin room £18-19. Dorm £17-18). Child,
family and group rates available. 10% discount for all HI
members. JLW
Bridges Hostel I-4, Belmore St, Enniskillen, Co.
Fermanagh, tel. (+44) (0)28 6634 0110, enniskil-
len@hini.org.uk,www.hini.org.uk/hostels/Bridges-
Hostel,-Enniskillen. This purpose-built hostel takes up
the top two floors of the Clinton Centre, itself home to
Whitepark Bay Youth Hostel
Belfast In Your Pocket
three conference suites and an art gallery. A high tech
energy efficiency system ups the eco ante. And the
surrounding lakeland landscape is ideal for breathing
in all that beautiful fresh air as you navigate the loughs
and islands that make Fermanagh such a must-see
part of NI. The Mad Hatter Cafe (Mon-Sat) overlooks
the River Erne, and its cute Alice In Wonderland theme
with children‘s play area and mini-cinema makes it ideal
for bored broods. Q 20 Rooms. 70 Beds. (Twin room
£19.50-20.50, Dorm £17-18). Wifi payable. Child, fam-
ily and group rates available. 10% discount for all HI
members. JHKW
Bushmills Hostel K-1, 49 Main St, Bushmills, Co.
Antrim, tel. (+44) (0)28 2073 1222, bushmills@hini.
org.uk,www.hini.org.uk/hostels/Bushmills-Hostel.
With legendary Old Bushmills Distillery a mere five mins
walk away, and the Giant’s Causeway and other North Coast
treats within very easy driving distance, this is a great base
for some seriously good sightseeing. The hostel itself is
purpose-built but very much in keeping with its historic sur-
roundings. Mezzanine-style en-suite bedrooms, log fire lounge
area and a walled garden for summer BBQs and anytime R&R
make for sweet escape. Other features, including a kitted out
kitchen and free nearby car parking, have earned this hostel a
Hi-Quality award - a hostel Oscar, if you will. Q 19 rooms. 80
beds. (Twin room £19.50-20.50, Triple room £18.50-19.50,
Dorm £17.50-18.50). Child, family and group rates available.
10% discount for all HI members. JHRL
Newcastle Hostel L-4, 30 Downs Rd, Newcastle, Co.
Down, tel. (+44) (0)28
4372 2133, w w w.
hini.org.uk/hostels/
Newcastle-Hostel. Im-
merse yourself in the
tacky, touristy seaside
town that is Newcastle,
then say nighty night at
this basic beach-front
base. Those looming
Mourne Mountains will lure walkers keen to traverse their
terrain. While amusement arcades, the sandy sweep and a
cacophony of cafes and souvenir shops will attract families
and young adults out for a good time. Unpretentious, very
affordable and within driving distance of some damn fine
scenery... save your money for the slots. Q 7 Rooms. 37
Beds. (Dorms £14). Child, family and group rates available.
10% discount for all HI members. J
Whitepark Bay Youth Hostel K-1, 157 Whitepark
Rd, Ballintoy, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, tel. (+44) (0)28
2073 1745, whiteparkbay@hini.org.uk, http://www.
hini.org.uk/hostels/Whitepark-Bay-Youth-Hostel. With
undoubtedly the best views of all Hostelling International‘s
six NI properties, this beauty overlooks the crescent beach
from which it takes its name. In fact, those Atlantic views
take in Rathlin Island and, on a clear day, Scotland. En-suite
bedrooms with hairdryers and tea/coffee facilities, free park-
ing, log fire TV lounge and a picnic area with that to-die-for
vista make this an outstanding find. The Giant’s Causeway,
Old Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
are among the vicinity’s myriad sightseeing highlights. An
absolute gem. Q 15 Rooms. 54 Beds. (Twin room £20-21,
Dorm £18). Child, family and group rates available. 10%
discount for all HI members. RL
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Where to stay 19

Maranatha G-3, 254 Ravenhill Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28

9046 0200, fax (+44) (0)28 9059 8740, info@marana-
thaguesthouse.com, www.maranatha-guesthouse.
com. This restored 18th century South Belfast townhouse
overlooks Ormeau Park - home to one of Ireland’s oldest golf
clubs where members of the public are welcome to play its
nine-hole course. If citylife is more your thing, hop on the
bus for the 10-minute ride into town. Bedrooms are ensuite
and family and children’s rate are available on request. Q10
rooms. (Single £45, Double or twin £35pps, Family £30).
RLW

Rayanne House L-3, 60 Demesne Rd, Holywood, Co

Down, tel. (+44) (0)28 9042 5859, rayannehouse@
hotmail.com, www.rayannehouse.com. Exuding all the
charm and elegance of a boutique hotel, this sumptuous Vic-
torian guesthouse is resplendent with eye-catching antiques
and stylish design. Each of the 11 en-suite bedrooms has
its own unique decor, ranging from Chinese to Art Deco, and
some boast fabulous sweeping views across Belfast Lough
(binoculars available for close-up views). And the attention to
detail continues through to the breakfast menu which, quite
frankly, has to be the best in the business. Delicacies such
as Compote of Warmed Spicy Breakfast Fruits and Organic
Pork & Prune ‘Rayanne Sausages’ have already captured the
imagination of kitchen doyenne Delia Smyth who describes it
as ‘simply the best’. Ask about their private dining available
for 10-34 people and special Titanic-themed dinners. Q11
rooms (11 Total rooms ). (single £60 - 90, double £90 - 130,
triple £95 - 125, family £90 - 135). LKW hhh

Somerton House F-1, 22 Lansdowne Rd, tel. 0044

(0)28 9037 0717, fax (+44) (0)28 9077 2462, somer-
tonhouse@yahoo.co.uk, www.somertonhouse.co.uk.
Beautifully decorated in period colours and dotted with
antiques and curios, this grand old Edwardian townhouse is a
real Belfast gem. Close to Cavehill, Belfast Castle and Belfast
Zoo, and a 10-minute bus ride into the city centre, Somerton
is ideal for couples who crave a bit of homely peace and quiet,
with flatscreen TVs/DVDs, tea and coffee in all rooms, free
computer use in guest lounge and house wifi. It’s the right
side of town for the Liverpool and Stena ferry terminals, not
to mention the M2 motorway should you fancy a daytrip to
the Giant’s Causeway. Q9 rooms. (single £35 - 45, double
£58, twin £48 - 58, family £70). W

International airport
Park Plaza Hotel K/L-3, Belfast International Airport,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9445 7000, fax (+44) (0)28 9442 3500,
www.parkplaza.com/belfastuk. Popular with tourists and
business types catching an early flight, this modern hotel is
a 50m walk from the airport entrance and offers helicopter
transfers and in-room flight information for execs on the
move. Its internal balconies overlook the bright, spacious
foyer and provide a panoramic view across the airport. The
contemporary-style rooms feature black and white photos
of Northern Ireland and the conference rooms are named
after Irish and Scottish islands. Circles restaurant is perfect
for pre-flight networking or a bite of fusion cuisine before the
airline food beckons. Q106 rooms. (Room only from £79.
Superior Doubles from £79. Executive Double from £99).
HRLKW hhhh

Follow Belfast In Your Pocket

on and

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

20 Restaurants
Not so long ago, Belfast was a bit of a gastronomic waste-
land. But these days, the city’s plates are well served with
a tasty selection of local and international nosh. Many bars
and hotels also serve great gourmet and trad food, so don’t
forget to check out those listings too.
Meanwhile, to help you choose your dish of the day, here’s
our guide to the best eateries at every price level. Just follow
our £ sign guide for your preferred price range (prices based
on average main meal for one, no drinks).
American
RBG C-3, 4 Clarence St West, tel. (+44) (0)28 9067
7700, www.belfast.parkinn.co.uk. Gleaming marble
counters, dark wood panelling, stained glass chandeliers
and framed Americana prints and magazine covers lend a
NYC Central Station-inspired art deco ambience to this im-
pressive downtown dining space. Part of the Park Inn hotel,
this elongated, elegant restaurant runs from cosy booths
with plasma screens near the entrance, to low level fireside
armchairs in the middle and sofas and tables towards the
back. The secluded mezzanine level is ideal for parties and
corporates and the outdoor smoking terrace must be one of
the city’s most stylish. Steaks, scallops and chicken served
with sauces and sides, including big chips (five fill the plate!),
reflect the upmarket bar food menu. Chocolate brownies and
classic ice creams are among the desserts, and plenty of tea
and coffee choices make this a good pre or post shopping op-
tion for tired limbs and weary wallets. QOpen 06:30 - 22:00,
Sat, Sun 7:00 - 22:00. ££-£££. J
TGI Friday’s C-2, Level 2, Victoria Square, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9024 9050, www.tgifridays.com. Candy-striped
décor garnished with an eye-catching collection of pop culture
and sporting memorabilia greets diners at this super-sized
the thrill
of the grill
Book your BBQ event at RBG, an oasis in the heart of the city that
boasts tasty, succulent, handmade local food, cooked on the chargrill.
RBG is a unique vibrant restaurant with luxurious, contemporary decor.
Enjoy your BBQ in style with cocktails on our Mezzanine Terrace.
For more information or to book contact Reservations on +44 2890 677 710
or email reservations.belfast@rezidorparkinn.com
RBG Bar & Grill
Park Inn Belfast, 4 Clarence Street West, BT2 7GP, Belfast, United Kingdom
www.rbgbelfast.co.uk, www.parkinn.co.uk
Belfast In Your Pocket
Price Guide
£ (£1-5) - Literally as cheap as chips. If you’re after a
coffee, a sandwich or quick snack, you’re quids in here
££ (£6 -15) - Plush cafés, agreeable bistros and
delicious takeaways that won’t break the bank
£££ (£16-25) - Upmarket lunches and good value
evening meals in relaxed surroundings
££££ (£26-upwards) - Fine dining served with a touch
of class
Victoria Square restaurant. Sizzling steaks, bounteous burg-
ers, flabbergasting fajitas and sensational salads all grace
its mammoth menu... and those US-sized portions are large
enough to satisfy even the biggest appetite. Speaking of
which - the cornucopia of cocktails with 500 (yes, 500!)
intoxicating concoctions should really get the party started.
Fabulous for a family treat and perfect for a pals night on
the town. Find it on a prominent corner position on Level 2.
QOpen 12:00 - late. £££. J
Asian & Japanese
Ginger Tree B-3, 23 Donegall Pass, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 7151. With almost two decades of wisdom, tradition
and fabulous cooking to its name, the Ginger Tree has long
been the restaurant of choice for local foodies. In fact, so
renowned is the Japanese nosh that Sir Paul McCartney and
one-time rock gods Razorlight have feasted on its delicious
dishes (though not at the same time). For the rest of us
ordinary folk, the restaurant offers minimalist monochrome
decor and Japanese artefacts that gel well with the authen-
tic cuisine. Q Mon-Sat 12:00 - 14:30, 17:00 - 21:30. Sun
17:00 - 21:30. £££.
Hakka Noodles C-3, 51 Adelaide St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9031 3270, www.hakkabelfast.co.uk. An elegant red and
black interior reflects the meticulous Japanese menu at this
classy noodle bar. Run by Eddie Fung, the man behind Zen,
the same attention-to-detail dishes, drinks and service make
this yet another of his stand-out restaurants. The informal air
and extremely good value-for-money food almost belie the
mastery behind its authentically crafted cuisine. Melt-in-the-
mouth dim sum, refreshing green teas and fresh sushi to go
are among the mouth-watering morsels ready for your maw.
Q Mon-Fri 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - late, Sat 17:00 - late, Sun
13:30 - late. ££-£££. JSW
Zen C-3, 55 Adelaide St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 2244,
www.zenbelfast.co.uk/index.htm. So this is what £1m
looks like in a restaurant. Likened to a James Bond set,
Japanese restaurant Zen is a phenomenal addition to the
city’s cuisine scene. Inside there’s a cocktail bar, a wall of
glistening water and gilded lilies, an ultra violet stairway and
sunken ‘ta-tammi’ dining area. Groups are catered for in a
series of wood-wrapped circular tables and encouraged to
avail of the slippers. The spectacular glass-floored corridor
of beaded light columns and mirrored ceiling is a nightmare to
navigate when you’ve sipped too much sake. But who cares
when you’re in one of the funkiest restaurants in town. All this
and the food’s fantastic too! Q Mon-Fri 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00
- late. Sat 17:00 -late. Sun 13:30 - late. ££££. J
Follow Belfast In Your Pocket
on and
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Restaurants 21

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

22 Restaurants
Chinese
China Buffet King Victoria Square, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
8100. Belfast’s biggest, and Victoria Square’s only, buffet-style
Chinese restaurant certainly serves up quite the feast. Choose
your table, join the queue and fill your plate from a heady selection
of Asian (and some Western) dishes. Favourites such as spring
rolls, sweet and sour chicken and singapore noodles sit alongside
ever-changing exotic eats like king prawn in chilli garlic, lime and
pepper roast pork and mixed veg in oyster sauce. Soups for
starters and scrummy desserts with soft ice-cream top and tail
the all-you-can-eat experience. And there’s even a salad bar and
good veggie selection for all you herbivores. Leave an extra notch
on the belt... and try and time your visit to avoid the lunchtime rush.
Q Lunch 12:00 - 17:00, Grand Buffet Dinner 17:30 - late. Sun
12:00 - late. (Children must be under 140cm/4ft 5in). J
Lee Garden B-4, 14-18 Botanic Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28
9027 8882, www.leegardenbelfast.com. If you like your
Dim Sum or Stir Fried Seafood served in spacious, chic sur-
roundings then this fixture on the local Chinese scene will defi-
nitely impress. Light pours into the open plan atrium from the
restaurant’s two storey glass ediface, and delicately spiralling
lights cascade from its high ceiling. Wooden floors and brightly
coloured leather seating exude 21st Century class, and the
private function room with karaoke ensures wayward warblers
don’t disturb the rest of the diners. Already a big hit with the
locals and Chinese community... what more endorsement do
you need? QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. £££. S
Water Margin C-3, 159 Donegal Pass, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 6888. At the corner of Donegall Pass and the Ormeau
Road stands this magnificent church, now home to a large-
scale Chinese eating emporium. It’s so big the managers
communicate via earpieces ensuring the legion of diners
Belfast In Your Pocket
want for nothing. Re-live that Lost In Translation moment in a
private karaoke room or join the throngs tucking into the mouth-
wateringly imaginative menu. Crispy duck feet and frogs legs
anyone? QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00. £££.S
International
Beatrice Kennedy B-4, 44 University Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28
9020 2290, www.beatricekennedy.co.uk. Amid the brash
glitz of the city’s more familiar restaurants sits this intimate
brasserie filled with dusky candlelight, muted tones and a de-
voted clientele. Popular with the pre-theatre crowd and romantic
couples, its relaxed, homely vibe will never go out of fashion.
Game and fish dishes are the chef’s speciality - try the pan-fried
Donegal salmon with mussels and fennel. Q TuesSat 17:00 -
22:30. Sun 12:30 - 14:30, 17:00 - 20:00. Mon closed. £££.
Bourbon B-3, 60 Gt. Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9033
2121, www.bourbonrestaurant.com. This extravagant
colonial-style bar/restaurant is regularly packed to the rafters
with pre-theatre patrons and celebratory crowds. Its lavish
interior is resplendent with glittering chandeliers, palm fronds,
Grecian pillars and bronze statues. The rich palette of verdi-
gris, creams, burgundys and golds ensure the eye is kept well
fed, and the Cajun and Polynesian-influenced food reflects the
restaurant’s eclectic feel. Q Mon-Fri 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 -
01:00. Sat 17:00 -01:00. Sun 17:00 - 22:00. £££. J
Cayenne B-3, 7 Ascot House, Shaftesbury Sq, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9033 1532, www.cayenne-restaurant.co.uk. The
city’s original Michelin-starred restuarant is owned and run by
whippet-thin TV chef Paul Rankin. Its Asian-influenced menu is
always innovative and rarely disappoints. The dark wood interior
is lit in amber and the pale walls are etched with culinary prose.
Although the haunt of Belfast’s self-styled gastro luvvies, don’t
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Restaurants 23

let its potential air of intimidation put you off... the award-winning
food is surprisingly affordable. Q Thurs, Fri 12:00 - 14:15, Mon-
Sat 18:00 - late, Sun 17:00 - late. ££££. J

Coco C-2, 7-11 Linenhall St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031 1150,
www.cocobelfast.com. The former Roscoffs restaurant has
been transformed into this elegant, yet unstuffy eaterie attract-
ing the city’s stylish set and tourists in need of top nosh. The
small bar area - with eclectic decor and cool night-time vibe
- opens up onto a larger dining space. Eye-catchingly contempo-
rary art lines the walls (and can be bought), and a feature wall
reflects the opulence with its leaf-embossed burnished gold
wallpaper. Organic and locally sourced produce is served with
equally stylish aplomb - and the seasonal selection ensures
an ever-changing menu. Q Mon-Fri 12:00 - 15:00, 18:00 - late.
Sat 18:00 - late. Sun 12:00 - 16:00. £££. J

Deanes B-2, 36 Howard St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9033 1134,

www.michaeldeane.co.uk. NI’s only Michelin star restaurant
is run with panache by local celeb chef Michael Deane. After
a recent make-over, his main dining space (others incude
Deane’s Deli and Deane’s at Queens) returns resplendent
of menu and a tad more minimalist. The locally sourced food
includes Free range Fermanagh chicken and Walter Ewing’s
smoked salmon - perhaps our most renowned fishmonger. And
speaking of which, seek out the restaurant’s intimate Seafood
Bar for a selection of marine morsels worthy of our island fare.
Expensive, yes, but you gets what you pays for. Q Mon-Sat
10:00 - 15:00, 18:00 - 22:00. ££££. J

Ginger Bistro B-3, 7-8 Hope St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
4421, www.gingerbistro.com. Locally-sourced food is served
with an imaginative twist and meticulous attention to detail at
this casually chic bistro where redhead chef Simon McCance’s
ever-changing menu and meet-the-crowd congeniality makes for
a refreshingly unstuffy atmosphere. Q Mon 17:00 - 21:00. Tues-
Thur 12:00-15:00, 17:00 - 21:30. Fri 12:00-15:00, 17:00 - 22:00.
Sat 12:00-15:00, 17:00 - 22:00.Closed Sun. £££. J
Hill Street Brasserie C-1, 38 Hill St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9058 6868, www.hillstbrasserie.com. Up Belfast’s cute
cobbled Hill Street sits this stylish yet informal restaurant with
minimalist lines, monochrome prints and an inventive selection
of fusion cuisine. We’re talking Roasted Pork Belly with garlic
and fennel crust, Slow Cooked Rabbit in sweet Spanish spices
and Panfried Salmon with Dulse Champ. The Lunch and Early
Bird specials make for an affordable dining experience in the
extremely chic Cathedral Quarter. Q Mon 12:00 - 14:30. Tues-
Sat 12:00 - 14:30, 17:00 - late. Sun 17:00 - late. £££. J
menu offering the finest selection of food locals have come
to demand at this level. Q Mon-Sat 12:00 - 14.45, 17:45 -
22:45. Sun 17:30 - 21:00. ££££. J
ME:NU C-3, 15 Donegall Pass, tel. +44) (0)28 9024 4257,
www.menubelfast.co.uk. The stylishly vibrant interior of this
Queen’s Quarter restaurant provides an inspired backdrop for
the imaginative, erm, menu. We’re talking Cambodian Seafood
Hotpot, Confit of saddleback pork belly and Home made Turkish
delight ice cream. And that is but a mere soupçon. If you’re looking
for local produce served with a unique twist, book a table and
enjoy the experience. Q Tues-Sat 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:00.
Sun 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 20:00. Closed Mon. ££££

Hooligans C-1, 24 Talbot St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
4107. When the oh-so-cool clientele aren‘t checking each
other out (and why wouldn‘t they?), they‘re craning their col-
lective necks for a gawp at the funky punky miss-mash of
floor-to-ceiling decor. If you‘ve been to Made in Belfast, you‘ll
find the eclectic environment familiar as they‘re owned by the
same people. The dining is as diverse as its older sister‘s,
too, with fish & chips sharing menu space with Bangla burg-
ers. You get the picture. Q Mon-Wed 12:00 - 22:00, Thur-Sat
12:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00. £££. J
James Street South C-2, 21 James St. South, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9043 4310, www.jamesstreetsouth.co.uk.
In recent years, this sophisticated restaurant has quickly
established a loyal fan base as epicureans seek out the city’s
great plates. The 19th century converted warehouse façade
belies a strikingly clean and airy white interior broken up by a
fine selection of contemporary Irish art. The big round tables
and intimate bar are conducive to girly nights, corporate
bashes and special occasions. Indulge in an international
Molly’s Yard C-4, 1 College Green Mews, Botanic Ave, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9032 2600. Inside this quaint Queen’s Quarter
eaterie is a laid-back downstairs bistro and rustically elegant
upstairs restaurant. Local produce such as beef, sea bream
and venison feature in the Irish-flavoured menu. And, as befits
ownership by the good people behind Hilden Brewery, this former
stables also houses Belfast’s first micro brewery. Molly’s Choco-
late Stout and Belfast Blonde are among the inventively-named,
and pleasing to the palette, tipples. The restaurant’s bijouness
and enduring popularity demand pre-booking to ensure a pew.
QOpen 12:00 - 21:30. Closed Sun. ££££.
Nick’s Warehouse C-1, 35 Hill St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9043 9690, www.nickswarehouse.co.uk. Proprietor Nick
Price’s pioneering spirit transformed this former Bushmills
whiskey warehouse into a top class restaurant way back in
1989 - at a time when the city’s dining options were somewhat
limited. Downstairs the red-brick wine bar and informal Anix
still packs in the punters as does the more formal, intimate
upstairs restaurant. The menu offers local and international

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

24 Restaurants
cuisine and prides itself in its range of locally-sourced foods.
Service is friendly and meticulous. Q Tues-Sat 12:00 - 15:00,
18:00 - 22:00. Closed Mon, Sun. ££££. J
No. 27 Talbot Street C-1, 27 Talbot St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9031 2884, www.no27.co.uk. Along the side of St. Anne’s
Cathedral, and down one of Belfast’s oldest streets, the exterior
may boast historic red brick but, once inside, it’s a different story.
Dazzling white open-plan dining is broken up with splashes of
modern art while multi-hued lighting changes gradually as you en-
joy your meal. Speaking of which, seafood, steaks, pasta, chicken
and duck are all on offer, accompanied by a complementary array
of classic and inventive sides. QOpen 12:00 - 22:00, Mon 12:00
- 18:00, Sat 18:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. ££££. J
Shu A-5, 253 Lisburn Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9038 1655,
www.shu-restaurant.com. One of the most upmarket
restaurants in town, the impeccably attired waiting staff,
exquisitely prepared fusion food and contemporary interior
attract a discerning clientele. Upstairs there’s a private dining
room for small groups, while downstairs the Shu Bar stirs up a
cocktail of retro funk beats and bistro eats... perfect for late
night divas dripping with sophistication. QOpen . Closed
Sun. Mon-Thu & Sat 12:00 - 14:30, 18:00 - 22:00. Fri 17:30
- 21:30. Shu Bar Fri & Sat 19:00 - 01:00. ClosedSun. ££££.
Teatro B-4, 17 Botanic Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 4090,
www.teatrobelfast.com. Inspired by travels to cities such
as Paris, Madrid and Marrakesh, designer Fleur Jackson has
transformed this small dining space into a bohemian wonderland.
Artwork, antiques and colourful crockery are thrown together in
what seems like an afterthought, but you just know each piece
has been lovingly placed. The culinary experience matches the
candlelit decor, with tapas, kofta and vegetarian mezze among the
Mediterranean dishes. And just when you thought it couldn‘t get
Belfast In Your Pocket
any more seductive, co-owner Kyron Bourke tickles the ivories at
his canopy-swathed piano,as an ever-changing coterie of cabaret
artistes entertains delighted diners. Q Tue-Sat 18:00 - 01:00.
Also Fri, Sat and Sun for lunch/brunch. £££.
The Potted Hen Bistro C-1, 11 Edward St, St. Anne‘s
Square, behind St. Anne‘s Cathedral, tel. (+44) (0)28
9023 4554, www.oreganorestaurant.com/the-pottedhen.
Owners Dermot and Catherine Regan have brought their fresh,
local produce sensibilities from Oregano, its sister restaurant in
Newtownabbey, to this brand new city centre bistro. Located in
pristine St. Anne‘s Square, the stylish space reflects its courtyard
abode with a dark, slate grey floor and interior iron columns. And
the urban-cool vibe continues with plain wooden furniture, large
feature clock and exposed duct work on the ceilings. The daily
food journey begins at breakfast with luxury pastries, muffins and
creamy hot chocolate, then envelopes mid-morning snacks and
lunch before culminating in a dinner menu replete with Finnebrogue
venison, Glenarm salmon and other fine eats. The atmosphere‘s
as relaxed as the menu is refined, so drop by any time and have
as much - or as little - as you like. Q Mon-Sat 10:30 - 15:00,
17:00 - 22:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00. ££-£££. J
Seafood
Mourne Seafood Bar C-1, 34-36 Bank St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9024 8544, www.mourneseafood.com. Situated beside
Kelly’s Cellars Irish pub, this extremely popular eaterie serves
locally sourced mussels, oysters, langoustine and lots of other
delicious marine morsels in a cool and unforced atmosphere.
Food in cooked traditional style or with a continental or Asian twist,
half dozen oysters and Mourne mussel pots make particularly
appealing snacks. The gamut of gastro creations ranges from
beer battered fish and chips to whole hot buttered lobster, with ev-
erything from locally-brewed ale to bottles of bubbly complement-
ing the cuisine. There’s even a cute fish shop at the front (open
Tues-Sat 10:00-17:30) for take-home treats. And, if fish ain’t your
thing, the restaurant also offers prime rib eye steak and veggie op-
tions.One of the city’s finest restaurants. Q Mon 12:00 - 17:00.
Tues-Thur 12:00 - 21:30. Fri-Sat 12:00 - 16:00, 17:00 - 22:30.
Sun 13:00-18:00 ££££. J
Tedfords D-1, 5 Donegall Quay, tel. (+44) (0)28 9043
4000, www.tedfordsrestaurant.com. This former ships
chandlers has changed its exterior from landmark blue to
pale taupe and added steak to its acclaimed seafood menu.
Inside, the mariner theme may have given way to a more
contemporary dining experience, but the food is of the same
exceptional standard, and the second floor is designed to
reflect the decor of a luxury liner (albeit a small one). Inventive
fish dishes such as curry roast monkfish and grilled sea bass
with crab and chive mash share the bill with Irish Angus beef
and other meaty delights. Still a Belfast institution, despite the
repaint. Q Wed, Thur, Fri 12:00 - 14:30, 17:00-late. Tues, Sat
17:00-late. Closed Sun. ££££. J
Spanish & Latin America
La Boca C-2, 6 Fountain St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 3087,
www.labocabelfast.com. Vivid tones and cool canvases
dominate this dining space recalling the bohemian dockside
district of Buenos Aires. Argentinean-born owner Pedro Donald
has paid homage to his spiritual homeland with a Spanish-infused
bistro selection of food and drink - most notably the authentic
tapas, juicy steaks and Argentinean wines. Coffees and chocolate
brownies will soothe snack pangs and art lovers will relish the
ever-changing exhibition of local work. If you’re looking for a cool
city centre dining experience, you can’t get much better than this.
Free wifi. QOpen Mon 10:30 - 15:00, Tue 10:30 - 20:00, Wed and
Thur 10:30 - 21:00, Fri & Sat 10:30 - 22:00. ££-£££. JW
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Restaurants 25

Indian

Louisa Lytton aka Eastenders’ Ruby

beers on draft. And all those vegetarians among you

will love the extensive selection of meat-free dishes.
Its location, a few minutes’ walk from the Grand Opera
House, ensures a steady stream of well-known faces
eager to chow down on nothing but the best Indian food.
Q Mon-Sat 12:00 - 14:00, 17:30 - 23:00, Sat until 23:30,
Sun 17:00 - 22:00. £££. JSW
Billy Connolly strikes a pose with the Gingeroot posse
Gingeroot B-3, 75 Gt Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9031 3124, www.gingeroot.com. Dine on delectable
Northern Indian tandoori-cooked cuisine as you sing
along to plasma screens showing Bollywood music.
This large, modern restaurant does a particularly good
trade in business lunches (free wifi for diners helps
seal the deal) and has plenty of sectioned off space
for private parties. Its food and spices are all freshly
prepared and the family-owned establishment takes
personal pride in its menu and service. Cobra, Kingfisher
and Lal Toofan fans can enjoy NI’s only selection of Indian Tina from Gingeroot with players from the Indian cricket team

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

26 cafés & bistros
Barking Dog B-5, 35 Malone Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9066
1885, www.barkingdogbelfast.com. Quirky canine canvases,
posh peasant-rustic and clashing crockery straight from granny’s
house set the interior tone of this charmingly cool restaurant.
The a la carte offerings feature beautifully prepared and pre-
sented dishes such as roasted rump of lamb with dauphinoise
potatoes and char-grilled chicken with chorizo and white bean
salad. If you fancy something authentically Irish, shove your
fork into the Guinness and mustard mash. The bar menu is
equally inviting, with a pint of prawns or crispy bites of pork
belly going down well with the Erdinger. Look for the eye-catching
black and red terrace near Botanic Inn, and you’ve arrived.
QOpen 12:00 - 22:00, Fri 12:00 - 23:00, Sat 11:00 - 23:00,
Sun 11:00 - 16:00. £££.

Brights C-1, 23-25 High St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9044 5688,
www.brightsrestaurantbelfast.com. Award-winning Ulster fries
and sizzling fajitas sum up the extent of this spacious eatery’s
hugely popular menu. Locals have always loved it, and now tour-
ists are joining them to sample plump, juicy and locally-sourced
sausages that share plate space with regional classics such as
soda and potato bread. Other indigenous fare includes Beef and
Guinness Pie, Dublin Coddle and Colcannon - each served with
a handy guide to their Irish origins. Frothy lattes and decadent
desserts keep shoppers and suits happy too and the large
H&W Belfast pics will leave you refreshed and ready for further
city exploration. QOpen 09:00 - 17:30, Thu 09:00 - 20:00, Sat
09:00 - 18:00. Closed Sun. Also at 23-25 Castle St and Antrim
Rd (take-away). ££. J

Café Conor B-5, 11a Stranmillis Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9066
3266, www.caféconor.com. Once the studio of local painter
William Conor, this modern bistro café is a great place to relax
after exploring the nearby Botanic Gardens and Ulster Museum.
The artistic theme continues with canvases displayed throughout
its lofty skylighted interior. There’s a great selection of gourmet
grub and the convivial atmosphere ensures a steady stream of
stylish regulars. One of the most appealing restaurants in town.
QOpen 09:00 - late. Breakfast served Mon-Fri 9:00 - 12:00.
Sat-Sun 9:00 - 15:00. ££.

Café Renoir B-4, 93 Botanic Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031

1300, www.caférenoir.net/about.html. This family-run
café/restaurant is a three-pronged attack on the tastebuds.
Every evening, Pizza Renoir dishes up the Italian classics with
an incredible array of exotic and traditional toppings. To its left,
cosmopolitan types shoot the breeze over a creamy cappuccino
and devilishly decadent home-baked cake. And upstairs, friends
and lovers work their way through an eclectic international menu
washed down with a hoppy German beer. One of the friendliest,
most laid-back cafés in town... and with some of the best food
too. QOpen 08:00 - 22:30, Sun 09:00 - 22:30. Also at (B-2) 5
Queen St, tel (+44) (0)28 9032 5592, open Mon-Sat 09:00 -
17:00. Thur 09:00 - 19:30. £.

Campbells C-2, 11-14 Arthur St. Skip on past Starbucks

and experience an authentic taste of real Belfast at this
long-established (we’re talking 80 years) café/bakery. Soups,
stews, sandwiches, salads and sausage rolls shore up the
regular clientele eager for some honest-to-goodness home
cooking. Not only is it totally unpretentious, but its excellent
value and unbeatable city centre location ensure this coffee
house a place in local folklore. QOpen 07:00 - 17:00, Sun
13:00 - 17:00. £. J

Cornish Pasty Trading Company C-1, 20 Church Lane,

off High St, www.cornishpastytradingcompany.co.uk.
There‘s a little slice of Cornwall in Belfast city centre with the
arrival of this cute cafe. Inspired and designed by Cornish own-
ers, photos, flags and miners lamps from the West Country

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com

 cafés & bistros 27

decorate the space. And soothing tunes from the region‘s

musicians lend a melancholy air to the upstairs fire-lit Pasty
Snug. The handmade pasties encompass everything from
Traditional Steak to Tarragon & Chicken (we‘re especially liking
the Marmite & Cheese) and are served with salad, coleslaw or
baked beans. And should you fancy a culinary change, soup,
paninis, jacket potatoes and traditional Cornish cakes and
Clotted Cream Teas also shore up the menu. QOpen 10:00
- 15:30, Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. £. JS

Dark Horse C-1, 30-34 Hill St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023
7807, www.thedarkhorsebelfast.com. It’s the future -
cafes that look like bars. And sitting opposite its big brother,
the Duke of York pub, what else would you expect but a cool,
laid back space reflective of its equally insouciant sibling?
Dark wood panelling, stained glass lanterns and antique mir-
rors lend it a Gentleman’s Club ambience. And the Victorian
floor tiles, feature ceiling and leather seating continue the
parlour-like vibe. Soup, sandwiches and free wifi shore up the
lunchtime clientelle. And, though there’s no alcohol, you can
buy a pint and amble back from the Duke of York. Q Mon-Wed
10:00 - 18:00, Thu-Sat 10:00 - 01:00. JW

Deanes Deli C-3, 44 Bedford St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024

8800, www.michaeldeane.co.uk. Owned by Michael Deane,
one of NI’s top restaurateurs, this New York-style deli offers a
chance to sample the Deane experience at a more affordable
price. Eavesdrop on media types (the BBC is just around the
corner) or make a beeline to the next door shop stuffed with
all manner of fancy grub-to-go and Deane’s branded goodies.
The sit-in menu reads like a hymn to all things glorious about
good, fresh food. Seafood, salads, sausages, steak... it’s all
here and looking as fabulous as the sparkly clientèle. Q Mon-
Tues 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 21:00. Wed-Sat 12:00 - 15:00,
17:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. ££. J
Delaneys C-1, 19 Lombard St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023
1572. Safari lodge meets old Hollywood in this bizarre, yet
hugely popular, self-service diner. Popping into this local legend
for a small snack is almost impossible once you see and smell
the array and aroma of traditional food. Only those with a will of
steel can resist their classic desserts, and you can accompany
your meal with a wine or beer. If you’re dropping by for lunch, be
prepared to queue. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00, Thu 09:00 - 21:00,
Sun 12:00 - 17:00. £. J
Grand Central C-1, 95-101 Royal Ave. Mervyn, a lifesize
shipyard worker cast in bronze, greets visitors at this city
centre cafe where laid-back and local is the order of the day.
From the food on your plate to the art on the walls, everything
is home-made and locally crafted; we‘re loving the pretty-as-
a-picture cupcakes juxtaposed with toy soldiers crawling the
walls. Many more curios are dotted throughout and even the
cutely decorated toilet is worthy of your patronage. Velvet sofas
and subdued lighting complete the living room ambience, and
provide a suitably bohemian backdrop for the artists collective
that is the Coffee House Art Club - find out more at www.cof-
feehouseartclub.co.uk. Find it on the ground floor of the red and
white Sinclair House, one of Belfast‘s iconic Art Deco buildings.
QOpen 07:30 - 19:00, Thu 07:30 - 21:00, Sun 09:00 - 18:30.
£. JS
Made In Belfast B-2, Wellington St, www.madein-
belfastni.com. Industrial warehouse collides stylishly with
thrown-together chic at this urban diner. Miss-matched
furniture, lampshades and mirrors populate its double height
expanse and scuffed floorboards hark back to the building’s
fashion emporium past. The menu is as nostalgic as the
decor, with retro fish finger sandwiches, coronation chicken
salad and toffee flavour pokes (that’s an ice cream cone to
you) all for the asking. Ingredients are locally sourced where
possible and occasionally organic too. Definitely the new
place to chill out in the city centre. Find it off Donegall Square
West. QOpen 08:00 - 22:30, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 02:00, Sun
10:00 - 17:00. £££. J
Muriel’s Café Bar C-1, 12-14 Church Lane, off High St,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9033 2445. Nestled between High St’s In
Shops and St. George’s Church is this glorious little retreat
named after its former resident milliner and sometime ‘angel
of the footpath’. Damask drapes, velvet seating and dark walls
are illuminated with mirrors, chandeliers and an open fire.
Downstairs, a display of hat paraphernalia reflects Muriel’s
less lascivious past. The food ranges from a great breakfast
selection to all-day meat, cheese and seafood platters.
Come the weekend, DJs play suitably eclectic background
music for the stylish clientèle. QOpen 08:30 - 01:00, Sun
10:00 - 24:00. £££. J

Grapevine C-1, 5 Pottinger’s Entry. Very easy to miss, but
worth seeking out down a historic little alley, this small café
serves great value wholesome and homemade food that’s a bit
more adventurous than the norm at this price range. We’re talk-
ing gumbo, beef stew with rosemary and seafood chowder, as
well as the usual office worker faves of salads and sandwiches.
They say ‘food with soul’ and we’re inclined to agree. QOpen
08:00 - 17:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. £. J
Printers Café Bar C-1, 33 Lower Donegall St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9031 3406, www.daniellemcq.com. This stylish little
bistro shares a side-street with the Duke of York bar and, like its
neighbour, attracts journos, arty types and hungry business-
folk. The small, yet impressively global, weekend evening menu
is as aspirational as the clientèle. A real Cathedral Quarter find.
Q Mon-Thur 12:00 - 15:00. Fri 12:00 - 15:00, 17:30 - 21:30.
Sat 18:00-late. Closed Sun. £££. JS

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

28 cafés & bistros
Spires Restaurant & Coffee Shop B-2, Spires Mall,
Great Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031 2881. At the
heart of Spires Mall sits this open-plan café with a great self-
service selection of salads, paninis and hot dishes - including
the all important cooked breakfast - to shore up hungry shop-
pers. Tea, coffee and traybakes (flatish cakey treats) keep the
munchies at bay, and the soothing blues music prepares you
for further retail fun. News junkies can keep an eye on the
plasma TV or choice of daily reads. A real treat in the heart of
the city. QOpen 08:30 - 17:30. Closed Sun. ££. J
Urban Soul C-2, 23 May St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 5554,
www.maystreetchurch.co.uk. Located in the basement of
May Street Church, this unique spiritual oasis is a world away
from the city’s insistent noise and buzz. There’s nowhere else
like it in Belfast - a café/alcohol-free nightclub that practises
Christian ideology with freedom of expression and creativity
at the forefront of its ethos. QOpen 10:00 - 14:30. Closed
Sat,Sun. £. JE
Coffee & Snacks
Bookfinders B-4, 47 University Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 8269. Grab a dusty novel and join the intelligentsia
plotting the next socialist revolution at the back of this
shabby-chic second-hand bookshop. No table or chair is
alike, but that just adds to its no-frills charm. Hot drinks,
filled pitta pockets and home-made traybakes go down a
storm with the bookworms. An absolute must for hungry
hippies and soul-searching scribes. QOpen 10:00 - 17:30.
Closed Sun. £. J
Caffè Nero C-2, Unit A1, Fountain Centre, College
St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 8282, www.caffenero.com.
Blue and black signs for this café chain are springing up
all over town, but our favourite location is this two-storey
space on Fountain Street. Leather sofas, lucious lattes and
the usual assortment of paninis, sandwiches and sweets
serve a busy lunchtime clientèle. If it’s warm and dry, head
upstairs and outside for a rooftop Fountain Centre perch.
You’d almost think you were somewhere... QOpen 07:00 -
19:00, Sat 08:00 - 19:00, Sun 09:00 - 18:00. Also at (C-2)
House of Fraser in Victoria Square and (C-2) 48-50 Ann St £.
JSW
Clements C-4, 66 Botanic Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9033
1827. One of the city’s best coffee chains, locally-owned
Clements boasts several locations across the city and
a rather hip, young clientele, epseically in its Botanic Ave
location. A range of top-notch coffees are prepared by
award-winning baristas and the yummy sweets and scones
make divine accompaniments. Squishy sofas and a selec-
tion of newspapers provide the perfect place for languid
contemplation. QOpen 07:30 - 23:00, Sat 08:00 - 23:00,
Sun 10:00 - 23:00. Also at (C-2), 4 Donegall Sq. West; (C-2),
Castle St; 342 Lisburn Rd; (C-1), 37 Rosemary St; (C-1), 131
Royal Ave. £. JS
Jenz C-2, Castle Lane. A dizzying array of chocolate and
sweetie-fuelled milkshakes abound at this ‘surfs up’ style
snack stop. Home of the Hippy Shakes, it‘s perfect for a chilled
sugary pick-me-up in between shopping jaunts. Have a pop
at the Shake-a-cino - a heady concoction of espresso, ice
cream and flavoured syrup. And don‘t let all those schoolkids
put you off. Q £. JS
Smyth & Gibson C-2, Bedford House, Bedford St, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9023 0388, www.smythandgibson.com.
Upstairs in this bespoke gentleman’s shirtmakers is a cute
little coffee shop serving a small yet salient selection of
Belfast In Your Pocket
hot brews and sweet snacks. A great place to flick through
FHM or Harpers & Queens before continuing your shopping
onslaught. QOpen 07:30 - 17:30, Sat 10:00 - 17:30. Closed
Sun. £. J
Yummy Sandwiches B-2, Spires Mall, Upper Queen
St. entrance, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031 2881, www.yum-
mysandwiches.co.uk. This bijou food kiosk offers a bit more
than the average city centre sandwich bar. Burgers, hot dogs,
homemade soup, toasties and daily specials sit alongside
salads, snacks and those all-important sandwiches. There’s
a couple of stools and tables on which to perch as you eat
before you hit the shops inside the stylish Spires Mall. QOpen
08:30 - 14:30. Closed Sat, Sun. £. JSW
Fish & Chips
Brights C-1, 23-25 High St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9044 5688,
www.brightsrestaurantbelfast.com. City centre fish and
chip fans should make a beeline for this long-established
café where the All Day Cod Supper is a thing of beauty and
wonder (though not for the cod). Our humble fishy friend comes
smoked, battered, breaded and in bites, with whiting, haddock
and scampi also on the seafood menu. And the homemade
chips are served as is, or smothered in pepper, cheesy, gravy
or curry sauces. (See main listing in Cafés & Bistros). QOpen
09:00 - 17:30, Thu 09:00 - 20:00, Sat 09:00 - 18:00. Closed
Sun. ££. J
Long’s Fish Restaurant B-2, 39 Athol St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9032 1848. For almost a century, Long’s has
been serving misers, minions and millionaires its classic
chips-with-everything fare. The wood-panelled walls and
formica booths provide an authentic chip shop backdrop
for folk who like their food sans the fancy trimmings, de-
signer vibe or faux-retro decor. Honest-to-goodness fried
food from the oldest chippy in town. As they say in Belfast,
you can’t beat it with a big stick. Find it off Grosvenor
Rd. Q Open 11:45 - 18:30, Sat 12:00 - 18:00. Closed
Sun. £. JS
Mr. JDs New Titanic Restaurant G-2, 222 New-
townards Rd, M3, tel. (+44) (0)28 9045 8383. This
honest-to-goodness chippy, near East Belfast’s shipyard
and Titanic mural, has embraced the maritime theme with
old photos, newspaper cuttings, Titanic models and other
memorabilia. Maritime souvenirs including prints, t-shirts and
postcards are also available to buy with profits going to the
Nomadic Preservation Society. Food-wise, opt for the 2-for-1
pastie lunch deal or go BIG with the Titanic Special 16oz cod
with chips and peas. Segafredo coffee and Mr. Smoothie ice
creams round off the grub. Seating for 60, a gluten free range
and five-star ratings confirm its status and popularity amongst
those in the know. Q Mon-Sat 12:00 - 19:00. Last sit-in orders
18:30. £. S
Spuds B-4, 37 Bradbury Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9033
1541. This counter-service chip shop offers students, suits
and the slightly sozzled a fantastic array of fast food. They’ve
got the usual chips and burgers, but how about a baked
potato filled with chicken in pepper sauce, lasagne and ‘slaw
or bacon, cabbage & mash? These guys do it better than
the big boys, so get stuck in. QOpen 11:00 - 02:00, Sun
11:00 - 01:00. £. JS
Follow Belfast In Your Pocket
on and
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Nightlife 29

Whether you’re after a quiet pint in a traditional pub, giggles over

girlie cocktails or a hedonistic night of hardcore dance, Belfast’s
nightlife scene has the lot (Club entry prices can range from free
to around £10 depending on day and time). The Cathedral
Quarter, around City Hall, Golden Mile (Gt. Victoria St, Botanic
Ave and Bradbury Place) and around Queen’s University are the
main social hubs. A few authentic traditional Irish bars can also
be found in the Docks area and just west of the city centre To
help you navigate your way around the city’s barstrewn streets,
check out this chapter’s handy sections.

Bars
Trad/trendy tags elude this salient selection. Read up and
head out: some of these venues are definitely worthy of
your patronage.

Eglantine B-5, 32 Malone Rd, M8, tel. (+44) (0)28 9038

1944, www.egbar.co.uk. Known by all as ‘The Eg’, this bar/
nightclub is slicker than the average student haunt. Rows of
wine bottles back-lit in red are displayed behind the bar to styl-
ish effect. Cosy leather sofas, dark wood tables and chairs and
plasma TVs provide armchair sports fans with ample viewing
opportunities. Closing time can descend into a drunken taxi grab
as hordes of lads and over-emotional girlfriends loiter outside.
Be ye warned... QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Mon, Tue 11:30 - 24:00,
Sun 12:00 - 24:00. K

McCracken’s Café Bar C-1/2, 4 Joy’s Entry, off

High St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 6711, www.mccrack-
enscafébar.co.uk. Formerly O’Neills, this modernised
bar is very easy to miss tucked, as it is, down one of the
city’s famously narrow alleyways. Joy’s Entry, and the bar
itself, was named after Mary Ann McCracken, the sister of
United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken, who was tried and
hanged in Cornmarket in July 1798. The bar’s front step
proclaims ‘fine dining and downtown drinking’. Inside, its
dark wood snugs and bar get busy when the DJ releases
an R&B vibe at Saturday’s Club ON. QOpen 11:30 - 21:00,
Thu 11:30 - 23:00, Fri 11:30 - 01:00, Sat 11:30 - 03:00,
Sun 12:30 - 18:00. Closed Sun JEK
Muriel‘s Cafe Bar C-1, 12-14 Church Lane, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9027 9595. Named after a famous madame who, rumour
has it, ran a hat shop by day and brothel by night, Muriel‘s Cafe
Bar is the latest, trendy little watering hole to blossom from the
streets of an ever-changing Belfast. Beautifully decorated to re-
semble a stylish boudoir a la Moulin Rouge, Muriel‘s is an absolute
must-see if you‘re after fine food and a choice of beverages that
would spoil even the most refined connoisseur. We recommend
the cheese board and a big glass of Bordeaux...simply divine!
QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. JK
mer ice hockey professional, Jim Graves has left no puck, ball
or jersey unturned in his quest to represent sporting legends
from his native country, the USA and NI. And his dedication
to the search has unearthed quite a few Irish emmigrants
who became big players across the pond... providing Rock-
ies with a fascinating Wall of Fame devoted to our forgotten
heroes. Fans of the Belfast Giants and visiting teams should
head to the bar pre- and post-match to shoot the breeze. A
pool table and plasma screens enhance the sports theme.
QOpen 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00.
Clubs
Though these are the main venues for some serious club
action, bear in mind that many bars and hotels also have
their own dance annex. Always remember, the key is in the
cross-referencing!

Robinsons B-2, 38 Gt. Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
7447, www.robinsonsbar.co.uk. This colossal complex of
five bars spread over three floors features Fibber Magee‘s
- an Irish back bar with regular folk music sessions, BT1 - a
stylish basement bar with unisex toilets, Bistro Lounge and
Roxy nightclub on the first floor and the main Robinsons bar
at street level. The big Victorian building‘s diverse decor is
designed to appeal to all ages and nightlife tastes. And with
the Grand Opera House right across the road, it‘s very handy
for a pre-theatre nosh-up. Big, as they say, is beautful. QOpen
11:30 - 01:00, Sun 12:30 - 24:00. JEK
Rockies D-1, Odyssey Pavilion, 2 Queen‘s Quay, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9046 7020, www.rockiessportsbar.com.
From Wayne Gretzky to Wayne McCullough... local and North
American sports stars‘ memorabilia adorns every spare
space of this shrine-like sports bar. Canadian owner, and for-
Club Mono C-2, 96-100 Ann St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9027
8886, www.monobelfast.com. Weekenders can throw shapes
to RnB (Fri), House (Sat) and Indie, Hip Hop and Old School (Sun)
at this downtown club. The 500 capacity two-storey space has
a futuristic vibe with black, grey and silver decor, and the age
range is reflected in the music style. A monthly Ministry of Sound
residency (last Sat every month) ups the cool quotient. Find it
close to the Albert Clock. QOpen 22:00 - 03:00. J
La Lea B-2, 43 Franklin St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 0200,
www.lalea.com. Above Bar Bacca there’s a big, bold nightclub
teeming with young professionals determined to drink a week’s
wages in one night. So break out the glitter, down those shots and
join the throng on the dance floor or - if you’re really drunk - dance
ledge (You’ll see when you get there). Every night there’s a different
sound, from midweek R&B and soul to weekend house for the
more hardcore. QOpen Fri, Sat 21:00 - 02:30. JE

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

30 Nightlife
The Front Page Bar
110 Donegall St, Belfast.
LIVE BANDS - DJs - PUNK
ALTERNATIVE - TECHNO
PLASMA SCREENS
M Club B-4, 23 Bradbury Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023
3131, www.mclub.co.uk. This church of cheese, high tem-
ple of tack, minster of madness (you get the picture) makes no
apologies for its big, brash naughtiness. Outside, a giant block
of flashing lights beckons swarms of half-dressed girls and
post-pubescent boys, eager for a Saturday night of hot club
capers. On Fridays, the 70s-themed disco attracts an older
crowd reliving their glory days from the decade taste forgot.
Stags and hens could do a lot worse. QOpen Tue, Thu, Fri,
Sat 21:00 - 01:00. Downstairs VBar open Mon-Sat from
18:00. JE
Rain C-1, 10-14 Tomb St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032
7308, w w w.rainnightclub.co.uk. The kind of loud,
vibrant and hedonistic club beat-junkies crave, Rain
boasts a different theme every night of the week. On
Sunday it’s all about the party anthems while on Monday,
Rain hosts the superb gay/friendly night ‘Rainbow’ with
the resident DJ scratching all the right tunes. Things
get a little more rustic on Tuesday with the student
night offering party-starved studes indie rock classics
and craz y par ty games. Wednesday delivers banging
tunes wi th atti tude, and Thursday offers easy R‘n‘B
downstairs and party anthems upstairs. Friday night is a
peach with the excellent R‘n‘B club night ‘Candy’. And on
Saturday, indulge yourself with some funky house. Phew!
After all that,we need a lie down... Q Open 21:00 - 03:00,
Fri 17:00 - 03:00. J
The Bunker B-4, Laverys, 12 Bradbury Place, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9087 1106, www.laverysbelfast.com. Join
Belfast‘s party people at one of the city‘s most enduring,
eclectic and laid back venues. All music tastes are covered
through the week, with various underground music clubs
including CAKE, SoundMelt, Pubstep, Megablast & Trench-
foot. On Fridays it‘s Indie & Electro night GIGANTIC followed
by Saturday nights‘ CONTRAST which brings on two floors
of Alternative Music to the masses from 9pm - late. 3D TV
sport also adds to the mercurial mix throughout the week.
Find it inside Laverys (see Traditional Pubs for main listing).
QOpen 22:00 - 02:00. £3-5. J
Thompsons C-2, 3 Patterson Place, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9032 3762, www.clubthompsons.com. Now in
its second decade of hardcore clubbing, Thompson’s is
definitely not for the fainthearted. The commercial dance,
house and R&B is loud, and the youngish crowd is very,
very up for it. No bad thing if you’re tired of being good. Two
floors of constant noise and euphoria taking you into the
wee small hours. Find it off Donegall Square East. QOpen
23:00 - 03:00. J
Belfast In Your Pocket
Contemporary bars
It’s all self-tans and hair straighteners for the city’s 20 or
30-somethings. Join them for a night of dining, drinking and
dancing in one of Belfast’s many one-stop night haunts. With
everything under one roof, there’s simply no need to crawl.
What city sophisticate could ask for more?
21 Social C-1, 1 Hill St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 1415,
www.21social.co.uk. Opened in June 2010, the Cathedral
Quarter’s latest day-to-night venue has already established
itself as a favourite with sparkly locals and fun-loving tourists
(yes, that’s you). In fact, 21 Social has already attracted
outstanding reviews and awards a go-go. The modernist
exterior swathes three floors of food, drink and music
served in super sleek surroundings. And a delicious and
great value-for-money menu offers up such mouth-watering
morsels as Breast of Lisarra Duck, Steak and Guinness
pie, Co. Antrim Lamb Shank and traditional Sunday Roast.
Weekends bring out the party posse and make 21 Social
the life and soul of the city‘s coolest night-time hub. A
must-see for visitors coming to Belfast. Go forth, dine,
imbibe, dance and enjoy. Q Mon-Tues 12:00 - 23:00, Wed
12:00 - 24:00, Thur-Sat 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00.
(Food served Mon-Sat 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 21:00, Sun
13:00 - 19:00). ££. JK
Apartment C-2, 2 Donegall Square West, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9050 9777, www.apartmentbelfast.com. A familiar
haunt for trendy young things searching for future bedmates
through the haze of bison grass vodkas and other assorted
potions. The views across the City Hall are spectacular - day
or night - and the Asian and trad-modern food is superb
value. The Ground Floor Apartment pavement-level space
delivers a sleek menu dedicated to freshly blended coffees
and designer beers. Delish. QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Sun
12:00 - 24:00. JK
Bar Bacca C-2, 43 Franklin St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023
0200, www.barbacca.com. Subdued lighting, pot-bellied
Bhuddas and fusion food lure city slickers in their droves for
a cheeky apres-work tipple or pre-nightclub cocktail (La Lea’s
upstairs). Snuggle up in cushioned corners and enjoy a devilish
Chocolate Martini before the crowds arrive and music rises
to an ear-splitting volume. QOpen 16:00 - 22:30, Fri, Sat
17:00 - 01:00. Closed Sun. Closed Sun JK
Café Vaudeville C-2, 25 Arthur St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9043 9160, www.cafévaudeville.com. A riot of ritzy
glamour and rich hues, the only things missing from this
downtown watering hole are a girl on a swing and a bird in a
gilded cage... but we’re sure they’re working on it. Beneath
the stained-glass dome of this neo-classical former bank
building is an upstairs ‘Bolli Bar’ and ground floor flirting zone
favoured by the ‘second chance at romance’ brigade (you get
the picture). Cheesy retro tunes sit incongruously with the
sumptuously ornate, chandelier-strewn wonderland, but the
glammed up natives seem happy. Food is served late morning
to evening. QOpen 11:30 - 24:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 11:30 - 01:00.
Closed Sun. JKW
Cutters River Grill & Bar E-2, Lockview Rd, Stranmil-
lis, M8, tel. (+44) (0)28 9080 5100, www.cuttersriver-
grill.com. If the sun slips from behind its cloudy cover, grab
a bus or taxi and join the throngs of revellers at this great
riverside bar. Perch on a terrace picnic table and enjoy the
scenery as rugby boys, rowers and other assorted sporty
types compare muscles and swill back the beer. The food’s
not bad too. Refreshing stuff! QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Mon,
Tue 11:30 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. K
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Nightlife 31

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

32 Nightlife
Irene and Nans B-2, 12 Brunswick St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9023 9123, www.ireneandnans.com. Time the bar staff with
the kitsch 1950s Bakelight and starburst clocks, as you jostle for
position among the baying hordes. You could be waiting a while,
as this popular city centre bar can get crammed at night. The
dining area, cocktail list, resident DJ and lounging sofas provide
day-to-night diversions for an upbeat crowd clinging to their fading
youth: and any half-decent passer by. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00.
Closed Sun. JK
Morrisons C-3, 21 Bedford St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032
0030. Students, young professionals and media luvvies from
the nearby BBC gravitate towards this popular downtown bar.
Inside, there’s a cool, modern vibe with comfy alcoves, window
seats and high bar stools & tables breaking up the ground floor.
The contemporary upstairs bar benefits from subtle lighting,
studded aluminium panels, laid back sofas and a deep red and
monochrome décor. A great place to grab some delicious lunch
and indulge in a civilised drink or three... QOpen 11:30 - 01:00,
Mon 11:30 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 23:00. JK
Northern Whig C-1, 2 Bridge St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9050
9888, www.thenorthernwhig.com. Once the offices of an
old Belfast newspaper, this 19th century listed building was
reborn in 1997 as a big, bold bar/nightclub. Avoiding the
obvious newspaper theme, the Whig’s new interior is inspired
by the Soviet Revolution. Three colossal socialist statues
imported from Prague take centre stage, and the cocktail
list features bolshy-faves Lenin and Archangel. The space
is cavernous - rising up three floors - but it’s still packed every
weekend with trendy sorts of varying wrinklage. Good food is
served throughout the day. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00, Mon, Tue
12:00 - 23:00, Sun 13:00 - 23:00. JK
Spaniard C-1, 3 Skipper St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 2448,
www.thespaniardbar.com. Wallpapered with vintage 80s
record sleeves, and with just enough room to swing a straw
donkey, this little watering hole is as cosy as it is cool. After-
work and pre-club tipplers have made this Cathedral Quarter
haunt their home. Its relaxed retro style is as kitsch as a
Benidorm ashtray and, if you closed your eyes while sipping a
cervesa, you could almost believe you were in Spain. We said
almost. Look for the smiling Salvador Dali down the side of
The Merchant Hotel and you’re there. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00,
Sun 12:00 - 24:00. JK
Traditional Bars
Bittles C-2, 103 Victoria St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031 1088.
This 19th century structure resembles a mini version of New
York‘s Flatiron building. Occupying a corner site near the Albert
Clock and shiny Victoria Square, Bittles is a small bar steeped
in history and attracting an older crowd by day and younger
boozers late on. Originally called the Shakespeare, the literary
theme has continued with portraits of famous Irish writers,
including Yeats, Wilde and Joyce. QOpen 11:30 - 23:00, Fri,
Sat 11:30 - 01:00, Sun 11:30 - 19:00. JK
Crown Liquor Saloon B-2, 46 Gt. Victoria St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9024 3187, www.crownbar.com. Owned by the
National Trust and without question Belfast’s most famous
bar, this city centre landmark is the first place tourists head
for their inaugural pint of Guinness. Outside it’s a remarkable
riot of mosaic tiles, and the opulence continues inside with
more tiles, etched windows and an intricately carved ceiling.
The snugs, gas lamps and long granite bar all hark back to the
bar’s Victorian origins but the eclectic crowd helps this grand
old dame keep her youth. Good nourishing food is served both
in the bar and upstairs in the Crown Dining Rooms. QOpen
11:30 - 24:00, Sun 12:30 - 22:00. JK
Belfast In Your Pocket
Duke of York C-1, 7 Commercial Court, off Donegall St,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 1062. Hidden down a cobbled Cathe-
dral Quarter alley off Donegall St. this fantastic pub pays homage
to Belfast’s industrial past and centuries-old newspaper trade.
Art students, old hacks and media types come together to
enjoy great live music and retro disco tunes in a decidedly un-
pretentious, super-friendly setting. Politicos among you may be
interested to learn that Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams used to be
a barman here. And smokers can rejoice in the outside heated
smoking area. QOpen 11:30 - 24:00, Mon 11:30 - 23:00, Thu,
Fri, Sat 11:30 - 01:00, Sun 14:00 - 22:00. JEK
Front Page C-1, 106 Donegall St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 4269, www.thefrontpagebar.com. Established in
1871 and remodelled in 1986, the Front Page sits directly
opposite the Irish News daily newspaper and close to the
Belfast Telegraph building. The pub survived a spate of 1970s
bombings and today journos, art students and long-time
regulars are devotees of this appealingly unpretentious joint.
It’s another good live music and underground club venue in
the rejuvenated Cathedral Quarter. Check out the Live Folk
and Traditional Music every Friday night at McElhatton’s bot-
tom bar. QOpen 11:30 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 11:30 - 01:00, Sun
12:30 - 22:00. JEK
Garrick C-2, 29 Chichester St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032
1984, www.thegarrickbar.com. One of Belfast’s oldest
bars, the revamped Garrick is a great city centre pub.
Dark wood ceilings strewn with big glass lanterns, booths
with button down leather and copper pumps and pipes
retain the traditional Victorian feel in the downstairs bar.
And the elegant aura extends to the top floor room and
back bar which also features a fabulous Venetian mirror,
quirky display of barometres and, somewhat disturbingly,
a dilapidated doll dangling overhead. Footy fans can watch
live matches on the big screens and music fans can enjoy
trad sessions and the Belfast Music Club’s DJ sets on Wed
and Fri-Sun nights. Good food is served seven days a week.
QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Sun 13:00 - 24:00. Food served
Mon & Tues 12:00 - 19:00, Wed-Sat 12:00 - 20:00, Sun
13:00 - 18:00. JEK
John Hewitt C-1, 51 Donegall St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9023 3768, www.thejohnhewitt.com. This much-loved
Cathedral Quarter stalwart is as traditional as they come.
Named after a local poet and socialist, the bar is privately
owned by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre. All dark
wood, real fires and board games; it’s the perfect place to
relax with a pint and shoot the breeze with the customary
band of scribes and boho-types. With award-winning food,
and regular jazz and Irish music sessions, it’s easy to forget
this fantastic melting pot only opened in 1999. QOpen
11:30 - 01:00, Sun 19:00 - 24:00. JEK
Katy Daly’s C-3, 17 Ormeau Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 5968, www.katydalysbelfast.com. This cool trad
pub has long been a favourite with Belfast’s music frater-
nity; Ash, David Gray and Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray have all
cut their teeth for the KD faithful. Depending on the night,
your ears will be bombarded with anything from lo-fi and alt
country to metal and alternative. And open mic nights give
wannabees a chance to wow the crowd. All this, and there’s
great pub grub for the daytime crowd filling KD’s indoor and,
in fine weather, outdoor seats. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00, Sun
19:00 - 24:00. JEK
Kelly’s Cellars C-1, 30 Bank St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
6058. Down a sidestreet off Royal Avenue lurks this 16th
century black and white bar, one of the city’s oldest and, in
our opinion, most authentic. Positively no pandering to tour-
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Nightlife 33

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

34 Nightlife
ists, designer cocktail lists or faux-trad nonsense. Instead,
it’s all about the serious business of imbibing as the congre-
gation worships at the high altar of Arthur Guinness and co.
Regular outbursts of Irish music add to its unforced charm.
QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Sun 13:00 - 24:00. JEK
Kitchen Bar C-2, 38 Victoria Square, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 4901, www.thekitchenbar.com. Exposed bricks,
painted girders and wooden beams retain a trad air amid a dis-
tinctly modern warehouse vibe. Visitors can enjoy a legendary
Paddy’s Pizza (with hot soda bread base) and pint of real ale. Live
music sessions attract a diverse blend of raconteurs, artisans,
trendy types and shoppers from neighbouring Victoria Square.
QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 -
21:00. JEK
Laverys B-4, 12 Bradbury Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9087
1106, www.laverysbelfast.com. This three-storey drinking
den has long been home to a colourful clientele of old boys,
bikers, students and dead-heads. Its enduring charm makes
‘Lavs’ one of Belfast‘s hardy old bars and an absolute must
for pub crawlers and music enthusiasts. On the first floor,
the Bunker attracts high profile guest DJs and live acts, as
well as running alternative club nights most week nights (see
separate listing). The Ballroom, Laverys‘ refurbished and
renovated pool hall is a must see for all cue sharks. Complete
with open air roof terrace/smoking area, it combines a classic
billiards hall with the dynamic of a modern club. Don‘t miss
the Saturday night club CONTRAST - a massive party across
both rooms. The ground floor of Belfast‘s oldest family-run
bar is a real trad classic, with the ornate Gin Palace (aka
Public Bar) offering friendly banter, great sports coverage, top
notch food (12-9), ‘Pull your own pint’ tables and a traditional
music session every Mon & Tues night. The more rustic
Back Bar and Beer Garden exude an earthy feel with nightly
free music events running the gamut of rock to reggae and
folk to funk. Go on, fill yer boots. QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Sun
12:30 - 24:00. JEK
McHughs D-1, 29 Queens Square, tel. (+44) (0)28
9050 9999, www.mchughsbar.com. This revamped Grade
A listed building dates back to 1711, making it Belfast’s oldest
bar (though others contest the claim). The beautifully restored
façade faces pedestrianised Custom House Square - venue
for many open air concerts and cultural events. Inside the
bar You’ll find nooks and crannies crammed with salvaged
emblems of Belfast’s industrial past. The restaurant serves
an imaginative traditional menu and the basement bar
heaves with an older crowd tempted by its traditional music
sessions, live bands and discos. QOpen 12:00 - 01:00, Sun
12:00 - 24:00. JEK
Morning Star C-1, 17 Pottinger’s Entry, tel. (+44) (0)28
9023 5986, www.themorningstarbar.com. Tucked down
one of Belfast’s most famous ‘entries’ nestles this restored
old coach house dating back to the early 1800s. It’s yet
another city centre pub grub fave that becomes a nighttime
grave. During the day, if you’re not upstairs eating, grab a
Guinness and eavesdrop on old boys shooting the sporting
breeze. QOpen 10:30 - 23:30, Thu 10:30 - 24:00, Fri, Sat
10:30 - 01:00, Sun 12:00 - 20:00. JK
Roost C-1, 46 Church Lane, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 3282.
Newly refurbished and given a long overdue breath of fresh
air, The Roost has transformed from an old man’s pub into
a funky, far-out den that’ll tantalise your senses as soon as
you saunter through the door. Bedecked with old works of art,
slightly macabre animal heads complete with sunglasses,
empty bird cages, antique Disney puppets and - to top it all
off - an 8ft ostrich, this bar looks like it’s been decorated by
Belfast In Your Pocket
Dr Who after he’s just returned from a safari on the island of
Dr Moreau. Head down for a few drinks before the DJ kicks
off on Saturday night and, if you’re anything like us, You’ll
be getting hurled out at closing time along with all man-
ner of arty, sophisticated trendsetters... Splendid! QOpen
11:30 - 01:00, Mon, Tue 11:30 - 19:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00.
JEK
White’s Tavern C-1, 2 Winecellar Entry, off Lombard St,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 3080, www.whitestavern.co.uk.
You’ll find one of Belfast oldest bars tucked down a back alley
complete with honest to goodness cobblestones. Downstairs
is all dark and brooding with peat fires and trad music to warm
the soul. At weekends the upstairs bar becomes the haunt
of locals in the know, from boho-chic students to those who
wish they still were. The relaxed melee of eclectic styles
and sounds embraces a cool clientele draped across sofas
and a DJ perched in his lofty balcony. Dance, don’t dance: no
pressure. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Thu 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat
12:00 - 01:00. JEK
Live music
Auntie Annie’s C-3, 44 Dublin Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28
9050 1660, www.auntieanniesbelfast.com. A grungy
student crowd flocks to this dark wood pub in search of
good live music and a beery night out. Emerging bands and
singer-songwriters get up close and intimate with the hordes
who also clamour to the bar’s alternative club nights. QOpen
12:00 - 01:00, Sun 14:00 - 24:00. JEK
Black Box C-1, 18 Hill St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
4400, office@blackboxbelfast.com, www.blackbox-
belfast.com. The Cathedral Quarter’s latest initimate
arts venue is home to music, theatre, comedy and many
other eclectic nights out. Join the boho set in this delightful
renovated building which consistantly throws up some of
the city’s most culturally diverse nights out. QOpen 19:00
- 23:00. Opening and closing times can vary depending
on gigs JE
Empire B-4, 40 Botanic Ave, M7, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 8110, www.thebelfastempire.com. This 19th
century converted church is a two-in-one venue with a
comprehensive programme of live comedy, music and
clubbing. Upstairs the Victorian music hall theme provides
a sumptuous backdrop for live music per formances.
The basement bar serves great value food and, at night,
becomes a hive of activity for beer connoisseurs. During
term time (Sep-June), Belfast’s longest running comedy
club attracts top acts attempting to win over one of the
toughest audiences on the circuit. QOpen 11:30 - 01:00,
Sun 12:00 - 24:00. EK
Limelight C-3, 17 Ormeau Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032
5942, www.the-limelight.co.uk. On either side of Katy
Daly’s bar sit two of the best alternative music venues
in town, the Limelight and Spring & Airbrake. The older
Limelight is a dark and moody music venue attracting
an impressive line-up of emerging and well-known acts
(previous gigs include the Scissor Sisters, Kaiser Chiefs
and The Streets). It’s also a great place to catch a band
before they hit the big time and charge exorbitant ticket
prices. The club nights are a big hit with the city’s indie
kids. QOpen , Tue 21:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 22:00 - 01:00.
Not open every night JE
Spring & Airbrake C-3, 15 Ormeau Ave, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9032 5942, www.the-limelight.co.uk. The Lime-
light’s younger sibling has a more diverse live music policy.
belfast.inyourpocket.com

Indie and rock tribute bands, alt-country and an impressive
list of established acts (previous gigs include The Zutons,
Gomez, Athlete...) have all performed for the city’s live music
devotees. Always busy and always a good night out if you’re
seriously into your music. Q Opening and closing times can
vary depending on gigs. JE
Gay Belfast
Belfast‘s LGBT scene is thriving. A ‘Gay Village’ has sprung
up in the city centre, and the annual Belfast Pride Festi-
val - the largest of its kind on the island of Ireland - attracts
thousands of revellers. In 2005 under the new Civil Partner-
ship Act, the city was the first in the UK to hold a same-sex
civil partnership ceremony. table. To be terribly P.C. about
it, there is no such thing as a ‘Gay Bar’. However, the fol-
lowing listings will give you an idea of where you should
feel comfortable if you‘re gay and want to enjoy a sociable
drink or two.
For more details on what‘s on each night on the scene check
out the What‘s On Diary on www.GayNI.net
Dubarrys B-1, 10-14 Gresham St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032
3590. Set over three floors, Dubarrys offers an alternative to
the banging house tunes and teenybopping antics of some
other gay establishments. The downstairs lounge area‘s
classy black and gold decor, with big mirrors and paintings
of naked men, provides the perfect backdrop for the older,
more sophisticated crowd and younger types of similar style.
The infectious music policy positively encourages dancing,
especially on the middle level, while the top floor exudes a
more chilled out, chintzy Moroccan feel. Once a month ‘men
only’ Bubu nights and regular theme nights go down well with
the crowd. QOpen 15:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 15:00 - 03:00, Sun
16:00 - 24:00. J
belfast.inyourpocket.com
Nightlife 35
Kremlin C-1, 96 Donegall St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9080
9700, www.kremlin-belfast.com. A giant Lenin statue
heralds proletariats of all ages to what many regard as
Ireland‘s number one gay hot spot. A the name suggests,
a Soviet-style industrial opulence exudes throughout
the complex‘s extravagant decor, with the Vodka Lounge
Cocktail Bar continuing the communist-chic vibe. Theme
nights encompass all manner of hi-jinx including fetish, foam
and fancy dress. And frequent celeb performances make
Kremlin the city‘s answer to G.A.Y. QOpen 21:00 - 03:00.
Closed Mon, Wed. JE
Mynt C-1, 2 Dunbar St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 4520, www.
myntbelfast.com. Belfast‘s other gay bar is a super slick all-
singing, all-dancing entertainment complex starring Titti von
Tramp, Belfast‘s resident baroness. Relax or let rip across
Mynt‘s club nights. And polysexuals (basically everyone) can
dance til the early hours at Fri and Sat‘s up-all-hours club nights
Kinetic and Yello. QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Sun 13:00 - 24:00.
JEK
Union Street C-1, 14 Union St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031
6060, www.unionstreetpub.com. Situated in a 19th
century shoe factory, this is one of the city‘s most stylish
bars and a great place for some fine gastro pub grub. The
two storey-high interior of exposed brick, industrial pipes and
pale green and chrome décor gives the bar a cool yet comfy
vibe. Upstairs, the Green Room Cocktail Lounge is particularly
worthy of your patronage. Along with the adjoining Shoe Fac-
tory it‘s a popular pre-club venue smack bang between the
Kremlin nightclub and Pipeworks Sauna... a ‘one triangle
does all’ affair. Theme nights can range from Bingo and Kara-
oke to quizzes and cabaret. Quelle fun. QOpen 11:30 - 01:00,
Sun 17:00 - 01:00. JK
February - March 2011
36 stags & hens
Thinking of heading here for a pre-wedding blow-out?
The Lisburn Road is a good start if you’re a high mainte-
nance hen (or metrosexual stag) in search of some spa-
style pampering and sophis boutique shopping.
If you fancy unleashing your inner Travolta (and we’re not
talking flying your jumbo to the nearest Scientology con-
vention), throw those retro disco shapes at the M Club’s
Groovy Train or the Empire’s Glamarama (both Fridays).
And to complement your party escapades, here is a
selection of activities sans-alcohol. Enjoy before the old
ball and chain gets clamped. Check out our online Stags
& Hens section at belfast.inyourpocket.com for lots
more suggestions.

Lagan Boat Tours D-1, dep. Jetty 2 beside Big Fish

sculpture near Lagan Lookout, tel. (+44) (0)28 9033
0844, www.laganboatcompany.com/hen.htm. Party in
style with a cruise along the River Lagan or Belfast Lough.
The Lagan Boat Company will supply an ice box/buckets,
glasses and CD player with a selection of music. You can bring
your own tunes (iPod, karaoke machine or even your very own
band or DJ...), decorations, drinkipoos (except alcopops) and
cold buffet. Or let La Boca restaurant do the necessary. And
if you fancy a dance, why not book a Salsa lesson from Salsa
Dance Entertainment, www.latin-salsa.com, tel. (+44) (0)7860
444714 (passenger numbers 15/30 with lessons). Max. 30
passengers on ‘Joyce Too’ or 50 passengers on ‘Mona’ - both
boats are fully heated and waterproof.

The Jungle NI K-3, 60 Desertmartin Rd, Moneymore,

Magherafelt, Co. L/Derry, tel. (+44) (0)28 8674 8881,
www.thejungleni.com. From the guys that brought you
Northern Irelands first paintball site, Ireland first Zorb site, The
Jungle NI have opened Ireland first High Wire, Tree Top Adven-

ture Course. The adrenaline pumping course is suspended 60

ft above the forest floor and in some places reaches a maxi-
mum height of 75ft. The course features over 40 elements
including Zip Lines, Tarzan swings, Bridges and a Parafan Drop.
Advanced Waxing Clinic The Course is sure to bring out the Tarzan or Jane in you. The
Jungle is only 45mins from Belfast and is ideal for any occasion
Unisex including Stag/Hen dos, Birthdays, Corporate Events, Youth
Groups or just a few friends looking for a great day out. Other
activities include Paintballing, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Archery,
Unisex Beauty Treatments Team Building Games and Zorbing.

Party Piglets tel. (+44) (0)78990 92109, www.

• Anti-wrinkle injections partypiglets.com. Hire a shiny red or pink Fire Engine for
• Skin Peels those hot, steamy nights on the tiles. Stags & Hens, for-
mals, children’s parties, tour groups and corporate events
• Spray Tans are all catered for. Choose from the red Party Engine with
• Nails Playstation and karaoke or pink Hire Brigade with dance
pole and banging music system. Helmets are yours to keep
• Waxing as a special souvenir of your big night out, and lucky ladies
• Party-Night Make-Up might just find themselves on the receiving end of a hunky
fireman’s lift. Now, where’s that hose..? Ask about their pink
Disco Babes party bus for yet more multi-wheeled fun.
Telephone: 028 90 239279
First Floor Polercise Ltd. C-1, 185 Donegal St, tel. (+44)
46 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JR (0)7545 047988, www.polerciseltd.com. Get a group
of girlies together and gyrate your way through 90mins
of pole dancing action at Ireland’s first purpose-built
Opening Hours Pole Dancing Studio. A wine reception, nibbles, par ty
Tuesday - Friday .........................................10am - 8pm games, pole tricks and certificate for the hens gets the
Saturday by appointment only ............10am - 3pm party going. And, for an extra charge, a sexy Male Exotic
Dancer will give the bride-to-be the send-off of her life.
QAlso at Derry (+44) (0)7745 677041, Banbridge and
Letterkenny (+44) (0)754 5047988 and Dundalk (+44)
(0)7564 062601. J

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com


Essential Belfast
If you’re on a whistle-stop day trip, join the Belfast
City Sightseeing open top bus tour for a 90min scoot
round the major sights. Belfast City Hall, Botanic
Gardens, Queen’s University and the Shankill and
Falls Roads are all on the route, as is a brief diver-
sion to Stormont (up to 14:00) and the Harland &
Wolff shipyard, home of the big yellow cranes and
birthplace of Titanic. Shoppers should factor in an
afternoon’s sojourn along the Lisburn Road. Then,
if you’ve time to spare, head north on Metro Bus N°1,
jumping off at Belfast Castle and Cavehill Country
Park for unbeatable views across the city.
Stay on the right track with these keys (from p.9):
WB = West Belfast EB = East Belfast
SB = South Belfast NB = North Belfast
Buildings & Curiosities
Alber t Memorial Clock C-1, High St. Bel fast’s
most prominent timepiece was built from 1865-1870
in memory of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert,
who died in 1862. The 43m-high landmark is famous as
Belfast’s very own leaning tower. Like many city struc-
tures, it was built on reclaimed land on the River Farset’s
somewhat squishy foundations and currently leans 1.25m
to the left. A two-year £multi-million restoration project
saw craftsmen working ‘round the clock’ to spruce up its
sandstone, polish its two tonne bell and add gold leaf to
its four faces. The area around the clock was once the
stomping ground for ladies of the night ‘servicing’ visiting
sailors. J
Belfast Blitz Memorial Plaque C-1, 124 Royal
Ave, cnr. Belfast Telegraph. On the corner of the Belfast
Telegraph building, a small section of pockmarked stone
provides a tangible reminder of the 1941 Belfast Blitz. Over
100 German Luftwaffe planes bombarded the unprepared
city on April 15, killing 900 people and injuring a further
2,500. A lone plaque on the stone tells how the newspaper
published ‘without interruption’. J
Belfast City Hall C-2, Donegall Square, www.bel-
fastcity.gov.uk/cityhall. A magnificent sight, especially
when viewed from Royal Avenue, this imposing Portland
stone and copper-domed building was completed in 1906
as a symbol of Belfast’s new city status. Queen Victoria
stands at the front, and the grounds are dotted with
many more statues and monuments, details of which
can be found on a large map at the gates. A recent £11m
refurbishment has seen the old girl spruced up and ready,
once again, to receive visitors. Check out The Bobbin café,
whose name reflects Belfast’s linen-making past, and No
Mean City exhibition. And take a free 45min guided tour
for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at this iconic building. Q
The Bobbin café open Mon-Fri 09:00 - 16:30, Sat 09:00
- 16:00. Free 45min tours: Mon-Fri 11:00, 14:00, 15:00;
Sat 14:00 and 15:00. JK
CS Lewis statue M4. G-2, Holywood Rd, M3. Stood
fittingly outside Holy wood Arches Library, this life-size
statue is called The Searcher. It depicts the Belfast-born
Chronicles of Narnia author as Narnia narrator Digory Kirke
stepping into a wardrobe - no doubt in search of his mystical
land. Sculptor Ross Wilson unveiled the bronze statue in
1998 - the centenary of Lewis’ birth. EB
belfast.inyourpocket.com
What to see 37
Custom House D-1, Custom House Square. The chis-
elled heads of Neptune, Britannia and Mercury gaze down
from this stately 1850’s Italianite building whose sweeping
steps have long been a platform for protests and speeches
galvanising the working man. Look out for the bronze
sculpture of a Speaker representing this oratorical past.
Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope used to work here, and
is commemorated with a Blue Plaque. The pedestrianised
Square provides a sparkly space for Sk8er Bois, science
toys, illuminated fountains tracing the reclaimed River
Farset, Belfast’s oldest drinking fountain for horses and the
occasional al fresco event. J
Harland & Wolff Cranes G-2, Titanic Quar ter,
M94, www.harland-wolff.com. Wherever you go in the
city there’s no escaping Samson and Goliath, two giant,
moveable yellow cranes looming over what was once the
world’s biggest shipyard. These engineering heavyweights
stand at 96m and 106m high, 140m wide and were built
in 1969 and 1974 respectively. Despite the demise of
Belfast’s shipbuilding industry, they are still in use and have
been preserved as historic monuments. Unfortunately only
the chosen few can take the lift to their summit for spec-
tacular views across the city. So, for now, resign yourself
to enjoying Belfast’s most iconic landmarks from ground
level. EB
Queen’s University B-4, University Rd, M7, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9097 5252, www.qub.ac.uk/vcentre.
Designed by Charles Lanyon and opened in 1849, this gothic
masterpiece is said to be based on Oxford University’s
Magdalen College. Regarded as one of the best universi-
ties in the British Isles, its Chancellor, former US Senator
George Mitchell, was a major architect of the Good Friday
Agreement. Famous alumni include President of Ireland
Mary McAleese, Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney
and scientist Lord Kelvin whose statue is in nearby Botanic
Gardens. Pick up the free, informative walking tour leaflet
at the Queen’s Welcome Centre where you can also buy a
range of Irish and QUB-branded souvenirs. Guided tours on
request. Beside the Welcome Centre is the Naughton Gallery
which houses regularly-changing art exhibitions. QOpen
09:30 - 16:30, Sun 10:00 - 13:00. SB
Stormont Estate and Parliament Building off H-3,
Upper Newtownards Rd, M4, www.niassembly.gov.
uk. off H-3, Upr Newtownards Rd, M4, tel. (+44) (0)28
9052 1362, www.niassembly.gov.uk. This 164-hectare
public park provides an awesome setting for one of NI’s most
iconic landmarks. Climb the steps for an up-close gaze at the
imposing Portland Stone structure and some great city views.
Parliament Building was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales
in 1932 and is home to the restored NI Assembly. The
building stands at the top of the mile-long Prince of Wales
Avenue behind a statue of Lord Edward Carson (Unionist MP
regarded as the founding father of the NI State). It is topped
by the figure Britannia, and nearby is Reconciliation, a
small water sculpture depicting a couple embracing across
a divide. Tours are only available by arrangement with an
MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly), but you may be
able to venture into the main hall and purchase a Stormont
souvenir from the bespoke shop. The park has toilet facilities
and a fantastic children’s play area. EB
Transport House C-1, 102 High St. Late 1950s socialist
realism meets post-war Soviet art at the NI HQ of the Trans-
port & General Workers Union (TGWU). The striking façade
features a huge mural depicting giant marching men, an
airplane and a ship - each representing Belfast’s engineering
heyday. It looks good, but could do with a clean. J
February - March 2011
38 What to see
Van Morrison’s House G-3, 125 Hyndford St, M4.
Belfast’s grumpiest son, blues singer Van Morrison, once lived
in this two-up, two-down terrace in the east of the city - and
still resides in nearby Holywood, so keep an eye out for the
great man. So taken was he by his childhood haunt, that Van
Public art (and not a mural in sight)
The Big Fish aka Salmon of Knowledge: A 10m
long, erm, fish whose shiny blue and white ceramic
scales depict moments in Belfast’s history. Find it at
the Lagan Lookout, near the Titanic Boat office and
departure point.
Ring of Thanksgiving: Meet Belfast’s tallest resident,
a 15m high steel woman standing on a bronze globe and
holding a ring representing peace and reconciliation - a
familiar theme throughout the city. The work is inspired by
Dallas’s Thanksgiving Square and towers over the River
Lagan, a short walk from the Belfast Waterfront.
Waterfall of Souvenirs: A 5m high ceramic waterfall
cascading down the Europa Buscentre and bypassed
daily by throngs of commuters. Be one of the few to stop
and contemplate its locally themed mosaic.
Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker: Outside
the Great Northern Mall (front entrance to the Europa
Buscentre) you’ll find two lifesize ladies cast in bronze
and brandishing ephemera representing low-paid jobs,
including housework. Look for the typewriter, telephone
and clothes hanger and ponder their plight.
The Speaker: At the front of Custom House, in an area
once dubbed Belfast’s Speakers’ Corner, stands this
aptly-named lifesize bronze statue. The Square’s sur-
rounding copper lights continue the theme with their
nickname the ‘Hecklers’.
Spirit of Belfast: Unveiled in Sept. 2009, this large-
scale steel structure looms large in Cornmarket, where
a bandstand once stood. The four interlocking rings sit
at the heart of the city centre’s pedestrianised shop-
ping area, and have been designed to reflect Belfast’s
erstwhile shipbuilding and linen industries. All good and
well, but we prefer to call it the Belfast Scribble.
Belfast In Your Pocket
immortalised it in the song On Hyndford Street. Cyprus Avenue
is just a short stroll away (and also home to Ian Paisley). Born
George Ivan Morrison in 1945, ‘Van the Man’ went on to achieve
worldwide success with hits such as Brown Eyed Girl, Gloria
and Have I Told You Lately That I Love You. The former home
is privately owned but proudly displays a small brass plaque
put there by the Belfast Blues Appreciation Society. True to
form, the surly songster took umbrage at this modest tribute,
citing ‘invasion of privacy’. What a legend. EB
Cathedrals
St. Anne’s Cathedral C-1, Lower Donegall St, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9032 8332, www.belfastcathedral.org.
Dating back to 1776, the original St. Anne’s Church was
demolished in 1903 making way for a new Hiberno-Roman-
esque-style Cathedral of Belfast. The foundation stone was
laid in 1899 and the cathedral built in five stages across two
centuries. The West Front, featuring Ireland’s largest Celtic
cross, was completed in 1927 and dedicated to the victims
of World War I. Though dedicated to St. Anne, Mother of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, the Cathedral was originally named after
Lady Anne Hamilton, wife of the founder of the original Par-
ish Church. The Anglican Cathedral often holds inter-church
services and past visitors have included Royalty and Heads
of State. It is also the burial place of Unionist MP Lord Carson,
regarded as the founding father of the NI state. The Cathedral
was extensively refurbished in 1998 and, in 2007, a stainless
steel ‘Spire of Hope’ was added to the roof, rising 72m from
the ground and providing Belfast’s skyline with a shiny new
landmark. Q Sunday services 10:00, 11:00, 15:30. Also
open Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00. J
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cathedral A-2, St. Peter’s
Square, off Falls Rd, M10, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 7573,
www.stpeterscathedralbelfast.com. This neo-Gothic twin-
spired Cathedral off Falls Road was built in 1866 for the city’s
increasing Catholic population. The building was designed in 1860
by Father Jeremiah McAuley, a trained Belfast architect prior to en-
tering Orders, and completed in 1866. Its magnificent twin spires
were added in 1886 and dominate West Belfast’s skyline. The
tower holds a carillon of 11 bells and, following major restoration,
the cathedral now boasts fine examples of high Victorian Gothic
decoration. Q Sun Mass 09:00, 11:00 and 19:00. WB
Parks, Gardens and Mountains
Botanic Gardens B-5, Stranmillis Rd, M8, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 4902, www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks. This meeting
place for the city’s students, families and couples first opened
in 1895. Its grounds are a profusion of colourful flowerbeds, ex-
pansive lawns and magnificent trees. Take a steamy jungle walk
in the Tropical Ravine or marvel at the collection of outstanding
tropical flora in the iron-and-glass Victorian Palm House. The
Ulster Museum and a statue of Victorian scientist Lord Kelvin
are located within the grounds.
Belfast Castle F-1, Antrim Rd, M1, tel. (+44) (0)28 9077
6925, www.belfastcastle.co.uk. Beneath Napoleon’s Nose
on Cavehill (see listing, right) nestles this 19th century Scottish
Baronial-style building presented to the city in 1934 by the phil-
anthropic Shaftesbury family. Weekends are often awash with
traditional white weddings, so wish the happy couple ‘good luck’
then go explore the manicured grounds with their cute Cat Garden,
stunning city views and children’s adventure playground. Apres
stroll, indulge in high tea in the restaurant or rummage around the
quaint antique shop. The interpretive centre contains info on the
surrounding flora and fauna, Castle wedding pics from yesteryear
and a moveable roofcam affording close-up views of those city
sights. Tours available LK NB
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 What to see 39

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

40 What to see
Belfast Zoo F-1, Antrim Rd, M1, tel. (+44) (0)28
9077 6277, www.belfastzoo.co.uk. Over 1200 animals
populate the 55 acre Cavehill setting of NI’s top fee-paying
visitor attraction. Among the 140 species living in its natural
woodland habitat are ‘Big Cats’, primates, giraffes, zebras,
elephants, penguins and sea lions. The Zoo also takes part in
almost 100 international breeding programmes designed to
save endangered animals from extinction. A new Rainforest
House, Bird Park, visitor centre and souvenir shop - as well
as some of the city’s best views - add to a memorable day
out. And lots of year-round fun and events give children (and
adults!) a greater understanding of the Zoo’s inhabitants.
Some gradients are steep, and much of the Zoo is outdoors,
so wear appropriate footwear and clothing. QOct-Mar 10:00
- 16:00. Last admission 14:30. Adult £7.10, child (4-17)
£3.60, conc. free. Family tickets also available. LK
Cave Hill Country Park F-1, Antrim Rd, M1, www.
belfastcity.gov.uk. Belfast’s most striking backdrop looms
dramatically above the north of the city. Its craggy skyline
rises 360m to the sheer cliff face of McArt’s Fort, named
after 16th Century chieftain Art O’Neill. This prominent
landmark’s instantly recognisable silhouette is known lo-
cally as Napoleon’s Nose, and the hill itself is pockmarked
with those eponymous caves. Marked trails, suitable for all
walking levels (we suggest you start your energetic stroll from
Belfast Castle), guide you to the summit for unparalleled views
stretching all the way to the Mountains of Mourne - it’s as
though a map of Northern Ireland has been unfolded before
your eyes. NB
Divis & Black Mountain (478m & 390m) off E-3,
Divis Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9049 1002, www.ntni.org.uk.
These twin peaks of limestone and basalt dominate West
and North West Belfast’s skyline. A BBC Transmitter masts
sits atop Divis whose Irish name translates as black back.
Thanks to a transfer in ownership in 2004 from the Ministry
of Defence (who used it for army training and, allegedly,
surveillance) to the National Trust, Belfast’s highest peaks
are now open to the public. The Trust has uncovered 2000
acres rich in biodiversity and archaeological interest, as well
Tracing your roots
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
(PRONI) www.proni.gov.uk. If you want to trace
your NI roots you’ll need to contact PRONI. Thousands
of documents of value to family historians are stored in
its archives, including church records, valuation books
and maps, school records and workhouse registers.
PRONI’s website provides lots of information on how
to research your family history. Latest additions to
PRONI’s searchable online resources include 19th cen-
tury Street Directories and the newly expanded Name
Search, covering a range of 18th and 19th century
sources. The eCatalogue is also updated regularly and
PRONI’s guide to Church records, providing details on
surviving historic parish registers for Northern Ireland,
is now available on the PRONI website.
PRONI on the Move
PRONI will be opening its new state-of-the-art Titanic
Quarter premises on 30 March 2011. Records will be
kept in optimum conditions as befits the rich heritage
of which PRONI is custodian. Visit the website for up-
to-date info about the move and advice on alternative
locations for research sources. The electronic catalogue
will continue to be updated during the closure.
Belfast In Your Pocket
as constructing signs, paths and the Long Barn visitor centre.
Walkers should be aware that this no Sunday stroll, though,
and sudden changes in the weather can make conditions very
treacherous. Ensure you come prepared- wear wellies and
wet-weather gear and let someone know where you’re head-
ing. To get there take a Metro bus, walk or drive to the Upper
Springfield Rd. entrance, then trek to the summit for amazing
views stretching as far as Scotland on a clear day. L
Lagan Valley Regional Park Off F-4, www.laganval-
ley.co.uk. This tranquil series of parklands runs for 18km
along the River Lagan between Belfast’s Stranmillis and the
neighbouring city of Lisburn. A network of walks, running and
cycling paths transports visitors through a myriad of heritage
sites, nature reserves, parkland and riverside trails: there’s no
dreamier way to spend a sunny afternoon. Features include:
Giant’s Ring This 2700BC late Neolithic site is Ireland’s
largest ritual enclosure. The 200m-diameter site is enclosed
by a 3m-high circular earthwork with five entrance gaps: climb
to the top for great views of the surrounding city and coun-
tryside. In the centre of the earthwork stands a megalithic
chamber with five standing stones and a tilted capstone.
Experts believe the site was originally a meeting place or cult
centre, and records indicate it was an 18th century venue for
horse races. Shaw’s Bridge This five-arched stone bridge
was built in 1709 with stones most likely taken from the ruins
of a nearby fort. It was originally an oak bridge built by Captain
Shaw in 1655 to allow Oliver Cromwell’s gunners to cross the
River Lagan. Today it attracts young romantics, families and
dog walkers content to soak up its peaceful atmosphere, enjoy
a Mr Whippy ice cream or head for the nearby Lock Keeper’s
Cottage café.
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park off F-4, Upper
Malone Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9027 0467, www.belfastc-
ity.gov.uk. This fantastic 48-hectare oasis, on the southern
outskirts of the city, is a sweeping sea of rolling lawns and
swaying trees and a masterclass in floral landscaping. Its
main building, 19th century Wilmont House, was taken over
by the Dixons in 1919 and bequeathed to the ‘citizens of
Belfast’ by Lady Dixon upon her death in 1959. LK
Museums & Galleries
Belfast Exposed C-1, 23 Donegall St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9023 0965, www.belfastexposed.org. NI’s only
dedicated photography gallery is a favourite haunt of the
city’s art students and another cool creative space in the
thriving Cathedral Quarter. The gallery runs contemporary
community-based and international photography exhibi-
tions and houses over half a million archived images
and negatives from 1983 to present day. Screenings
and talks take place year-round. A new second gallery is
dedicated to commissioning and collaborating new work
in response to the archive. QOpen 11:00 - 16:00, Sun
12:00 - 16:00. Closed Mon. J
Golden Thread Gallery C-1, Switch Room, 84-94
Great Patrick St., tel. (+44) (0)28 9033 0920, www.
gtgallery.org.uk. On the fringes of the Cathedral Quarter
stands this red brick building whose ground floor houses
one of Belfast’s coolest art galleries. The stark concrete
interior lends itself perfectly to changing exhibitions of
paintings, photography and installations. You’ll usually find
students from the nearby art college contemplating the
contemporary local pieces and scribbling a few inspirational
notes. Find the Gallery 2mins walk from the back of St. Anne’s
Cathedral and right beside Beggs & Partners bathroom
showroom. QOpen 10:30 - 17:30, Sat, Sun 10:30 - 16:00.
Closed Mon. J
belfast.inyourpocket.com

Northern Ireland War Memorial Home Front Exhi-
bition C-1, 21 Talbot St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 0392,
www.niwarmemorial.org. This small exhibition near St.
Anne’s Cathedral recalls the ravages of WW2 - both on the
battlefield and during the Belfast Blitz. Artwork features
strongly and attention is drawn to NI’s wartime links with the
USA. A new bronze sculpture by distinguished Ulster sculptor
John Sherlock depicts half lifesize figures of a mother guiding
her child through the ruins of Belfast on the morning after
the blitz of 16 April 1941. The woman is dressed as a mill
worker, while the child is wearing a period dress and clutching
her teddy. The setting is a typical cobbled street with a tram
line. Broken hoses and a large pool of water lie on the surface
and a copy of the morning’s Northern Whig authenticates the
location. Soldiers’ artefacts are also on display alongside
uniform-clad mannequins, shiny medals, propaganda posters
and pieces of anti-aircraft shells. The most evocative exhibit,
however, is a revolving reel naming each of the 1000 men,
women and children who died during the Belfast Blitz. A WW2
war veteran is usually on hand, so stop for a chat to learn
more about the role Belfast played in this pivot al period of
world history. QOpen Mon-Fri 10:30 - 16:30.J
Ormeau Baths Gallery C-3, 18a Ormeau Ave, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9032 1402, www.ormeaubaths.co.uk.
Belfast’s (extremely) scaled-down answer to the Tate is
housed in a former Victorian public bathhouse. The exte-
rior retains all its original features while the interior has been
swathed in white to accommodate the changing exhibitions
across its four galleries. Stock up on arty mags and coffee
table tomes at the adhoc book shop. Definitely worth a
visit when you feel reality closing in... QOpen 10:00 - 17:30.
Closed Mon, Sun. J
belfast.inyourpocket.com
What to see 41
Ulster Folk and Transpor t Museum L-3, 153
Bangor Rd, Cultra, Holywood, tel. (+44) (0)28 9042
8428, www.uf tm.org.uk. Stroll through this outdoor
collection of lovingl y-restored 18th centur y buildings
and let the costumed guides bring history to life. The
transpor t section houses an impressive collection of
steam trains, rail way memorabilia, planes and horse
carriages. Highlights include a somewhat dilapidated
DeLorean sports car, made in Belfast and star of the Back
to the Future films. The Museum is 11kms east of the
city centre on the main A2 Belfast to Bangor Road. The
nearest rail station is Cultra Halt. Q Oct-Feb: Tues-Fri
10:00 - 16:00, Sat and Sun 11:00 - 16:00. March-Sept:
Tue-Sun 10:00 - 17:00. Tickets: Adults £8, child/conc.
£4.50, U5 free. Family and individual museum tickets also
available.LK
The Barge D-2, moored at Lanyon Quay beside Bel-
fast Waterfront, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 2555,www.
laganlegacy.com. Belfast’s maritime history is writ large
on-board MV Confiance, the city’s new ‘floating museum’.
Inside this specially kitted out vessel you’ll find a cafe
(opening March 2011) and performance space. But it’s
below deck that the seafaring story really unfolds. Info
panels, touch screens and lots of drawers and interac-
tive displays reveal Belfast’s proud shipbuilding timeline.
Find out about The Belfast Bottom, The Rat Killer and
the Harland & Wolff-built SS Canberra. Then have a go at
operating a model of one of the Samson & Goliath cranes.
A unique location for a meticulously presented chronicle
of what they call ‘the greatest story never told’. Q Open
10:00 - 16:00. £4pp. Combined ticket with Titanic Boat
Tour £12pp. JHK
February - March 2011
42 What to see
dinosaur skeleton - further fuel the imagination. Then spend

Belfast City Tours the day exploring those History, Art and Nature Zones, where
a bona fide Egyptian mummy, Spanish Armada gold and Peter
the Polar Bear (don’t worry, it’s stuffed) are among the myriad of
attractions. The Gallery of Applied Art is said to house the best
TAXI TOURS * COACH TOURS * GUIDES collection of its kind in the world outside London’s V&A and the
Troubles section attempts to explain our precarious modern
history. Other highlights include the impressive collection of
TAXI TRANSFERS * WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY Fine Art and costumes, and an exhibit on The Troubles. Children
are positively encouraged to get up close and interactive with
exhibits in the Discovery areas. And everyone can discover their
www.belfastcitytours.com own treasures at the gift shop and enjoy lunch in the ground floor
restaurant overlooking Botanic Gardens. Find the museum a mere
15min walk from the city centre or via Metro bus 8 Disabled or
payable on-street parking only. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed
tel 0844 870 8127 Mon except Bank Holidays.Free. HKW

Ulster Museum B-5, Botanic Gardens, Stranmillis Rd,
M8, tel. (+44) (0)28 9038 3000, www.nmni.com/um.
This £17m, three-year revamp of one of the city’s most beloved
landmarks is a real stunner. Once inside the curious hybrid of
1960s concrete and neo-classical architecture, a gleaming 23m
high atrium reveals glimpses into three specially created Zones
covering four levels. As you navigate the glass and steel walkways,
keep an eye on the Window on Our World gallery where iconic
objects from each Zone - including a 6m long Edmontosaurus
Libraries & Archives
Central Library and Newspaper Library C-1, Royal Ave,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9050 9150, www.ni-libraries.net. This red
sandstone and black granite building was opened in 1888 - the
same year Belfast achieved city status. The grand staircase
and first floor Reading Room with fine domed ceiling are worth
a peek. Should you be inspired to peruse the tomes, head for
the particularly renowned Belfast Ulster and Irish Studies Library
and Music Library. And the Newspaper Library, along the side,

W5’s 10th Birthday Celebrations

D-1, Odyssey Pavilion, 2 Queen’s Quay, tel. (+44) (0)28 a special W5 birthday talk on Earth’s hazards and natural
9046 7700, www.w5online.co.uk. NI’s only science and disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic
discovery centre has over 160 interactive exhibits across eruptions. W5 will also be welcoming back some of its
several spacious levels, and a changing programme of favourite partners to celebrate the wonders of the natural
workshops, events and exhibitions. Its location in the Odyssey world in a festival of natural science.
Pavilion affords fantastic views across the Harland & Wolff
W5’s Birthday weekend with Odyssey Trust Company
shipyard. Great fun for young Einsteins and a learning experi-
ence at any age. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 18:00,Sat 2 and Sun 3 April
Sun 12:00 - 18:00. Last admission 1hr before closing. Adults For its official birthday weekend W5 has teamed up with
£7.50, 3-16 £5.50, Conc. £6, U3 free. Family and season Odyssey Trust Company for the return of the spectacular of
tickets available. LK Los Kaos. See the Stegosaurus return to life through cutting-
edge technology and extreme puppetry. Visiting Ireland for
W5 marks its 10th birthday on 31 March 2011. And to the first time in 80 million years, this is science as you’ve
celebrate a decade of science and discovery, the team has never seen it before - not to be missed! The birthday weekend
lined up an exciting series of events and activities. also sees the opening of new blockbuster exhibition SENSE.
Explore sensory perception, examine the evidence CSI-style
BBC’s Wallace & Gromit Invention Sessions and educate yourself in the world of spies in this fantastic
12–20 Feb, 14:00 – 14:40, 14:45 – 15:25, 15:30 new interactive exhibition.
- 16:10.
Inspired by Wallace’s love of inventing, these fun and
educational workshops will unleash the secret inventor
inside all of you. Make a motorised version of Wallace’s
Run-About-Steam Chair from an exclusive Invention Kit.
This cracking collaboration with Aardman Animations ac-
companies the BBC One series Wallace & Gromit’s World of
Invention. Places are limited and available on a first come,
first served basis. Due to small parts, sessions are not
suitable for children U7.

Be Creative with Aardman Animations

Sat 5 & Sun 6 March, 14:00 – 16:00
One of Aardman Animations model makers will be at W5
to guide you through the process of creating your own
plasticene Aardman character to take home.

W5’s Science Festival sponsored by GSNI

Sat 19 March, 14:00 – 16:00
Eminent geologist and BBC broadcaster Professor Iain
Stewart, from the BBC series “Men of Rock”, is back for

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com

 What to see 43

is a gem of a place housing NI’s largest collection of local and

Irish newspapers, some dating back to the 1700s. Chapter One
café and regular events and exhibitions will feed the body and
mind. Internet access is payable for non-members (ID required).
QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Fri 09:00 - 17:30, Sat 09:00 - 16:30.
Closed Sun. JRK

Linen Hall Library C-2, 17 Donegall Square North, tel.

(+44) (0)28 9032 1707, www.linenhall.com. Founded
in 1788, Belfast’s oldest library is a focal point for the city’s
cultural community who love to leaf through the books or simply
enjoy those fantastic views across the City Hall. If you’re into
the history of the Troubles, seek out its unrivalled Northern
Ireland Political Collection of books, posters, leaflets and
propaganda. A gift shop, café, tours, readings and lectures all
add to the library’s effortless charm. QOpen 09:30 - 17:30,
Sat 09:30 - 16:00. Closed Sun. JK

Bus & Walking Tours

Belfast City Sightseeing Bus Tour C-1, Castle Place,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 1321, www.belfastcitysightseeing.
co.uk. This open-top bus takes a 90min, 8km round-trip along
some of the city’s most impressive and evocative sights and
includes 21 hop-on/hop-off points. Starting at Castle Place, the
tour dips into the Titanic Quarter and (until 14:00) glides past
Stormont before heading West to the Shankill and Falls Roads.
The return leg passes through the sedate Queen’s Quarter, before

Belfast City Taxi Tours

Follow in the footsteps of celebrities, statesmen, media
types and the insatiably curious by taking one of these
Black Taxi Tours. This company’s fleet of experienced and
knowledgeable drivers serves up the city‘s modern and
historic story with a wit and irreverence only a local could
get away with. Sit back in your ‘black hack’ (slang for these
iconic vehicles) and let your driver recount the many highs
and lows the city has experienced in its progression from
troubled times to today‘s renaissance.
Historical and Political Tours take in West Belfast’s
Falls and Shankill Roads where you can see the famous
murals and add your autograph to the Peace Wall. In-
formative Tours focus on the city’s architectural gems,
shopping highlights and emerging Titanic Quarter. And
Personalised Tours can transport you to anywhere your
heart desires - how about a trip to George Best’s and
CS Lewis’s childhood stomping grounds? Or maybe you
have a particular destination in mind.
If you fancy venturing beyond Belfast, you can also take a
North Antrim Coast Tour or St. Patrick & Strangford
Lough Tour. The former visits the unmissable trinity that is the
Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and Bushmills
Whisky Distillery. And the latter transports you to Co. Down‘s
Mount Stewart House and Gardens, St Patrick’s grave and
the Mourne Mountains’ magnificent Spelga Dam.
Cruise Ship passengers, and those with less time to
spare, can avail of a combination of the above to ensure
you see as much as possible during your short stay.
Whatever tours you choose, book a taxi transfer from your
arrival point and immerse yourself in the ‘real’ Belfast from
the off. Individuals, groups and corporates are catered
for, and all taxis are disability friendly and wheelchair ac-
cessible. Q Historical/Political or Informative Tours
from £13pp (depending on length of time booked). Min
charge £32. Taxi Transfers and other Tours - prices on
request. Group rates available. Tel. (+44) (0)844 870
8127, www.belfastcitytours.com.
heading back to base. The commentary is as entertaining as it
is enlightening, with the guides cracking Troubles-related jokes
only a local could get away with. QDept. 10:00 - 16:30. Bus
£12.50/10.50, 4-12 £6.50, family (2+3) £31, U4 free. A
Belfast Ghost Walk C-2, tel. (+44) (0)7907 251414,
www.ghostwalkbelfast.com. Journey through the dark
shadows and alleyways of haunted Belfast with local true crime
enthusiast Richard Cobb. A keen Ripperologist (that‘s Jack the
Ripper aficionado to you and me) and member of the exclusive
Victorian White Chapel Society, Richard will lead you through some
of the city‘s lesser known darker past to discover its link to Jack
the Ripper and infamous bodysnatchers Burke and Hare. Told
with theatrical flourish, these meticulously researched tales will
resonate long after the tour‘s conclusion. A quirky and enlight-
ening way to spend an evening in the city. Q Tours dept. 19:30
Belfast City Hall front gates Wed, Fri and Sun. Private tours also
available. Adult £7, child £5. Available at start of tour. J
Belfast Splash Tours C-1, dep.Castle Place beside
HMV and McDonalds., tel. (+44) (0)28 9077 0990, www.
belfastsplashtours.com. Start on dry land with a guided tour
through the city centre and Titanic Quarter before slipping into
the River Lagan for a scoot along Belfast’s watery artery. Trav-
elling over and under several bridges, this amphibious yellow
vehicle with live commentary provides a unique insight into the
city’s industrial, cultural and maritime history. The final third of
the tour leaves the river and returns via the Queen’s Quarter
before decanting back at base. Q Daily 1hr tours dept. hourly
09:45 - 14:45 (May-Sept. also 15:45 and 16:45). Adult £12.50,
Conc. £10.50, U16 £8, 2+2 £35.
Belfast Walking Tours C-2, Belfast Welcome Centre, 47
Donegall Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 6609, www.gotobel-
fast.com. Take Shanks’ Pony (’shanks’ being your legs) on several
specialised city tours, including Literary, Art, Music, Pub and CS
Lewis. For more details visit the Belfast Welcome Centre.

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

44 titanic in belfast
She was alright when she left here
Everyone knows the story of RMS Titanic, yet few realise
the ship was built right here in Belfast. No other city
can lay claim to having lived beneath its magnificent
shadow for so long. The emerging superstructure on
slipway No. 3 dominated East Belfast’s Harland & Wolff
shipyard for just over two years, from the moment its
keel was laid in March 1909 to its launch on 31 May 1911.
Only the North Atlantic seabed has been its home for
longer - from the early hours of April 15 1912 when the
mighty ship collided with an iceberg and came to its
final resting place.
Major plans are underway to transform the surrounding
land into the world’s greatest Titanic museum. Buildings
and artefacts from the era will be incorporated into the
project, including the slipway, Drawing Rooms and Titanic
Pump-House and Dock. And SS Nomadic - the White Star
tender that ferried 1st and 2nd class passenger to the
ship - is being renovated to take centre-stage. The main
Titanic Quarter Maritime Museum will open in 2012, the
centenary of the ship’s sinking. Meanwhile, the city is
commemorating its centenary events in Titanic 100 (see
p.14) and there are always plenty of Titanic-related activi-
ties and locations to see no matter when you visit. To find
out more, dive into our listings to discover Belfast’s best
Titanic-inspired activities and attractions.
Belfast City Hall memorials C-2, www.belfastcity.
gov.uk/cityhall/monuments. Stop and reflect on the trag-
edy at the City Hall’s Titanic Memorial. This 1920 stone
sculpture features a female figure of Thane looking down on
two sea-nymphs lifting a drowned sailor from the sea. The
statue faces east toward the shipyard where Titanic was
built. Heading the names of 22 local men who perished is
Titanic’s designer, Thomas Andrews. The grounds are also
home to a statue of shipyard founder Sir Edward Harland
and plinth dedicated to Lord Pirrie, shipyard chairman at the
time of Titanic. And, inside, a commemorative stained glass
window also depicts the ship J
Titanic Boat Tour D-1, dep. Jetty 2 beside the Big Fish
sculpture near the Lagan Lookout, tel. (+44) (0)28 9033
0844/(+44) (0)7718 910423, www.laganboatcompany.
com. Jump aboard the the only tour in the world that shows
you where this mighty ship was built and first slid into the sea.
Belfast locals are proud to proclaim, “She was alright when she
left here!” - and this tour offers an authentic perspective of the
doomed liner from onboard the passenger ferries ‘Joyce Too’
and ‘Mona’. See the significant historical sites around Queen’s
Island and the shipyards of Harland & Wolff where Titanic was
designed, built and launched. During the 75min live commen-
tary tour, passengers also get to see the SS Nomadic (when in
dock), the last remaining White Star Line ship afloat, also known
as Titanic’s little sister. In addition to daily scheduled tours,
private charter rates are available for social and leisure events
such as birthday parties, hens, anniversaries and corporate
groups, with significant discounts for schools and educational
groups.Q Nov-March Sat & Sun 12:30, 14:00, April-Oct daily
12:30, 14:00, 15:30. Adult £10, child £8, 2+2 £30.
Titanic’s Dock and Pump-House G-2, Queen’s Rd,
behind Odyssey Complex, M26, tel. (+44) (0)28 9073
7813, www.titanicsdock.com. Once the ‘beating heart’
of Harland & Wolff shipyard, this listed Edwardian building
houses a 12m deep pump-well whose four engines could
drain two dry docks of 23m gallons of water in just 100mins.
Of the two, the adjacent Thompson Dry Dock is the larg-
Belfast In Your Pocket
Titanic Museum takes shape
est - and the place where Titanic had its final fit-out. The
Dock’s gargantuan proportions give an awesome indication
of Titanic’s scale. One hour tours every Sat, Sun, Mon and
Wed at 14:00, March daily 12:00 and 14:00 reveal the
engineering excellence behind these colossal constructions.
Inside the Pump-House is a Café & Visitor Centre (open
daily 10:30 - 16:00) with free wifi, souvenirs for sale and info
panels and audio-visuals recalling Belfast’s industrial heyday
and Titanic achievement. Find it one mile from the Odyssey.
QOpen 10:30 - 16:00. Tours: Adult £6, 5-16 £4, U5 free,
2+2 £15. From March also mini tours 30mins11:00, 13:00
and 15:00, £4. Movie shows daily. LKW
Titanic Walking Tour D-1, Odyssey Complex, 2
Queen’s Quay, M26, tel. (+44) (0)7904 350339, www.
titanicwalk.com. Follow in the footsteps of Titanic’s builders
in this, the city’s only Titanic Walking Tour. Tour guide Colin
Cobb’s extensive knowledge leaves no fact unearthed - even
down to the number of apples on board the doomed liner
(36,000, if you’re asking). The 2hr tour heads down Queens
Island, past several significant shipyard locations - including
the Drawing Offices, slipway and awe-inspiring Titanic’s Dock
and Pump-House - bringing the city’s shipbuilding heritage
and, of course, Titanic’s birth into sharp focus. The tour also
includes a 30min stop for lunch at the Pump-House café.
Colin’s entertaining and detailed insight is suitable for all ages
- whether a self-professed Titanorak or not. Q Tours Sat-Mon
and Wed 11:00 from Premier Inn, Titanic Quarter. March daily
11:00 & 14:00. Tickets Adult £12, conc. £11, 10-16 £8, U10
£5, U5 free, 2+2 £30 (incl. Pump-House Tour).
Titanic Tours Belfast tel. (+44) (0)7852 716655/
(+44) (0)28 9065 9971, www.titanictours-belfast.co.uk.
Let this luxurious leather-seated Mercedes people carrier
convey you in comfort round some of the city’s most evocative
Titanic sites. Tour guide Susie Millar’s great grandfather Tommy
Millar worked on, and perished with, the famous ship... and it
is this unique connection that makes the tour particularly poi-
gnant. The tour begins with a DVD presented by local TV news
reporter Susie then takes in such evocative sites as the former
homes of Harland and Wolff supremo Lord Pirrie and engineer
Thomas Andrews, Harland and Wolff shipyard and the City
Hall’s Titanic Memorial which bears the names of the 22 Bel-
fast men who died onboard... including that of Assistant Deck
Engineer Thomas Millar. Q Pick-up on request. £30pp - max.
5 people.
Belfast Titanic Mural G-2, Upper Newtownards Rd, M4,
Head to East Belfast to see two large-scale gable end Titanic
artworks. The one at the corner with Dee Street is particularly
impressive and worthy of a unique city photo-op.
See also Titanic 100 Festival p.14
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 WEST BELFAST & SHANKILL
In a part of Belfast where two cultures collide, tourism bod-
ies are working together to revitalise the area and make it
visitor-friendly. Lots of tourists want to see for themselves
the recent political history of this divided city and, in doing
so, are often surprised at just how close these two com-
munities sit... the Unionist Shankill and Nationalist Falls
side-by-side, divided only by a Peace Line. With both sides
making a concerted effort to attract visitors, it’s worth
taking time out from the main attractions to visit these
vibrant areas. Hop off the Open Top Bus or take a Metro
bus or Black Taxi and explore at your leisure. It could be
the best day out you’ll have.
Falls Road E/F-2/3. M10 Bi-lingual street signs and
fluttering Irish flags are the first things visitors often notice
when they walk along the Falls. The area is becoming known
as the Gaeltacht Quarter, with many shops and businesses
offering Irish-language service and accepting Euros. Of the
road’s many historical and political murals, the most photo-
graphed is on the side of the Sinn Fein offices and features
IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
Aisling Ghéar E-3, c/o An Cultúrlann, 216 Falls Rd,
M10, tel. +44 (0)28 9020 8040, www.aislingghear.
com. The island of Ireland’s only full-time Irish language profes-
sional theatre company is nestled in the ‘gracious embrace
of a compact and bijou Presbyterian Church’ on Belfast’s Falls
Rd. The An Culturlann-based company has been entertaining,
endearing and exasperating audiences for 12 years with a
generous helping of the Classics, the Absurd, the Agit-prop, the
‘never-been-seen-on-stage-before‘ stuff, shows for wains (kids),
shows about myths and legends and even a show about Elvis.
Twice a year it packs up the big van and tours the country, tak-
ing Belfast, the Irish and a ‘cracker of a show‘ out on the road.
So what’s the deal about having a company that does stuff in
belfast.inyourpocket.com
45
a ‘forgotten‘ language and isn’t it just too ‘pal-litical’ anyway?
Aishling Ghear’s response is that “what we get to work with
every day is a ‘treasure’, it’s been around for 800-odd years,
longer than most National Trust properties, and we get to
develop it, cherish it and create a future for it - for everybody.
And, for those of us who don’t know our Irish from our proverbi-
als, the company kindly provides a free live English translation
service for every show via a comfy pair of headphones - which
means, while you’re watching the performance, there’s
someone backstage translating simultaneously so you don’t
miss a word.
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich E-3, 216 Falls Rd, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9096 4180, www.culturlann.com. First
stop for all tourists has to be this landmark building where
the Irish language plays a central role in culture and the arts.
Housed in a former Presbyterian church and named after
two 19th-century protagonists of the Irish language revival,
the centre was established in 1991 and has a restaurant,
theatre, art gallery, book & gift shop and monthly céilí
(traditional Irish music and dancing sessions). Culturlann
provides the focal point for August’s West Belfast Festival
and is also the official West Belfast tourist information
point. Ask the friendly staff about events, tours, art trails
and accommodation in the city and beyond.
Peace Walls
Since the onset
of the Troubles
in 1971, many
Nationalist
(Cath olic) and
Loyalist (Protes-
tant) communi-
ties throughout
Northern Ireland
have b een di-
vided by Peace
Walls. Th ese
large stone and
steel constructions were designed to protect neighbour-
hoods from sporadic attacks and retain a sense of peace
and protection. Of the city’s walls, West Belfast’s sections
are the most visited. You can cross from one side to the
other via access roads at Lanark Way (E/F-2) and
Northumberland Street (A-1). And the best place to
photograph newly-erected artwork - and add your dawbs
to the walls - is along Cupar Way, off Lanark Way. These
roads close in times of heightened tension, which may
well be the case during the summer marching season.
Otherwise, it’s safe - nay positively encouraged - to
make the trip to Belfast’s biggest, and most infamous,
outdoor art gallery.
February - March 2011
46 WEST BELFAST & SHANKILL
West Belfast & Shankill Bars
Beehive F-1, 193 Falls Rd, M10, tel. (+44) (0)28
9032 8439, www.whitefortinns.com. This big yellow
and black bar has been on the same spot since 1888. Its
revamped cavernous, classical-modern interior is awash
with frescos and wood carvings, all topped with a stained
glass ceiling. Lots of students from nearby St. Mary’s
College make it their local, and tourists will be particularly
enamoured by the Sunday folk music sessions. QOpen
11:30 - 01:00, Sun 12:30 - 01:00. EK
Rex Bar G-2, 215 Shankill Rd, M11, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9024 1698. Dating back to 1865, the Shankill’s
oldest public bar is steeped in the history and tradition
of the area. Hollywood hotshots Vince Vaughan, Tim
Robbins and Tim’s missus Susan Sarandon are among
its international imbibers - no doubt all keen to experi-
ence the real Belfast. The bar sits beside a large mural
depicting the signing of the Ulster Covenant, and the
untouched interior is festooned with flags, t-shirts and
curios paying testament to its distinctly Unionist locale.
Make no mistake, though, all tourists are welcome no
matter their political persuasion. And if you fancy a neck-
tingling tale to accompany your pint, ask amiable owner
Mark about the resident ghost. QOpen 11:30 - 23:30,
Sun 12:30 - 22:00.
White Fort Inn E-4, Andersonstown Rd, M10, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9060 2210, www.whitefortinns.com.
Armour clad knights, Posh & Becks-style thrones and a
long marble bar with carved lion heads are just some of
the many resplendent features in this medieval-Gothic
wonderland. The upstairs restaurant serves a good range
of international food but the bar really comes alive at night
when the live music, karaoke and disco get the punters
swaying. QOpen 11:30 - 01:00, Tue, Wed 11:30 - 24:00,
Sun 12:30 - 24:00. EK
City Cemetery E-3, Falls Rd, M10, www.belfastcity.
gov.uk/citycemetery. Complete with bell and cast iron
fountains, this Victorian cemetery was opened in 1869 as
Belfast’s first cross-denominational burial ground. In 1916
sections were set aside for the city’s Jewish community
and the burial of deceased sailors and soldiers. The war
connections continue with a monument to those killed in
the 1941 Belfast Blitz and a Memorial Cross in honour of
locals killed in action in WW2. The cemetery is the city’s
largest with around 250,000 burials and, curiously, a sunken
wall dividing Protestant and Catholic plots. Many of Belfast’s
prominent figures from its industrial, religious and political
past are buried here including Viscount Pirrie, former Lord
Mayor and controller of Harland & Wolff shipyard during
Titanic, Sir Edward Harland, former MP, Mayor and one of
the shipyard’s founders and Daniel Joseph Jaffe, a linen
merchant and builder of Belfast’s first synagogue. Former
Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Hartley is an expert historian on
the cemetery and runs occasional tours. Find out more at
An Culturlann.
Milltown Cemetery E-3, 546 Falls Rd, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9061 3972. This 1872 Roman Catholic cemetery
is a must-see in anyone’s modern history tour of Belfast.
Its entrance features a Victorian Romanesque gateway and
large Celtic cross adorned with Biblical scenes. Inside, the
Republic Plot has several high-profile IRA graves, including
1981 hunger striker Bobby Sands, and Mairéad Farrell, killed
Belfast In Your Pocket
Ulster Covenant mural, side of Rex Bar, Shankill Road
by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988. A vast expanse of green
space is the unmarked burial site of over 80,000 victims of
the 1918 pandemic flu.
West Belfast Taxi Association (TaxiTrax Tours)
B-1, 35a King St. (behind CastleCourt), tel. (+44) (0)28
9031 5777, www.wbta.net. These London-style Black
Hackney cabs arrived in West Belfast at the height of the
Troubles and provided an invaluable hop-on, hop-off service
when regular schedules were severely disrupted. Though the
Troubles are a thing of the past, the black taxis remain and are
very much a part of the local community. Driven and guided
by a native in the know, TaxiTrax offer Wall Murals, Histori-
cal, Political and Belfast Landmarks Tours. City centre hotel
pick-ups can be arranged to ensure a hassle-free adventure.
Q 90min Belfast City tours. Prices on request.
Upper Springfield Urban Art Project E-3, Top of the
Rock, 685 Springfield Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023 6677.
While Belfast city centre’s large-scale public art dominates
the creative landscape, in the West communities are unleash-
ing their inner muses and developing some truly unique and
personal pieces. And what started life as a project to revitalise
the area has now become an unwitting tourist attraction.
Residents and artists have come together to produce over
eighty works of art reflecting the area’s stories and citizens.
Historical and contemporary experiences, local heroes and
a sheer pride in where they live has inspired the work and
created a public art trail that draws visitors from across the
world. Two free maps help you navigate your way through
these, and many more, works of art. Pick them up at An
Culturlann or the Belfast Welcome Centre.
Shankill Road F-2. M11 The Shankill dates back to the
Stone Age and is Belfast’s oldest settlement. Shankill Road
was named in 1831 after the Gaelic Sean Cill meaning Old
Church. Today it is a bustling street with shops, snack stops
and the Shankill Memorial Garden. Take a couple of hours to
explore its Peace Walls and murals resplendent with Union
Jacks and tributes to the Royal Family. One mural of note,
beside the Rex Bar, depicts Unionist MP Edward Carson lead-
ing the signing of the 1912 Ulster Covenant which opposed
Irish Home Rule.
Spectrum Centre F-2, 331 Shankill Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28
9050 4555, www.shankilltourism.com. Opened in 2001,
and home to the Shankill Information Centre, the Spectrum
Centre is a community-lead arts and culture project and a
handy stop if you’re looking for information about the Shankill
Road. To find the Peace Line, start at this landmark red brick
and glass building, cross the Shankill Road and head straight
across to Northumberland Street. A km-long section of the
great divide will soon come into view. Happy scribbling.
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 NI HIGHLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS 47

With acres of beautiful scenery and a sprinkling of historic

attractions, here’s the best this wee nook has to offer. Small
enough to explore in a few days, it’s time to hit the open road
and see for yourself. TIC = Tourist Information Centre.

Causeway Coast & Glens tel. (+44) (0)28 7032

7720, www.causewaycoastandglens.com. Regarded
as one of the world’s great coastal roads, the Causeway
Coastal Route is an absolute must for any visitor to Ireland.
The journey is extensively signposted from Belfast; follow
the M5 before veering off to begin your coastal hug, passing
Carrickfergus’s magnificent Norman Castle and detouring into
pretty Islandmagee via Whitehead. The Route continues its
dramatic journey edging the Irish Sea and taking in charming
places such as Glenarm, Cushendun and the breathtaking Torr
Head. A further detour through the Glens of Antrim unveils

Eat, drink and be Derry

Peadar O Donnells & Gweedore Bar J-2 59-63
Waterloo St, tel. (+44) (0)28 7137 2318, www.
peadars-gweedorebar.com. Crammed with locals,
tourists and trad pub ephemera, these adjoining bars
are undoubtedly Derry’s most lively down-home drink-
ing and live music dens. Peadar’s is all about traditional
Irish music, while The Gweedore attracts indie kids, Giant’s Causeway
Goths and rockers keen to shake their thang or adopt
an air of sophisticated disaffection against the crashing emerald hills, rushing waterfalls and woodland walks. The
backdrop of live and loud sounds. Upstairs the nightclub world famous Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge,
plays the latest tunes for those who fancy a bit of an Bushmills Distillery and Dunluce Castle make a mighty four-
unpretentious boogie. Nights out don’t get much better some along the North Antrim Coast. Stop for tea at Portrush
than this. or Portstewart then continue to Limavady’s beautiful Roe
Valley before arriving at vibrant Derry city.

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

48 NI HIGHLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS
Derry J-2. Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau, tel.
(+44) (0)28 7137 7577, www.derryvisitor.com. Derry,
Londonderry, the Maiden City... call it what you will, NI’s multi-
monikered second city is a must-see. Compact enough to
explore on foot yet crammed with history and culture, Derry is
Ireland’s most complete walled city and the ideal base from
which to explore the North Coast, Sperrins and Co. Donegal.
Numerous tours leave no historical stone unturned in a city
that’s experienced more than its fair share of turmoil. The Tower
Museum (tel. (+44) (0)28 7137 2411) includes permanent exhi-
bitions on Derry’s history and Spanish Armada ship La Trinidad
Valencera which sank off the Donegal coast in 1588 and lay
undiscovered until 1971. Around the city there are plenty of
shops, restaurants, and contemporary and traditional bars for
all wage brackets and age ranges. The hotel, B&B and hostel
scene is flourishing like never before, so head West where,
especially at Hallowe’en when the city is taken over for a big
spectacular, it’s definitely worth a daytrip or more..
Derry
Fermanagh Lakelands I-4, Fermanagh TIC, Wellington
Rd, Enniskillen, tel. (+44) (0)28 6632 3110, www.fer-
managhlakelands.com. NI’s most tranquil county is a stunning
landscape of silvery lakes, green fields and verdant forests. Bus-
tling Enniskillen is the perfect place to drop anchor before, during
or after navigating the magnificent lakelands or Erne-Shannon
waterway. Try to see the pretty town of Belleek - famous for its
pottery, Marble Arch Caves - complete with glistening stalactites
and cascading waterfalls, and Castle Coole - an 18th Century
mansion set in a landscaped park and owned by the National
Trust. We’re merely dipping our toes into Fermanagh’s lakeland
setting so, to find out more about this amazing waterworld, ask
for the region’s tourism brochures at Enniskillen’s TIC.
Belfast In Your Pocket
North Down Bangor TIC L-3, 34 Quay St, tel. (+44) (0)28
9127 0069, www.northdowntourism.com. Stretching
along the Belfast Lough shoreline, and spreading across 50sq
miles, North Down’s outdoor highlights include sandy beaches,
country parks, quaint villages and historic sites. Bangor is the
area’s main town and Holywood its stylish smaller sibling. Both
are within easy reach of Belfast - with Bangor 12miles away and
Holywood just six miles. Home to one of Ireland’s largest and
Blue Flag Award-winning marinas, Pickie Family Fun Park and an
abundance of seafront hotels and B&Bs, Bangor is a haven for
sailors and daytrippers in search of some seaside japes. The
town’s North Down Heritage Centre features the history of the
town (Bangor is one of only four Irish places on the 13th Century
Mappa Mundi map), the life of Irish songwriter Percy French and a
programme of year-round events and exhibitions. When you’re in
the area, the small village of Groomsport is also worth a detour,
with its charming seaside setting and Cockle Row thatched
fishermen’s houses.
Ards Peninsula L/M-3 Ards TIC, 31 Regent St, New-
townards, Co. Down, tel. (+44) (0)28 9182 6846, www.
ards-council.gov.uk. Stretching from the market town of
Newtownards and separating the shores of Strangford Lough
and the Irish Sea, this gently undulating landscape is a scenic
mix of pretty villages, rugged seascapes and unspoilt coast-
line. Drive the lough-hugging Portaferry Rd from N’ards, stop-
ping at magnificent Mountstewart House and Gardens and
the historic village of Greyabbey with its namesake Cistercian
ruin, cute antique shops and home-cooking cafés, then take
the short ferry trip from Portaferry to Strangford. Or discover
the other side of the Peninsula with its traditional seaside
stops such as Donaghadee and Millisle, and quirky Ballycope-
land Windmill. And, west of the Lough, Comber town is equally
pretty, and home to Castle Espie Wetland Centre. Find out lots
more at Ards TIC or (seasonally) Portaferry TIC.
Exploris Aquarium
Castle St, Portaferry, Co. Down, tel. (+353) 4272
8062, www.exploris.org.uk. Nestled on the shores of
Strangford Lough marine nature reserve, Exploris - the
Northern Ireland Aquarium reflects its fabulous location
with exhibits focusing on the Lough and the Irish Sea. Over
the past two decades the aquarium has notched up almost
2 million visitors and established itself as one of NI’s top ten
paying tourist attractions. The large Open Sea Tank con-
tains sharks, conger eels and rays, and daily Discovery
Pool demonstrations allow visitors to touch sea creatures
and learn fascinating facts from experienced local guides.
The Aquarium’s cutest and most important calling card,
however, is the Seal Sanctuary where sick or orphaned
seal pups are rehabilitated then released back into the
wild. Since 1989, Exploris has returned over 200 seals
to their natural habitat. The seal hospital’s one-way glass
system allows visitors to watch the patients from a safe
distance. Once well enough, seals are then moved into the
swimming ponds which have an underwater viewing area.
Visitors can also view the seals from tides café and exhibi-
tion area or, even better, help support Exploris’s important
rehabilitation programme by adopting a seal. The nature of
rehabilitation means that there will be times when there are
no seals ‘in residence’ so please call in advance if you
are particularly interested in seeing seals. Its beautiful
setting in he quaint conservation village of Portaferry and
ongoing work with sick and injured seals, makes Exploris
always worth a visitQMon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00, Sat 11:00 -
17:00, Sun 13:00 - 17:00. Adult £7, 5-16 and conc. £4.50,
U4 free. Family rates also available.
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 NI HIGHLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS
Lisburn City L-3, Lisburn TIC, 15 Lisburn Square, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9266 0038, www.visitlisburn.com. Situated
10 miles south of Belfast, Lisburn was granted City Status
in 2002 and is regarded as NI’s fastest growing metropolis.
The city has some of NI’s best retail hubs, with fashion-
able Lisburn Square, epic Bow Street Mall and out-of-town
Sprucefield Shopping Centre positively urging you to unleash
those credit cards. The 17th Century Historic Quarter’s
landmark building, the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum,
has interactive exhibitions on the Irish linen industry and local
history, and a very popular café and gift shop. The Island Arts
Centre is a state-of-the-art cultural hub fronted by a water
jet and sculpture trail. And the revamped Castle Gardens is
a pretty, elevated park with several historic features and a
great city view. Place a bet at Down Royal Racecourse, enjoy
a tipple at the Hilden Brewery and pet cute animals and
stay overnight at Brookhall Historical Farm and Cottages.
Find out more about city events, and the nearby villages
of Hillsborough and Moira, at the very friendly Lisburn and
Hillsborough TICs.
Armagh City K-4, Armagh TIC, 40 English St, tel.
(+44) (0)28 3752 1800, www.visitarmagh.com. The
skyline of Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital is dominated by
the spires of St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland and Catholic
Cathedrals - both with strong St. Patrick connections.
Armagh retains strong religious links and is also a city
of historical monuments, museums and heritage sites.
Striking Georgian buildings overlook the emerald green
Mall and winding streets reveal cute cafés, one-off shops
and some great restaurants. Find out more about the
Palace Stables, St. Patrick’s Trian, Navan For t, Mu-
seum, Planetarium and other Orchard County attractions
at the TIC.
Mourne Country L-4, Newcastle TIC, 10-14 Central
Promenade, tel. (+44) (0)28 4372 2222, www.arma-
ghanddown.com. NI’s main mountain range may not be
the Rockies, but what it lacks in stature it makes up for
in picture-postcard beauty. The Mournes extend from the
seaside town of Newcastle in the north to the quaint village
of Rostrevor in the south. Man-made stone walls criss-cross
green fields as Slieve Donard (NI’s highest mountain) looks
down from its 849m granite peak. Designated an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Mournes are in line to be-
come NI’s first National Park. Newcastle is the area’s main
urban attraction, and the inspiration behind songwriter Percy
French’s Where The Mountains of Mourne Sweep Down
To The Sea (ask nicely, and a local may sing you a snippit).
Long the summer destination of local holidaymakers, the town
moves seamlessly from the sublime to the silly with the magnifi-
cent Slieve Donard Hotel & Spa, gleaming new promenade and
Royal County Down Golf Club within eyesight of brassy amuse-
ment arcades and chintzy B&Bs. Don’t miss nearby Silent
Valley and Spelga Dam reservoirs set amid stunning scenery -
and Castlewellan and Tollymore Forest Parks. Coast-
al towns and villages Ardglass, Dundrum, Annalong
and Kilkeel combine to create a beautiful coastal journey that
makes you realise quite what a wonderful country this is.
Sperrins Sperrins Tourism, The Manor House, 30 High
St, Moneymore, Co. Londonderry, tel. (+44)(0)28 8674
7700, www.sperrinstourism.com. One of the great, undis-
covered regions of Northern Ireland has to be the Sperrin
Mountains. Stunningly bleak and stretching 64 miles, the
Sperrins are often overshadowed by glamorous siblings such
as the Mournes and Causeway Coast. But it is exactly this
aspect of unchartered territory that makes a trip through this
widespread mountain range such a memorable experience.
Imagine a rolling Irish wilderness and you‘re close to conjuring
belfast.inyourpocket.com
49
Coach Tours
Coastal and Countr y Explorer Tel. (+44)
(0)28 9185 2880/(+44) (0)775 111 9394, www.
coastalandcountry.com. Book a a luxury 16-seater
Mercedes-Benz coach and let this family-owned company
chauffeur you effortlessly around our best beauty spots.
Full audio-visual facilities provide expert commentary and
suggested destinations include stately homes, beautiful
gardens, historic sites and special events.
Their St. Patrick‘s Trail tour begins in Belfast and jour-
neys through Co. Down which has more connections with
Saint Patrick than any other part of Ireland. You’ll visit an
Augustine Priory and enjoy guided tours of the 6th Century
monastery of Saints Comgall, Columbanus and Gall, and
a 12th Century Cistercian Abbey.
Following lunch (not included in the price but available
at a very reasonable cost) in picturesque Portaferry, the
tour crosses the narrows of Strangford Lough by ferry
to enter the Lecale area and explore the site where Saint
Patrick set up his first church.
Your next call will be to the Saint Patrick Centre in
Downpatrick where you’ll learn about Patrick’s life and
times. And the journey of discovery concludes with an
opportunity to pay your respects to the Saint at the
stone believed to mark his grave. Other Patrician sites
will be visited if time permits. Access to all sites may not
be possible on every tour.
Other bespoke tours can be organised on request. Give
them a call or check the website for all the latest info.
Q St. Patrick‘s Trail tour starts 19 Feb and departs
from Victoria Square, Chichester St, Belfast at 09:30
sharp every Sat. Book in advance by phone, email via the
website or through the Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegal
Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9024 6609. Return time to Belfast
is c.18:00. Adult £25, child £18.
up the Sperrins. Cycling, water sports, horse riding and even
micro-light flying on offer for adventurous types. While more
sedate souls can indulge in a spot of walking, angling and golf.
For the less energetic, four signposted scenic driving routes
cover the North, South, East and Central Sperrins. Each 50-
90 mile circular drive takes in this undulating landscape via
market towns, manor homes and verdant wooded glens. It‘s
a fantastic way to discover the Sperrins at your own pace,
stopping off to explore historic sites and Ice Age carved
landscapes stretching all the way from the Donegal border
to the edge of the River Bann. Pick up these handy maps,
with lots of info on visitor attractions en route, at any Tourist
Information Centre. Or get in touch with Sperrins Tourism and
order your personal copy.
Sperrins Road
February - March 2011
50 Shopping
Belfast’s city centre provides a healthy mix of high street
names and one-off outlets. The main shopping areas are
Donegall Place and Royal Avenue facing the City Hall,
radial streets off Cornmarket (off Royal Ave) and, heading
south, the Lisburn Road. The city centre’s shopping malls
are Victoria Square off Cornmarket and CastleCourt
on Royal Avenue.
If you want to explore smaller city centre outlets and
craft shops, check out Spires Mall, the Fountain Cen-
tre, Queen Street and Smithfield Market. The small
Queen’s Arcade also houses some fine jewellery, gift
and bespoke clothing shops. For eclectic antiques and
curios, head down Donegall Pass.
St. George’s Market
D-2, 12 East Bridge St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9043 5704,
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/markets. Regarded as one of
the UK’s finest food markets, St. George’s Food & Gar-
den Market (Sat, 09:00 - 15:00) has around 250 stalls
selling local and organic produce ranging from fresh fish
to wild boar and smelly cheeses to Armagh apples.
A market has existed on this site since 1604, and the
elegant Victorian red brick and glass structure you see
today is the culmination of a £4.3m renovation project.
Inside, the cavernous space has a vibe about it that’s
unique to the city. Locals mingle with tourists as live
music plays and traders display their tantalising wares.
Savour a couple of hours at this colourful smorgasbord
and get your maw round some great tasting international
cuisine and local grub.
On Fridays, food gives way to the Variety Market (06:00-
13:00) which, as the name suggests, is crammed with all
manner of antiques, bric-a-brac, clothes and curios. Sift
carefully and you might uncover a thing of rare beauty
and value. This is where the real locals shop, and a visit
gives you an insight into the shopping habits of some of
the city’s most colourful characters. Totally unpretentious
and worth an early morning potter before the high street
stores open their doors. The Market is also open Sundays
10:00 - 16:00 as a combination of Fri and Sat markets and
with an emphasis on arts and crafts. A free shuttle bus
runs every 20mins between the city centre (outside Boots,
Donegall Place or HMV, Castle Place) and the Market. Dept.
Fri from 08:00; Sat from 09:00. JK
Belfast In Your Pocket
AS IYP ad aw 27/9/09 22:40 Page 1
C M Y CM MY CY CMY
Shopping malls and markets
CastleCourt B/C-1, Royal Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9023
4591, www.westfield.com/castlecourt. This huge reflec-
tive glass building takes up a sizeable stretch of Royal Avenue,
Belfast’s main shopping drag, and brings together high street
names, a food court and market-style stalls all under one
handy rainproof roof. Debenhams, Gap and New Look head
up the fashion faves, and other well-known retailers include
Laura Ashley, Exhibit, Boots and the Early Learning Centre.
There’s a cute children’s play area for hyper kids and their
weary parents, car-shaped buggies free to hire and, for adult
drivers, a multi-storey car park looming large at the back.
QOpen Mon-Sat 09:00 - 19:00, Thur 09:00 - 21:00, Sun
13:00 - 18:00. JRLKS
Fountain Street & Fountain Centre B-2. A good
selection of gift shops, gorgeous Sawers deli and a sprin-
kling of cafes and bars are clustered around this small
pedestrianised area. Ride the escalator and get up close to
a Hamburg-made 24-bell clock and, in finer weather, enjoy
outdoor seating on the terrace surrounding the eponymous
fountain. Look left and you’ll find SpaceCRAFT which sells
and exhibits gorgeous local crafts from top notch designers.
Eagle eyes will spot the specially crafted street lanterns
complete with ‘F’ insets. Nice touch. JK
Smithfield Market C-1, behind CastleCourt. Long the
home to specialist and second hand shops, the ‘new’ Smith-
field Market was completed in 1986 after the old Victorian
market was bombed in the ‘70s. Step inside and explore wee
units brimming with all manner of paraphernalia from comics
to collectibles, army surplus to Irish souvenirs and cafes to
camping equipment. It’s a bit dingy, but that’s all part of its
charm. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. JK
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 Shopping 51

Spires Mall B-2, Church House, Wellington St, tel. (+44)

(0)28 9032 2284, www.spiresbelfast.co.uk. Spires Mall oc-
cupies the ground floor of Church House, HQ of the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland. Built in 1905 and refurbished in 1992, this dark
brick colossus features an ornately carved exterior and 40m-high
belfry where twelve bells chime the hours and play the occasional
hymn. The Mall houses Spires Café and a small, yet perfectly
formed, selection of upmarket and Fairtrade shops. QOpen
09:00 - 17:00, Thu 09:00 - 21:00. Closed Sun. JHK
Victoria Square C-2, www.victoriasquare.com. Bel-
fast’s city centre retail experience has received a major
shot of glamour with the opening of this shiny new shopping
centre. The landmark building spans a substantial strip of
Chichester Street, has several pedestrian access points
and boasts a House of Fraser signature store and big glass
dome with viewing gallery. Over 90 more shops, an 8-screen
Odeon cinema, restaurants, cafés, bars, salon and basement
parking complete your wallet-emptying expedition. QOpen
09:30 - 21:00, Mon, Tue 09:30 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 18:00,
Sun 13:00 - 18:00.JLK
Food
Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory G-3, 60 Castlereagh
Rd, M5, tel. (+44) (0)28 9073 2868, www.irishcandy-
factory.com. Aunt Sandra started making sweeties, lollies
and all manner of choccie delights in this east Belfast empo-
rium way back in 1953. Today nephew David Moore continues
the tradition and demonstrates his craft as children and adults
look on with wide-eyed admiration. Shamrock lollies and
leprechaun’s gold are just some of the sticky souvenirs that
may prove too tempting to last the journey home... QOpen
09:30 - 17:00, Sat 10:00 - 16:30. Closed Sun. A
The Wicker Man
C-1, 44-46 High St,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9024
3550, www.thewick-
erman.co.uk. Show-
casing and selling the
work of over 150 Irish
artists and craftspeo-
ple, this treasure trove
of a shop is an absolute
must for all you quality-
conscious souvenir hunters. Perfumes, marble, pewter
and pottery sit alongside paintings, jewellery and many
other smaller items - with all price ranges covered. Check
out the new range of gorgeous Irish textiles and cloth-
ing, including throws, blankets, cushion covers, tweed
ties and scarves, from long established weavers Studio
Donegal and Foxford Woollen Mills.
Most months you’ll find a different artist’s work featured
in the small gallery space and award-winning window dis-
play, and the bodhrans (Irish drums - pronounced borons)
suspended from the ceiling make quite the feature.
The shop itself comes with an interesting pedigree; it was
once the site of the Ulster Overcoat Company, manufactur-
ers of the heavy caped coat made famous by Sherlock
Holmes. The original building was destroyed during the Bel-
fast Blitz and, following WW2, the resulting wasteland was
used to display one of Hitler’s touring armoured Mercedes.
Engage in convivial chat with owners Peter and Laurence
about these stories... and the legend of the Wicker Man
from which the shop gets its name. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00,
Thu 09:00 - 21:00. Sun 13:00 - 17:30. J

Sawers B-2, Fountain Centre, 7a College St, tel. (+44)

(0)28 9032 2021, www.sawersbelfast.com. This Aladdin’s
Cave of local and global epicurean treats has been part of Bel-
fast’s food scene for over one hundred years. Its mind-boggling
selection runs well into the 1000s, with a multitude of marinaded
olives and seafood, artisan cheeses and chocolates, and a re-
plete charcuterie tempting all you lovers of gourmet cuisine. Grab
some tasty souvenirs, enjoy locally produced eats or order one of
their gorgeous bespoke hampers. On weekends, owner Kieran
can often be found cooking up wild boar burgers and other exotic
fast food delights outside the shop. Ditch the diet and indulge in
this delicious feast. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. J

Gifts & Souvenirs

Carroll’s Irish Gifts C-1, 2-6 Castle Place, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9023 8899, www.carrollsirishgifts.com. Irish
paraphernalia, traditional gifts and other green-gilded good-
ies are available at this city centre souvenir store. Part of
the Ireland-wide chain, Carroll’s stocks enough big-name
products - from clothing to collectables and chocolates
to CDs - to keep the folks back home happy. Q Open
09:30 - 19:00, Thu 09:30 - 20:00, Fri, Sat 09:30 - 19:30,
Sun 10:00 - 18:30. J
Fairtrade Inspires B-2, Spires Mall, Great Victoria St,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9031 9122. Fairly traded and organically
sourced clothes, gifts, food and accessories abound at this
‘not for profit’ emporium. Friendly staff can fill you in on the
shop’s Fair Trade origins and their ‘trade plus a little aid’
maxim. You can then skip out knowing your purchase has con-
tributed, in some small way, to making the world a little better.
And check out their second, smaller unit in Spires dedicated
to children’s and babies’ clothes, toys and other fair trade and
organic goodies. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00, Thu 09:00 - 21:00.
Closed Sun.

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

52 Shopping28/7/08
CDC 6x9 ad:CDC 6x9 15:02 Page 1

The Irish Linen and Gift Centre C-1, 65-67 Royal Ave,
be original! buy original! tel. (+44 (0)28 9031 4272, www.irishlinenandgiftcen-
tre.com. Belleek pottery, Galway Crystal and a fine range of
The Craft & Design Collective has created an Irish linen and knitwear make this a great place to seek out
innovative focal point for the commissioning, authentic and classy Irish gifts. Titanic and Guinness-inspired
exhibition, promotion and sale of Craft, Applied Art mementoes are also available alongside lots more green-
and Design, owned, managed and staffed by gilded goodies for the folks back home... or your good self.
Artist/Designer/Makers themselves. Find it opposite the main entrance to CastleCourt Shopping
Centre. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

Fashion
Frock Around The Clock B-5, Holiday Inn, Ormeau
Avenue, Belfast, www.northernirelandvintage.com. With
their vintage mix of dancers, swing bands, hair and beauty
makeovers and a huge selection of fabulous retro goodies -
the Decadence Vintage Fairs always come up with something
quirky to entice and entertain visitors. So it’s no wonder this
Space CRAFT Opening Hours event, the only one of its kind in Northern Ireland, has turned
9b The Fountain Centre Monday to Saturday
into quite the day out for all concerned, with many punters
College Street 10.30am to 5.30pm dressing up in their vintage finery to peruse the retro clothes,
Belfast
BT1 6ET
jewellery, records, homewares and accessories on sale.
Raising the Profile of Craft, Applied Art & Design craft & design collective There’s also a good selection of handmade items straddling
GO UP THAT ESCALATOR! the centuries, including vintage textiles and lots more oldies
but goodies from the 1800s to 1980s. The first Frock Around
Further Information The Clock Vintage Fair of 2011 will take place on Sun 6 Feb
T: +44 (0)28 9032 9342 with 45 sellers of vintage clothing, accessories, jewellery and
E: info@craftanddesigncollective.com homewares mixing it up with live music and the retro hair and
W: craftanddesigncollective.com

Shop
Gallery
SpaceCRAFT
Exhibition Area B-2, 9b The Fountain Centre, College St, tel. (+44)
(0)28 9032 9342, www.craftanddesigncollective.
com. The Craft & Design Collective has brought together
Shopping on the Lisburn Road Artist/Designer/Makers from across NI to create this
innovative shop/gallery/exhibition area right in the city
If your idea of retail heaven is exploring some great in- centre. Head up the Fountain Centre‘s escalator and
dependent shops, a stroll down South Belfast’s Lisburn indulge in a dazzling choice of handmade pieces you‘ll
Road is an absolute must. find nowhere else in town. From the modest to the more
Undoubtedly the most affluent retail area outside the luxurious, and featuring everything from ceramics to
city centre, this Queen’s Quarter stretch is the spiritual stylish jewellery, fashion and interior accessories, Space
home for designer boutiques, art galleries and home CRAFT provides a relaxing alternative to the high street
accessories. mêlée... and gives you the opportunity to support local
Bespoke gifts, melt-in-the-mouth chocolates and relax- Artist/Designer/Makers.
ing day spas are all there for the asking. And there’s also
a grande assortment of cafés, bars and restaurants to Valentine
ensure your shopping onslaught is enhanced by fine food, Fri 4 - Sat 26 Feb 2011
gourmet gifts and the occasional cocktail. While florists are smelling the profits, chocolatiers are
Walk from the city centre and give yourself a few hours drooling over sales and card manufacturers are in over-
to fully explore the strip, then waft back to your boudoir drive, Space CRAFT has asked Artist/Designer/Makers
armed with tissue-wrapped treats and be-ribboned bags to be inspired by the word VALENTINE and come up with
a la Sex and the City. You go girl! objects of pure desire. The results can be seen through-
out February. So, shop for special gifts - with prices
ranging from the modest to the more luxurious - and treat
East Belfast’s Bloomfield Avenue that someone special in your life to gifts made locally with
love. QOpen 10:30 - 17:30. Closed Sun. J
This great little East Belfast thoroughfare is sprinkled
with stylish boutiques, aspirational accessories and
award-winning hair salons. Vintage clothes store Rasp-
berry Beret and cool gift emporium Cocoon Yourself
are among our faves.
The shopping strip also has a bit of a café vibe; we have
even spotted Van Morrison partaking of a cuppa in
Chatters. And the nearby Engine Room Gallery provides
cultural escape from your spending spree. Grab a taxi
or hop on Metro Bus No. 4 (beside City Hall, Donegall
Sq. West) and get shopping like a local.

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com

 Shopping 53

Books
Bookshop at Queen’s B-4, 91 University Rd, M8, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9066 6302, www.queensbookshop.co.uk.
Amazingly comprehensive collection of travel guides. Also
stock Irish-interest books and a small selection of foreign
language literature. Find it across the road from the main
Queen’s University Building. QOpen 09:00 - 17:30, Sat
09:00 - 17:00.Closed Sun.
No Alibis B-4, 83 Botanic Ave, tel. (+44) (0)28 9031
9607, www.noalibis.com. Independent bookshop special-
ising in British, Irish and American crime and thriller novels.
Regularly hosts readings and events. QOpen 09:30 - 17:30.
Closed Sun.

Beauty salons
Advanced Waxing Clinic B-4, 46 Botanic Ave, tel.
(+44) (0)28 9023 9279. Before you even think of heading
out, treat yourself to a body makeover at this well-located
salon. Manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, eyelash and
eyebrow tinting take care of the finer details. And ear pierc-
ing, make-up, waxing and a turn on the sunbed complete
the professionally-groomed look. Guys and gals welcome.
Party on! QOpen 10:00 - 20:00, Sat 10:00 - 15:00. Closed
Mon, Sun.

Jason Shankey Cascade House, 235 Lisburn Rd,

tel. (+44) (0)28 9068 1291, www.jasonshankey.
com. Cutting edge stuff from the staff who make Belfast
guys gorgeous. Also on the Upper Newtownards Rd. and,
get this, London. Q Mon 10:00 - 18:00, Tue & Fri 09:30
- 17:30, Wed-Thu 09:30 - 18:30, Sat 09:00 - 15:30.
Closed Sun.

beauty parlour. Next up The Retro Rooms Show on Sun 6

March will showcase sellers of vintage, retro and re-found
furniture, interiors and design. And, on Sun 3 April Totally
Bazaar showcases fifty sellers specialising in eco-conscious
vintage and recycled pieces. All events take place at the
Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11:00 - 16:30.
Admission: £5 adults, £3 seniors/students. Check out
www.northernirelandvintage.com for more info and find
them at Facebook / Frock Around The Clock Vintage
Fairs. It’s the most fashionably fun experience you can have
with your (vintage) clothes on...

Liberty Blue C-1, 19-21 Lombard St, tel. (+44) (0)28

9043 7745, www.libertyblue.co.uk. Where do you begin?
An absolute Aladdin’s cave packed with gorgeous dresses
and the most wonderful whimsical fairytale inspired jewel-
lery imaginable. This award-winning store is an institution
in Belfast and has featured in almost all the fashion gloss-
ies. Kooky little labels from around the globe are brought
together creating a den of desire. The perfect present or
the most original party dress, Liberty Blue’s imagination
runs wild and presents itself to you. Find this amazing shop
on Lombard Street, a stone’s throw from Royal Avenue. De-
signer looks at High street prices... perfect. QOpen 10:00
- 17:30, Thu 10:00 - 20:30, Sat 10:00 - 18:00, Sun 13:00 -
17:00. J

The Pound in your pocket...

£1 = €1.17, US$1.60, CAD$1.60,
AUD$1.60
(xe.com: 31/01/11)

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

54 Getting around
Public Transport
Translink runs all NI public rail (NI Railways) and bus
(Ulsterbus and Metro) networks. For full info tel. (+44)
(0)28 9066 6630, www.translink.co.uk.
Belfast by bus
Metro is the name for Belfast’s bus service. Most buses
start their journey from Donegall Square East or West,
either side of the City Hall.
Metro Day Tickets - Explore Belfast in your own way
with these hop-on hop-off day tickets.
£3.50: unlimited daily Metro network use Mon - Sat.
£2.90 Mon - Sat after 09:30 or all day Sun (purchase
09:30 - 15:00 Mon - Sat and all day Sun).
Child fares half price. Metro Day Tickets valid for travel on
day of purchase only and cannot be transferred.
Belfast– Dublin Airport - Dublin City by bus,
Ulsterbus Goldline Service No: 200 operates between
Europa Buscentre and Dublin Airport on the hour, every
hour. Tickets: Single £12.25 (€14), Return £17.40 (€20).
Promotional fares may be withdrawn at any time.
Northern Ireland by train - NI Railways
NI Railways operates a rail network across the province
serving the following routes:
Bangor line: Bangor-Belfast
Larne line: Larne Harbour-Belfast
Derry line: Derry-Coleraine and Portrush-Belfast
Portadown line: Newry-Portadown-Belfast
Dublin line: Belfast-Portadown-Newry-Dundalk-
Drogheda-Dublin (Enterprise Train - see p.6).
Sunday Day Tracker: Unlimited Sunday travel on all
NI scheduled train services (£6/3). No time restric-
tions apply.
Northern Ireland by bus - Ulsterbus
NI Rambler Services: Translink operate a number of
services to promote tourism in rural areas. These are
ideal for tourists and locals who want to explore some
of NI’s most spectacular scenery by foot. Rambler
services set down and pick up at key locations, and
service main bus stations. Tickets can be purchased
from the driver.
Year-round Seasonal
Kilkeel Rambler Causeway Rambler
Sperrin Rambler Mourne Rambler
Antrim Coaster
Sunday Rambler Ticket: Unlimited Sunday travel on
all scheduled Ulsterbus services within NI (£8/4). Must
be purchased, and the outward journey made, before
15:00. Available from the driver.
Bus & Rail iLink Smartcard
This integrated smartcard from Translink provides un-
limited day, weekly or monthly bus and rail travel within 3
specified zones across NI. The Smartcard is available for
adults and children and is ideal if you travel by both bus
and train on a regular basis. It is easy to use and can be
topped up at one of the designated sales outlets. iLink
Smartcard provides a more convenient, safer, cash free
way to travel and could save you money if you are buying
separate bus and train tickets.
Fares and services subject to alteration.
Belfast In Your Pocket
Airlines
All airlines are based at Belfast International Airport
(IA) or George Best Belfast City Airport (GB). For
airport details see Arriving (p.6).
Aer Lingus (IA) tel. 0870 8765000 www.aerlingus.
com. Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Las Palmas
(Gran Canaria), London Heathrow, Malaga, Rome Leonardo
Da Vinci, Tenerife.
Bmi (GB) tel. 0870 6070 555, www.flybmi.com. London
Heathrow.
Bmi Baby (GB) tel. 08702 642229, www.bmibaby.
com. Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Manchester, London
Stansted (From 28 March 2011).
Continental (IA) tel. 0845 607 6760, www.continen-
tal.com/uk. New York (Newark).
EasyJet (IA) tel. 0871 244 2366, www.easyjet.com.
Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bristol, Edinburgh,
Faro, Geneva, Glasgow, Ibiza, Krakow, Liverpool, London
Gatwick, London Stansted, Malaga, Malta, Newcastle,
Nice, Palma Majorca, Paris Charles de Gaulle. (GB)
London Luton.
Flybe (GB) tel. 0871 700 0535, www.flybe.com.
Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter,
Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Man-
chester, Newcastle, Doncaster Sheffield, Southampton,
Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, Paris (CDG).
Jet2.com (IA) tel. 0871 226 1 737, www.jet2.com.
Blackpool, Dubrovnik, Ibiza, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, Ma-
hon, Murcia, Palma Majorca, Pisa, Toulouse, Tenerife.
Manx2 (GB) www.manx2.com. Isle of Man, Blackpool,
Cork. (IA) Isle of Man, Galway.
Car rental
Car hire desks at both airports - Belfast International
Airport telephone number listed first, followed by George
Best Belfast City Airport contact details.
Avis (+44) (0)8445 446012, (+44) (0)28 9045 2017,
www.avis.co.uk
Budget (+44) (0)28 9442 3332, (+44) (0)28 9045
1111 or 0500 933700, www.budget.ie
Hertz (+44) (0)28 9442 2533, (+44) (0) 28 9073 2451
www.hertz.co.uk
National (+44) (0)28 9442 2285, (+44) (0)28 9073
9400, www.nationalcar.co.uk
Sixt (+44) (0)28 9445 3588, www.sixt.co.uk
Car parking
Approx. 1300 on-street city centre parking meters charge
£1 per hour in increments of 25p per 15mins. Pay by coin
or credit/debit card. If that doesn’t work, call the phone
number written on the meter and take a note of the meter
number. Check street signs to ensure you don’t overstay
your welcome, as many spaces are restricted by time. And
don’t even think about not paying and displaying, as the
streets are swarming with red-jacketed traffic wardens
keen to bag their next prey. Car parks are many, vary in
price (from the OK to the eye-watering) and marked with
prominent blue and white NCP or P signs.
The Pound in your pocket...
£1 = €1.17, US$1.60, CAD$1.60,
AUD$1.60
(xe.com: 31/01/11)
belfast.inyourpocket.com
 ROUTE MAP

Bellarena Castlerock COLERAINE Dhu Varren

LONDONDERRY PORTRUSH
University LARNE
HARBOUR

Ballymoney Larne Town

Glynn
Magheramorne
Cullybackey
Ballycarry
Whitehead
Ballymena
Downshire
Carrickfergus
Antrim Clipperstown
Trooperslane
Mossley West Greenisland
Jordanstown
Whiteabbey t
d y es
Yorkgate En
d
oo Ba r W
e w ra ’s o
id
g y
ol Cult len ng
Br H He Ba
Botanic BANGOR
BELFAST o ill a
City Hospital am arin ah ale
CENTRAL enh M Se
arn
GT VICTORIA STREET d C
Sy
EUROPA BUSCENTRE

Free bus into town

Adelaide
Rail passengers with a valid rail ticket can travel
Balmoral
Finaghy between Central Station and Belfast city centre free
Dunmurry of charge on Translink Metro bus services.
Derriaghy Free Ulsterbus connections from Newry Station to
Lambeg Newry city centre and from Londonderry Station to
Hilden
Derry city centre.
Lisburn
Moira
Lurgan KEY
Portadown
Scarva Main Bus & Rail Interchange

Poyntzpass Dublin Line Londonderry Line

Newry Portadown/Newry Line

Dundalk Bangor Line Portrush Line

Larne Line
Drogheda
Airport Express 300 service to
Belfast International Airport

DUBLIN Airport Express 600 service to

George Best Belfast City Airport

www.translink.co.uk or call 028 90 66 66 30

 Showing High Frequency
Corridors within the
Metro Network

Monkstown
Main Corridors within Metro Network
1E Roughfort Milewater 1D Mossley Monkstown (Devenish Drive)
Drive Road From every
5-10 mins
From every
15-30 mins
Carnmoney /
Fairview Ballyhenry 2C/D/E 2C/D/E/G Jordanstown 1 Antrim Road
Ballyearl Road 1A/C Road 2 Shore Road
Drive 1B 14/A/B/C 13/A/B/C 3 Holywood Road
New Manse 2A/B 1A/C Monkstown 1A/C 2G
Forthill 13C, 14C Avenue 4 Upper Newtownards Rd
Mossley Way 64A Drive 13B Circular
64A 5 Castlereagh Road
Road
13/A/B 14B
1B/C/D/G Manse 2B Carnmoney Ballyduff 6 Cregagh Road
Road Road Doagh Station
Hydepark
Road 2C/D/E Road 7 Ormeau Road
14/A/B/C 8 Malone Road
13/A/B/C Cloughfern
2A 9 Lisburn Road
13C, 14C 1G Rathmullan Drive 14A
Ballyhenry 10 Falls Road
Road 1B/C/D Derrycoole East
64A 2D/E/H 14/C Antrim 11 Shankill Road
13/A/B/C Northcott Rathmore Institute
Shopping Carnmoney Drive 13/C 12 Oldpark Road
14/A/B/C 2B 13A
Centre 1B/C Road
Doagh 16 Other Routes
Sandyknowes 1A Road
1D 2C
Antrim Terminus P Park & Ride 13 City Express
1E Road Glengormley 2E/H
1F 1B/C/F/G O’Neill
13/A/B 64A Road Single direction routes indicated by arrows
13C, 14C 2A/B

M5 Motorway
M2 Motorway 1E/J
Church 64A Braden Inbound Outbound Circular Route
Road Park
Mallusk Bellevue 2D
Industrial 1J 14/A/B
Estate Royal Abbey-
M

Jackson's Road
2

1F Mail 1E/J centre 64, 80

M

2B 28
ot

Blackrock Hightown Belfast Zoo 2A/B 14/A/C

or

2B/D
wa

Square 64, 64A Old

Arthur
y

13C Holywood
Belfast Castle Road Belfast
80 Whitewell Road Road
12C 80 13/A/B 2B/C/D/E/G/H
North Road
Shore 28 28
12C Carr’s Ballysillan Circular Antrim 64, 64A
Silverstream Glen Road Road Road Road
11A 80A 61 80 80
Ligoniel Ligoniel 2A 27
Cavehill 80 64/A/B, 80 Dargan West Bank Holywood
57 57A Road Road (Stena) Exchange (IKEA) 28
Road Downview Donegall Holywood Road
Mountainhill (Innisfayle Rd) 64B Park Ave 96 96
26, 26A
27, 28, 29/A/B 29/A/B 3 (Knocknagoney)
12 Oldpark 64A, 80
Road Somerton 64B Dargan
M2 Motorway

(Westland Rd) 27
Road Loughside Crescent George Best 28
80, 80B Belfast City Airport
11A Oldpark 80A Limestone Skegoneill Park 96
600 27, 28, 29/A/B
Road Road Avenue
12A Seaview Duncrue Airport Rd 3
57, 57A Alliance Cliftonville Jellicoe Football 13/A/B/C Road West Old
Avenue Road Avenue Stadium Connsbrook 28 Holywood
14/A/B/C
12A 1D 61 Queen’s 26, 26A Avenue Cairnburn Road
80, 80A, 80B Alexandra Grove
2
Road Road
Crumlin 12B/C Park Ave Baths Victoria 27
Glencairn Road Park 600
11C/D 3. 26, 26B Holywood Circular 29/A/B
Twaddell 61, 64/A/B York Road Road
11A Carlisle Duncairn Sydenham
Avenue Circus Gardens Road Road 3 27, 28 Belmont
Forthriver 80, 80A, 80B 57, 57A 12B/C 26, 26B Road
Road Woodvale Sydenham 20, 20A, 23 20, 29A 20A, 23, 29
Road Yorkgate 96 Bridge
Mater 600 By-pass
12 1 End Ulster
3
11B/C/D Hospital
Ballygomartin 4. Hawthornden Castlehill Stormont Stoney Hospital
Queen’s Way Road Estate Road (Dundonald)
Road Newtownards Connswater 29B
Shankill Bridge Road Bridge
Road
11
3 19 20, 29A 20/A, 29/A 19
80, 80A, 80B West Circular
4
Upper Comber
Road Mount- Albertbridge North Sandown Newtownards
Springfield Road Divis Belfast pottinger 5 Road Road Road Road
Road 19 4A Ballybeen
Estate
Street City 1. Road 23, 27, 28
11B/D 81, 81A 80/A/B, 81/A Lower 82, 82A
Falls
10 Centre Beersbridge
18, 19

18
19, 29B

Knock
29/A

East Link Road

19

Springmartin Monagh Whiterock Grosvenor Road

Road Road Road Albert Road King’s Road 19, 29/A
18, 19 5B
80/A/B, 81/A Bridge Clara 18, 19, 29B 29/A
81/A, 82/A 82, 82A Falls Road Grand Old Dundonald
95 78, 79 6 5A Road 18, 29/A/B
Royal Parade 19 Melfort Road
82, 82A Victoria 77, 30/A Gilnahirk
81/A, 82/A 10E/F
5. 31 18 Road Drive
Hosp.
y

Falls 2.
wa

University Ravenhill Woodstock

6 5 5 Braniel / Gilnahirk
or

Park Park Avenue Road Road

ot

Glencolin Shaws Glen

M

Centre Donegall Road Whincroft

Road Road
1

8 7
Castlereagh Way
M

91, 92A 89, 90, 91, 92/A/B 78, 79 Cregagh

10B/E/F 10B 10A/B/C/D/H Road Road
90, 92, 92B 92B
81A, 82A Andersonstown 650 Boucher Tates City 29/A/B Mount Glen Road
Road Merrion 30/A 30, 30A, 31 29/A/B
Suffolk Kennedy Crescent Avenue Hospital
Centre Avenue Ladas
Road 10B Boucher 29/A/B 29/A/B 30/A Drive 5
Stockman’s Road
10C/D/H Queen’s Ballygowan Road
Lane 30A, 77, 78, 79 7C/D
9 University 29/A/B
90, 92, 92B 30, 31
Riverdale 10A Stranmillis Ormeau 30/A, 79 6
Park Road Road Montgomery Upper Knockbreda Road
8C Lisburn University Road
81A, 82A Finaghy Road Annadale
Lady- Road Road 8B/C 8A Avenue 29/B, 30A, 77, 78, 79
10B/C/D/E/F brook North
Poleglass Stewartstown Musgrave 93 Ormeau Mount Cregagh Tudor
Estate Road 650 Park Stranmillis (Forestside) Merrion Park Drive
10H Hospital Balmoral 6
Forster Knockbreda Beechgrove
10B/C Oakhurst King’s Hall Green Road
10F Blacks 93 Belvoir Hospital
Brian’s BellSteele Upper Road Road Four Main Interchange Stations
Well Road Dunmurry P Sicily Park 77, 78 Saintfield Newton Winds
8A/B/C Malone
Road Lane Park Road Park
9B/C Road 7B, 7D 76, 79 NIRailways Station Ulsterbus Station
81A, 82A & Ride Balmoral School
10D/E 7A, 7C
Road
10F 10D/E/F 76 7A, 7C 1. NIR Central Station 4. Laganside Buscentre
Cherry Road 93 76 76 Cairnshill Road 2. NIR Great Victoria St 5. Europa Buscentre
Newforge
Lagmore 9A/C Lane Newtownbreda 3. NIR Yorkgate Station
View Belvoir Road
Kingsway Finaghy Drive Beechill
Summerhill Road Upper Malone Road 77
10D/E 10D/E/F Road Ballybog South
Road 76, 77, 78
77, 78 Tesco
Mount Twinbrook Malone 78 Carryduff
Eagles Estate 9A/C Conway 8A/B (Erinvale) 76 (Church Road) 7B, 7D Laurelgrove

Timetables made easy: Click www.translink.co.uk or call 028 90 66 66 30

 Day Ticket - See Belfast by Metro

£2.90
anywhere on the Metro network
after 9.30am any one day, Monday
to Saturday or all Day Sunday

£3.50
all fares are subject to alteration

anywhere, anytime on the Metro

network, any one day,
Monday to Saturday
ult

Metro Smartlink
ild
Adult
Child Ad

Adult

Card Num
ber
4567
2345
5678
2345
23

Child Adult
Start saving with Smartlink Travel Cards
Card Number
Card Number 4567 2345 5678 2345 23

or Smartlink Multi-Journey Cards

4567 2345 5678 2345 23

Save over Adult Single Journey £1.10 for City Zone

30%
all fares are subject to alteration
60 Greater Belfast Map

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com

 Northern Ireland Map 61

4
1

NORTHERN IRELAND

M
M

L
L

K
K
J

J
I
I

3
1

belfast.inyourpocket.com February - March 2011

62 Index
Advanced Waxing Clinic 53
Aisling Ghéar 45
Albert Memorial Clock 37
An Old Rectory 17
Apartment 30
Ards Peninsula 48
Armagh City 49
Armagh Hostel
Auntie Annie’s
18
34
Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory 51
Bar/Twelve 30
Belfast City Hall memorials 44
Belfast City Taxi Tours 43
Belfast Ghost Walk 43
Belfast Giants 10
Belfast Splash Tours 43
Belfast & Titanic Interactive
Trail 44
Belfast Exposed 40
Belvoir Players 10
Bittles 32
Black Box 34
Bookshop at Queen's 53
Bourbon 22
Bridge House 29
Bridges Hostel 18
Brights 26, 28
Bushmills Hostel 18
Café Conor 26
Café Renoir 26
Café Vaudeville 30
Camera House 19
Carroll's Irish Gifts 51
CastleCourt 50
Cayenne 22
Chocolate Room 28
Clements 28
Club Mono 29
Coastal and Country Explorer 49
Cornish Pasty Trading Company 26
Crescent Arts Centre 10
Crescent Townhouse 16
Crown Liquor Saloon 32
Culloden Hotel 15
Dark Horse
Deanes
62 27
23
Dubarrys 35
Duke of York 32
Eglantine 29
Europa Hotel 15
Express by Holiday Inn 16
Falls Road 45
Fitzwilliam 15
Foo Kin Express 22
Fountain Street & Fountain
Centre 50
Frames 29
Frock Around The Clock 52
Front Page 32
Garrick 32
Gingeroot 25
Grand Central 27
Grapevine 27
Hakka Noodles 20
Harbour View 20
Hilton Belfast 15
Hilton Templepatrick Hotel &
Country Club 19
IBIS Belfast Queens Quarter 16
Irene and Nans 32
James Street South 23
Jason Shankey 53
Jenz 28
Jurys Inn 16
Lagan Boat Tours 36
Lagan Weir 37
La Lea 29
Laverys 34
Lawrence Street Rex Bar 46
Workshops 41
Lee Garden 22
Limelight
Lyric Theatre
34
10
Made In Belfast 27
Malmaison 15
Malone Lodge Hotel 16
Maranatha 19
Maryville House 19
McCracken's Cafe Bar 29
McHughs 34
M Club 30
Merchant Hotel 15
Morning Star 34
Morrisons 32
Mourne Seafood Bar 24
Mr. JDs New Titanic Restaurant 28
Mynt 35
Newcastle Hostel 18
Northern Ireland War Memorial
Home Front Exhibition 41
Northern Whig 32
Odyssey 10
Old Moat Inn 29
Oscars Champagne Café 27
Potthouse Bar & Grill 32
Premier Inn, Titanic Quarter 17
Printers Cafe Bar 27
Public Record Office of Northern
Ireland 40
Queen's Arcade 51
Queen's Café Bar 34
Queen's University 37
Radisson Blu 15
Rayanne House 19
RBG 20, 32
Robinsons 29
Rockies 29
Ronnie Drew's
Shu
34
24
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon
Park 40
Smithfield Market 50
Smyth & Gibson 28
Spaniard 32
Sperrins 49
Spires Mall 51
St. Peter's Roman Catholic
Cathedral 38
Swantons Gourmet Foods 28
Tedfords 24
Ten Square 15
TGI Friday's 20
The Barge 41
The Bunker 30
The Irish Linen and Gift Centre 52
Thompsons 30
Tony Roma's 20
Travelodge 17
Union Street 35
Urban Soul 28
Vagabonds 19
Van Morrison's House 38
Victoria Square 51
Wellington Park Hotel 16
West Belfast Taxi Association 46
Whitepark Bay Youth Hostel 18
Yummy Sandwiches 28
21 Social 30

Street index for the Belfast city map on pp.58-59

Academy St. C-1 Claremont St. B-4
Adelaide St. C-2/3 Clarence St. C-3
Agincourt Ave. C/D-5 Colenso Parade B/C-5
Albert Sq. C/D-1 College Gdns. B-5
Albion St. B-3 College Park Ave. C-5
Alfred St. C-2/3 College Pk. C-4
Amelia St. B-2 College Sq. B-2
Ann St. C-2 College St. B-2
Ann St. C-2, D-1 Cooke St. D-4
Annadale Embankment Cornmarket C-2
C/D-5 Corporation St. C-1
Apsley St. C-3 Cromac St. C-3, D-2
Arthur St. C-2 Cromwell Rd. C-4
Ashborne Mews C-3 Cullingtree Rd. A-2
Ashleigh Ave. A-5 Distillery St. A-3
Balfour Ave. D-4 Divis St. A-1
Bank St. C-1 Donegall Pass C-3
Bankmore St. C-3 Donegall Pl. C-2
Bedford St. C-2/3 Donegall Quay D-1
Berry St. C-1 Donegall Rd. A/B-4
Blythe St. B-3 Donegall Sq. East C-2
Botanic Ave. B/C-4 Donegall Sq. North C-2
Bradbury Pl. B-4 Donegall Sq. South C-2
Bridge End D-1 Donegall Sq. West C-2
Bridge St. C-1 Donegall St. C-1
Bruce St. B-3 Dublin Rd. B/C-3
Brunswick St. B-2 Dunbar Link. C-1
Callender St. C-2 Dunluce Ave. A-4
Camden St. B-4 Durham St. B-2
Carmel St. C-5 East Bridge St. D-2
Castle Lane C-2 Eglantine Ave. A/B-5
Castle Pl C-1/2 Elgin St. D-5
Castle Pl. C-1/2 Elm St. C-3
Castle St. B/C-2 Elmwood Ave. B-4
Chapel Lane B-1 Erin Way C-3
Charlotte St. C-3 Falls Rd. A-1/2
Chichester St. C-2 Fitzroy Ave. C/D-4
Fitzwilliam St. B-4
Fountain St. C-2
Franklin St. C-2
Glengall St B-2
Gloucester St. C-2
Gordon St. C-1
Grace St. C-2
Gresham St. B-1
Grosvenor Rd. A-2, B-2
Gt. Victoria St. B-3
Hamill St. B-2
Hamilton St. C-2
Hardcastle St. C-3
Haymarket C-1
High St. C-1
Hill St. C-1
Hope St. B-3
Howard St. B/C-2
Howard St. South C-3
India St. C-4
Ireton St. C-4
James St. South C-2
Joy St. C-2/3
Jubilee Rd. A-4
King St. B-1
Lagan Bridge D-1
Lindsay St. C-3
Linenhall St. C-2/3
Linfield Rd. B-3
Lisburn Rd. A-5, B-4
Little May St. C-2
Lombard St. C-1
Lower Crescent B-4
Malone Ave. A-5
Malone Rd. B-5
Marcus Ward St. C-3
Maryville St. C-3
May St. C/D-2
McAuley St. D-3
McClintock St. C-2/3
McClure St. C-4
Millfield B-1
Montgomery St. C-2
Mount Charles B-4
Murray St. B-2
North St. B/C-1
Northumberland St. A-1
Ormeau Ave. C-3
Ormeau Bridge D-5
Ormeau Embankment University Ave. C/D-4
D-3/4/5
Ormeau Rd. C-3, D-4,
D-5
Oxford St. D-2
Peter’s Hill B-1
Pottinger’s Entry C-1
Queen Elizabeth Bridge Upper Queen St. B-2
D-1
Queen St. B-2
Queen’s Arcade C-2
Queen’s Bridge D-1
Queen’s Quay D-1
Queen’s Sq. C/D-1
River Terrace D-3/4
Rosemary St. C-1
Royal Ave. C-1
Rugby Ave. C/D-4
Rugby Rd. C-4/5
Russell St. C-2
Salisbury St. C-3
Sandy Row B-3
Servia St. A-2
Shaftesbury Ave. D-4
Shaftesbury Sq. B-3
Shankill Rd. A-1
Station St. Flyover D-1
Stewart St. D-3
Stranmillis Embankment
C/D-5
Stranmillis Rd. B-5
Sussex Pl. C-2
Talbot St. C-1
Tates Ave. A-5
The Gasworks D-3
Tomb St. D-1
Ulsterville Ave. A-4
University Rd. B-4/5
University Sq. B-4
University St. B/C-4
Upper Arthur St. C-2
Upper Crescent. B-4
Upper Library St. B-1
Ventry St. B-3
Vernon St. C-4
Victoria St C-1, D-2
Waring St. C-1
Wellesley Ave. A/B-5
Wellington Pk. A/B-5
Wellington Pl. B/C-2
Wellington St. B/C-2
Wellwood St. B-3
Westlink A-2/3, B-1
William St. South C-2
Windsor Ave. A-5
Wolsley St. C-4
York St. C-1

Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com

 Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps

BELFAST
August – September 2010

Including

dERRy

Art in the city

Sculptures, statues
and a great big fish

Retail therapy
From shopping malls
to market stalls

NI Highlights & Hidden

Gems
Castles, coastlines
and rolling countryside

N°31
belfast.inyourpocket.com

In Your Pocket guides and mini-guides are published in more than 50 cities across the
continent. You can download PDF versions of them all for free at inyourpocket.com.

In Your Pocket
Europe’s City Guide
inyourpocket.com E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S