NOTE: The author is
very aware that a similar guide could be written for most cities in the UK and
Ireland (even Edinburgh) and that Belfast had other things to worry about BUT
the post is about showing what we have lost and continue to lose even without the
help of the Luftwaffe or IRA.
Belfast – A Top Ten
Nine Eight Seven Six Things To See
So, you’ve just arrived in Belfast and on principle don’t
read Lonely Planet books (though it would be fitting as one of the co-founders
of LP is from Belfast).
So, what to do?
Well, read this guide for inspiration! (Note: It’s never
updated, we just ‘scratch out’ that which no longer applies).
1/ Pubs – Some of
Belfast’s bars go back centuries, tapping into a rich vein of socialising
history.
Watering holes of note include the following beauties:
![]() |
The Crown: It ain’t a tour guide if you don’t mention The Crown…. |
Aether and Echo:
A Victorian drinking saloon where the fashions of yesteryear have been embraced
and reinvigorated.

( For the time being anyway, mad rate-hikes threaten the
business: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/bar-boss-blasts-tough-rates-increases-31130377.html
)
The Sunflower: A
quirky newcomer to the stage, already this wee pub is punching above its weight
quite deservingly scooping ‘Pub of the Year’

NOTE: Get in while you still can, it’s in the firing line
for redevelopment plans for the area.
Kelly’s Cellars:
Another centuries old drinking haunt in the backstreets of Belfast providing
the public with music, Guinness and lashings of sawdust.

(A close call as the powers-that-be planned to de-list it
but backed down amid public outcry: http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/kellys-cellars-wins-battle-remain-9923210
)

So there you have it, no need to mention any more of
Belfast’s pubs because if you can do all of the above in one sitting then you might
want to consider the possibility that you have a problem….
2/ Theatres: Belfast
has a rich history of performing arts, here are a few to slake your arty
thirst:
The Grand Opera
House: Perhaps Belfast’s best known theatre, this old theatre is still
going strong.


4/ Cinemas – The
people of Belfast enjoy a good movie as much as anyone and as such are serviced
by a great variety of movie theatres
The Strand: The mainstay
of Belfast’s many Art Deco movie theatres The Strand caters for modern movies in a nostalgic setting

Queen’s Film Theatre: This small independent theatre packs quite
the cinematic punch
The Classic

5/ Homes of Belfast’s
Big Names
For such a small city Belfast has a large number of
household names. Take a tour of some of the big-wigs
George Best’s house:
Still standing, Bestie’s East Belfast house is Mecca for fans of himself and
Man U.

6/ A Tour of
Belfast’s Art Deco Architecture:
Art Deco was seen as a rather illustrious style of architecture given the timeframe that it inhabited and was exemplified by Empire Exhibitions of the 1930’s. Truly this genre of architecture adds great weight to any city lucky enough to have it amongst its cityscape.
Art Deco was seen as a rather illustrious style of architecture given the timeframe that it inhabited and was exemplified by Empire Exhibitions of the 1930’s. Truly this genre of architecture adds great weight to any city lucky enough to have it amongst its cityscape.
![]() |
One of Royal Avenue’s |

![]() |
The quirky Art Deco ‘Elephants’ building |
Bank of Ireland:
An extraordinary Art Deco building




8/ Eat: Belfast
is stuffed with eateries, here are a few.
Harry Hall’s Bistro,
Smithfield: The former bookshop now serves culinary treats as opposed to
literary ones.

The Hudson Bar,
Smithfield

Mourne Seafood Bar


10/ Architectural
Heritage: As a former engine room of the Empire, Belfast was bequeathed
with a rich tapestry of architecture, earning it the title ‘Athens of the
North’. Enjoy the building marvels as you meander around the city.
----------------------------------
The point is, most of the buildings listed above disappeared
thanks to people passively accepting the bidding of developers, town
planners and the fashions of re-development & urban planning (granted, the Luftwaffe and IRA didn’t help either).
This is still happening and even though people in general
aren’t happy about it they seldom protest against such acts.
If you want to see Belfast developed in a more sensitive
fashion then simply email the planning office and tell them your thoughts (they
don’t know if we don’t tell them): planning@belfastcity.gov.uk
If you’re super-miffed at the development plans for the area
around Smithfield & Union (i.e. large scale demolition as opposed to
restoration) then quote this ref no: LA04/2015/0577/O and tell then you object.
If you’re even MORE
jolly-well-super-miffed then email belfastrevival@gmail.com and they’ll
keep you abreast of matters and developments in the new year.
We don’t expect everyone to agree on what should be done with the areas in question rather we think it’s fair to assume that we can all agree on what should NOT be done with the area e.g. taking a wrecking ball to everything that looks a bit old and unloved (as is the plan for the area around Union St and Kent St http://northsideregeneration.org/northside-regeneration-project/the-area/ )
We don’t expect everyone to agree on what should be done with the areas in question rather we think it’s fair to assume that we can all agree on what should NOT be done with the area e.g. taking a wrecking ball to everything that looks a bit old and unloved (as is the plan for the area around Union St and Kent St http://northsideregeneration.org/northside-regeneration-project/the-area/ )
Brilliant many thanks for this Horrorshow, so short sighted
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteWhile researching the blog it was a case of "surely they wouldn't?! Oh, they did..."
#AtLeastMisterListersGuitarSurvivedIntact
The problem is the legacy of the bombing campaign which tore the heart out of Belfast. A lot of these buildings died due to it, in particular the Co-op, most of North Street and all the cinemas. The poor old Ritz was a rectangular hulk in its last days. A lot of damaged buildings became eyesores and maybe trigger too many negative remembrances. It does seem to be a fact of Irish buildings in general that for a nation steeped in the past we don't like living in it.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the legacy of the bombing campaign which tore the heart out of Belfast. A lot of these buildings died due to it, in particular the Co-op, most of North Street and all the cinemas. The poor old Ritz was a rectangular hulk in its last days. A lot of damaged buildings became eyesores and maybe trigger too many negative remembrances. It does seem to be a fact of Irish buildings in general that for a nation steeped in the past we don't like living in it.
ReplyDelete