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Notable or historic pubs I have visited (1998).... .....and ones I've been told about but haven't got round to yet: |
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| The Crown Liquor Saloon, 42-44 Great Victoria Street (opp Great Victoria Street Station / Europa Bus Station) Tel: (028) 9032 5368 |
In the most convenient location, this is a
wonderfully historic pub owned by The National Trust. Set in a fine Victorian building,
the bar retains its tiles, gas lighting with stained-glass windows & mirrors and
carved & wood-panelled swing-door snugs of which there are ten, lettered A-J. This pub
should be on your "required viewing" list. Try the hand-pumped beer (Whitewater's Stout & Belfast Bitter - Bass, if it's on, is much tastier than the electric...) By the way - the WebCam is at the far end of the bar looking across the floor at a snug. |
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| Bittles' Bar, 103 Victoria Street Tel: (028) 9031 1088 |
This triangular pub is on the junction of two streets and dates back to
1861. The small bar has an unusual exterior, a tiled floor and a high, wood-panelled
ceiling. Paintings of literary characters and local landmarks provide decor. Unfortunately on visiting for a draught Bass I was told, "That handpump's only now for decoration - the product's been withdrawn." |
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| Directions from Belfast Central Station (10 mins): | Exit the Booking Hall, cross the road and turn left. Continue, heading towards the Royal Court of Justice then turn left into May St (alongside the Courthouse) and finally right into Victoria St for c400 yards. | ||
| The Kitchen Bar, 16 Victoria Square Tel: (028) 9032 4901 |
This friendly and lively bar was converted from a boarding house in 1859 and has 4 hand-pumps (for "real ale" - Whitewater Nutbrown & Best Bitter were on when I last visited) and serves excellent lunches. Make an effort to get to it. | ||
| Directions from Bittles' (2 mins): | At Bittles' (above) turn left into Victoria Square for 100 yards. | ||
| The Morning Star Pottingers Entry |
One of Belfast's oldest pubs, it's been carefully restored. Excellent and varied food available. | ||
| Directions from The Kitchen Bar (3 mins): | Leave and head up an alleyway, then turn right into Ann St. Across the road is an arch with Pottinger's Entry in moulded letters (although they've been painted over). | ||
| The Duke of York Commercial Court |
Cobbled Commercial Court is one of Belfast oldest streets and the older interior of The Duke of York bears witness to this and the area's printing heritage. | ||
| Directions from The Morning Star (4 mins) | Continue along Pottinger's Entry, turn left into the High St, right into Bridge St then right again. You'll be looking at some spectacularly derelict buildings - cross over to them and continue for about 50 yards to Commercial Court. | ||
| The Deer's Head Lwr Garfield St |
The nearest good pub to Castlecourt shopping centre (come out the main entrance, turn left for 100 yards and cross the road into Lwr Garfield St.). Well decorated, with open snugs. | ||
| Kelly's Cellars, Bank Street Belfast's oldest continually licensed premises |
When they started serving here in 1720 Bank Street was Crooked Lane on the edge of a town of
6,000. The lane was "crooked" because it ran alongside the River Farset from which Belfast got its
name Béal Feirste - Mouth of the Farset* . Like
the River Fleet in London the Farset is now buried beneath the streets but Kelly's Cellars
still preserves the atmosphere of a long-gone era. This pub should be on your
"required viewing" list. I'm told excellent lunches are served upstairs. |
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| Directions from Great Victoria Street (15 mins) or Belfast Central Station (20 mins): | Find your way to the City Hall and from Donegall Square North head north into Donegall Place (the main shopping thoroughfare). Continue past the shops and shortly after a major crossroads turn left into Bank Street (beside Tesco Metro). | ||
| * Since this was first published I've been
advised that: 1) Béal Feirste means 'Mouth of the Sandbank'; and similarly named, 2) There is a Farsetmore in Donegal: Fearsad Mór - 'Large sandbank' thus conclusively disproving that theory. Fair enough - I can't recall now where I got the 'Mouth of the Farset' theory, but then were both the river and the town named after this sandbank?? |
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"CAMRA NI" A new (2002) website promoting Real Ale - a mix of good factual information and chatty newsletters "The Northern Ireland Site" Reviews of leisure amenities - contains pub links "Northern Ireland Pub Guide" NI pub reviews "Irish Pubs" As it says, with plenty of pictures "The Virtual Irish Pub Guide" Opinions sent in by visitors "The Irish Pub Guide"
Extracts from "The Bushmills Irish Pub Guide" |
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