To think Belfast is a dirty, stinking hole?

[TripleSeptic]

We were in Belfast yesterday.

Not for PRIDE, but we couldn't get back out because of the roads closed for the parade, so ended up staying much longer than expected.

I'm not local, but used to work in the city centre approx 10 years ago. It was buzzing constantly, dirty from smoggy buses, but good mix of shops, bars, places to eat etc. Not metropolitan, just respectably busy.

Yesterday, everything smelled like piss. The Deers Head has been bastardised with black gloss paint. Royal Avenue looks like something out of The Walking Dead, no Nationwide, Premier People, Argos, Subway, Alliance and Leicester, ALL gone. North Street actually looked more attractive than Royal Avenue!!

But oh my god, the smell of piss!! Everywhere!!

If we were showcasing our country yesterday for Belfast Pride, shouldn't someone have run round with a duster and Hoover first?

Is this a Stormont thing, or is it because everyone shops online? Is it because of the Primark fire, or did someone use Royal Ave for nuclear weapon testing? Pretend you're explaining to someone from outer space!! WTAF happened the town? How can we fix it?

When I think of all the cruise ships stopping here, and its revolting!! Its an embarrassment!! At the very least yesterday, the parade should have bypassed Royal Ave. I know the NI folk love a "traditional route", but you don't bring visitors into your house and give them tea in the bathroom, you usher them into the good room and shut the door an the messy ones!!

I don't know when the stench of piss will leave my nose, and my heart broke for the Writer's Square, weeds growing through it, no longer a sanctuary or an inspiration, just another grimy, neglected, waste.

Disclaimer, I know there are nice bits, but there is no point in making nice bits if you let the bits that WERE nice, turn into shitheaps. There are more shitheaps than before now.

You're being OTT and I think you know you are. It was Pride yesterday, people would have been drinking all day so I don't think it's particularly shocking to think people might have took a slash down an alleyway. It's a bit grim but it happens. But I'm sure London, Manchester etc are perfect and never have any mess on the streets during parades and whatnot...

Honestly does my head in people running places like Belfast into the ground. It's a small capital city and they've been fucked over by a non functioning government for years, they're doing the best they can. You can't complain about shops being closed because, newsflash, every single high street has shop closures at the minute. It's a nationwide issue. Even on Oxford Street businesses are closing down their stores there.

Secondly, can you not take a minute out of your rant to focus on the good things that the city has to offer? Decent shopping in Victoria Square which is design-led and, sure, it won't have all the stores London has but it's not awful. Loads of tourism things to do- black cab tours of areas affected by the Troubles, the gaol, Titanic museum, GOT exhibition which is there until September (talking of GOT, the installations of stained glass windows dotted around the city commemorating each House), Ulster museum which is in leafy S. Belfast beside the Botanic Gardens and QUB's Lanyon building (only 15 mins from City Hall). Loads of good pubs, brand new hotels opening with lovely cocktail and rooftop bars, too. Cathedral Quarter has some of the best restaurants, as well. Belfast is so small everything is within walking distance pretty much so it doesn't really matter too much if one street is a bit dire at the minute and they have to work around the Primark fire which happened right at the junction.

If it's bothering you so much, maybe you should go into the town more often and spent your money there. Actually boost the economy. Rather than complaining about it but never going there anyway?

Like fedupandannoyed said above that area is getting regenerated. From castlecourt down towards North St. It was supposed to start this year but planning issues pushed it back. There's shops, bars restaurants, open space and apartments planned. It looks great! So I suppose that is why it looks so bad atm. It should have been in the early stages of construction now.

I was looking forward to it, but this thread has slightly diminished the excitement.

Seriously, don't.

I have a ROI friend who moved to Belfast after spending the last two years living between Dublin and London- it's his favourite of all three because it's a compact city, but with a fantastic nightlife scene and more relaxed vibe.

Different strokes for different folks, but the OP is definitely using a bit of hyperbole and is probably from Derry

All those places you mention have gone because of regeneration. Google Tribeca belfast ( shite name) That whole side is of town is being regenerated, once leases were over they were not renewed. The primark fire has been a disaster for royal Avenue in general. I cant say I've noticed the smell of piss but with this heat and the enormous building work at the university as well as the close proximity to the lagan you do get the odd whiff. Belfast is a great city. Fyi, argos is located is castle court, the nationwide is at the top of the road and the alliance and Leicester was bought over by Santander in 2011, you'll find there shiny new location in royal Avenue.

Was on the Belfast to Dublin train earlier. There were 4 young American tourists on it. They had been to the Titanic Experience (one was carrying a paper bag from there) but they apologised for sitting in our seats as they had taken an earlier train than the one they had booked. Now I'm wondering why they left earlier than they were going to? Anyway when they see the state of Dublin and the drug addicts/drunks especially on and around O'Connell Street they will think Belfast is like a palace in comparison!

If you think Belfast looks bad after Pride, go have a look at Brighton. And Pride was great. Music in the streets, open, inclusive, which, for its rep, Belfast excels at. It's so easy to get involved in stuff here because people are so open. There's a billion free things to do everyday and a festival always happening. Today I was at the river festival by the Lagan rowing boats and getting sunburned off my tits while people from the area and beyond were enjoying another wonderful, inclusive free thing to do.

It's not an elitist city. It's not a giant city. It's changed hugely in the past 10 years nevermind twenty. Did you go down Fountain Street behind Royal Avenue where there was music and circus performers, Jumon or Sawyer's?

Well said chocpop.

I love Belfast. Was in town, on Royal Avenue, a few weeks ago and didn't notice any of what you say. Normal Friday morning, pleasant walk around the city. No stink of piss. Few cities look their best on the day of a big event.

Visited 20 years ago, and did not enjoy it.

Now what could've possibly changed in Belfast in the last 20 years...

I went there for work about 4 years ago and had no expectations and was blown away by what a lovely city it is

Fountain Street terrifies me

That clock and weird, creepy elevator place

It turns me cold 👀

I work in Belfast and every time I come out of work on a sunny afternoon I'm struck by how lively and inviting it all is. And I always wish I didn't have to go home and I could just sit down outside a coffee shop and watch the world go by, or call into a pub for a drink and a bit of craic. And I see tourists coming along with their suitcases and I think I'd love to see it through a tourist's eyes, as a whole new experience.

A trial run of life after Brexit?

I've been all over the world and Belfast is one of my favourite cities that I've visited. Not just the city itself but we found that the people we met there were so warm and friendly.

I might possibly have taken you seriously if the many wierd things you're mourning the loss of didn't include Alliance and Leicester which hasn't existed as a bank for years and a recruitment agency which has been on one of the streets behind the city hall for at least 7 years.

I apologise if you feel I'm minimising your loss I hope you managed to make it to your local Argos when you got home.

I lived there 20 years ago before emigrating. Went back last week for a visit and loved all that it has become. I honestly think I t’s better than it’s ever been. Royal Avenue’s no different from a lot of other recession-hit towns. Couldn’t get over just how lovely it’s become round Hill Street and environs (where I used to work). So many well-kept bars and cafes, and everyone was as friendly as ever.

Quite offended by this comment, have lived in Belfast all my life and love my wee city! To those that said they are visiting in the near future please dont be put off, take yourself round Cathedral Quarter I promise you the craic will be ninety and it doesnt smell of piss!

I was in town yesterday for pride and didn't notice a smell.

The thing is Belfast is too small to sustain a massive city centre so when Victoria Square opened all the shops began to drift that way. so that's where all the naice new shops are - Anthropologie is opening there soon!! #excited

Beyond Castlecourt was always a bit crap though. And there a planned development "TriBeCa" (worst name ever) for around writers square so presumably it's bring let drift until then.

At least we're all in agreement TriBeCa is a crap name!!

Belfast is fine for visitors who do the usual gigs. Black Taxi tour and the murals, oh and the Titanic thing. All great.

I am not sure I would like to live there though given the Sectarian divides that carry on regardless.

Am I wrong about that?

Fucking hideous

Like every other city there's a wide range of people and places. Where I live - leafy south Belfast - you'd not know anything about sectarianism / troubles.

In every city there's bits you could think were nice and bits that were not nice. I'm sure there's bits of London Glasgow Manchester Liverpool etc etc you'd not fancy living in either.

Can't stop laughing at the poster mourning the demise of Alliance & Leicester () and Argos! That end of Royal Avenue was always a bit shit, you'd start at city hall with M&S, Karen Millen, Space NK and other nice shops, work your way down to HMV and Tesco and eventually find yourself down the bottom at Mace and Cash Converters can't say I've ever noticed the smell of piss but the sewers around Custom House Sq can get a bit whiffy. Anyway there are plenty of naice places in central Belfast, no need to get worked up about a few 100m of closed shops.

Am I wrong about that?

Can't answer for you, but I can for me. I'm not from NI, I've lived here 12 years now, first in Belfast and now in a seaside town nearby. I love it here, and I wouldn't move back to the city I came from (Dublin).

The sectarian divide only enters my life when I watch the news. My friendship groups are mixed, and I have more friends in mixed marriages than not.

Granted, I'm middle class, educated, live in a naice area so this won't apply to everyone, but it does to a hell of a lot of people.

NI is fab, and I'm so scared and sorry for what might be about to come with Brexit.

Am I wrong about that?

Depends where you are.

I'm in a mixed marriage with DH from Dublin. Our village is something like 90% protestant, with neighbours who fly flags for the 12th and plant orange lillies.

We've never experienced anything other than curiosity from other people about how we got together, how to pronounce or spell our surname. Never any nastiness.

Bloody hate these threads running Belfast or NI down.

The big issue is, if you are Nationalist, or Unionist, seems to me that you have to choose your area.

I do realise that those who have no means to decide may be in trouble.

The divide hasn't gone away.

Eh? My DH works between a posh bit of London and Belfast (and himself grew up in a v. lovely Buckinghamshire town) and is desperate for us to move out there for a couple of years sometime.

He describes the city as cultured and vibrant and the people as well educated with a good sense of humour. He absolutely loves his weeks at the office there.

This is all second hand info but this is coming from my DH who turns grey when they send him to Solihull (which by all other accounts is okay).

Are you sure it wasn’t just disgusting because of all the tourists? Parts of London are hideous around Pride.