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.

YABU :-D

I work in Belfast city centre. ( near the fountain centre clock which I love for its quirkiness!')

Yes royal avenue has changed in the past 10 or 20 years. Same as every other big town or city. Loss of major retail names, banking changes, and of course the Primark fire. Which completely cut off the whole centre for a while.

But you know what? The city found a way to survive. A play area was created in the enforced pedestrian zone. Tourists and cruise ship visitors still come, and are usually met with friendly helpful locals. St. George's market thrives and wins awards.

Seeing it at Pride yesterday, the Taiseoch calmly strolling among a record crowd with the city hall for the first time flying the pride flag, friends and family and coworkers sharing their photos of the day, made me feel so so happy.

Being there Monday to Friday, I can't say I've noticed the skill of piss, or the amount of vomit. There is a homeless issue, similar to many other cities. But also a real positivity and energy.

Also wanted to add his assessment is after living there Mon-Thurs all of last year, not just a couple of nights out on the town!

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

Well, that's probably true when you are constrained by limited finances. If you have enough money however, you can buy your way out of the sectarian divide.

I think people who identify strongly as nationalist or unionist have it easy as there are clear "areas" in Belfast where those communities live. Then there are mixed areas too.

And no the divide hasn't gone away just like the divide between rich and poor, for example, hasn't gone away in lots of cities.

I'm not from London but afaik there are areas there too where certain communities prefer to live?

I'm taking my kids for a weekend (6 and 12) can someone help plan our weekend away? Where us the best place for us to stop? XX

W5 and the Ulster folk and transport museum are brilliant for kids atomicnotsoblonde Both definitely worth a visit and the museum is about 20ish mins on the train line from Belfast.

atomicnotsoblonde there are several hotels that are very close to the bus station that you would arrive at (assuming you fly over and then get the airport bus), although they might be quite pricey. If you're looking for something more budget there are a couple of Premier Inns, the one in Franklin Street is very central and convenient.

One thing I will say is there is peace now.

Thanks to GFA,

But peace in NI is not guaranteed with Brexit without the Backstop. So sad after all that has been achieved so far.

Sorry, Alfred Street, not Franklin Street. I always get those two mixed up

atomicnotsoblonde I don't know if there's any point coming over now that there's no Alliance & Leicester, Argos, Subway or Premier People in Royal Avenue any more - it's a wonder we've managed to carry on .

There's loads to do with that age group - it depends where you're staying, if you've a car? We had relatives over two weekends ago about the same age. They enjoyed the Open top bus tour, they really liked hopping off at CS Lewis Square, St George's Market. They went to the Ulster Museum, mooched about City Hall.

I'll have a look. Hoping to get 2 nights for £300. Prob flying into city airport. I'd like to be somewhere nice, where we can walk about and have a drink at night before going back to the hotel. We're catholic if it makes a difference.

We travel up from cork every october mid term and have done so for years. I do not recognise your description.

What a horrible thread. Where you from OP maybe we can all pass judgement?

Sadly op i agree. I was so looking forward to visiting too but sadly terrible...also lots of rain

If Argos and subway have gone they'll be no tears from us!!

Great ideas so far, I'll look them up. We want to to the taxi rides re murals and peace walls any company vest?

Also ideas to eat, somewhere nice. We like great restaurants so hoping we may get somewhere nice but slightly bargainous. The kids will eat every meal at Nando's given the chance x

Shut the door behind you, OP

I found it super racist too. Even when they weren’t trying to be racist.

I'm from Belfast. No idea why you smelt piss everywhere 🤨 certain areas could do with more funding but that's like any city. I think royal avenue is that way because of the Primark fire. It's only just starting to come back to life.
I don't appreciate you calling my city a shithole after spending a day there. Sorry that the deers head didn't consult you when they decided to paint their premises.

also lots of rain
of for fucking fuck's sake. Rain in the UK? Who'd have thought it.

if I wrote off anywhere I went on holiday were it rained, I'd have a very limited travel itinerary.

I haven't been to Belfast for years. There used to be a cafe near the Botanic gardens that did the most amazing vegetarian breakfasts.

Mr Human’s home city and one of my favourites, I love it. You’re being v v v v unreasonable, OP.

Usual MN anti Irish bullshit. Enjoy Brexit.

Atomic check out the Premier Inn at Cathedral quarter it would be a great base for you if wanting to have a drink in the evenings, cathedral quarter is buzzing at weekends. Definitely stop in at the Duke of York and The Harp bar for a pint or two!

Yabu
I was in Belfast all day and night yesterday and it was amazing. Didn't smell piss anywhere!
Maybe you pissed yourself op?