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.

@atomicnotsoblonde DH's fave is The Flint. theflintbelfast.com/

We keep meaning to go for a weekend away and haven't managed it yet but I had on my list: trip out to Giants Causeway, seeing the Belfast Giants ice hockey team (not a sports person but looks like a fun night out), and the 'troubles' walking tour. My great grandfather was in the IRA but at the turn of the century and in ROI, and I know so little about it.

The hop on hop off bus looks fab value for seeing things like the peace wall and parliament buildings.

Thanks for the days out reccs too @PooWillyBumBum we're getting excited! X

Thanks for the days out reccs too @PooWillyBumBum we're getting excited! X

Malmaison would be a great choice. It's right in the centre. The AC is a wee bit further out.

Malmaison would be a great choice. It's right in the centre. The AC is a wee bit further out.

Where are you from TripleSeptic ?

I've stayed in The Malmaison a few times. Good location but I felt the hotel needed a freshening up. Tired.
Perhaps it has had one in the last couple of months ?

Where are you from TripleSeptic ?

I've stayed in The Malmaison a few times. Good location but I felt the hotel needed a freshening up. Tired.
Perhaps it has had one in the last couple of months ?

Malmaison would be a great choice. It's right in the centre. The AC is a wee bit further out.

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We are rural and rarely venture into Belfast(1-2 times a year)but we were there just before Christmas and really impressed with it. We were down round the city hall and up at botanic etc and it was great. I do remember the days when you went into town and it was Royal Ave but it hasn't really been a focal point for years.
Mind you I remember(or don't depending on how good a time was had!) Pride with great fondness for many years but imagine the cleanup would be bad, especially now it's grown

We are rural and rarely venture into Belfast(1-2 times a year)but we were there just before Christmas and really impressed with it. We were down round the city hall and up at botanic etc and it was great. I do remember the days when you went into town and it was Royal Ave but it hasn't really been a focal point for years.
Mind you I remember(or don't depending on how good a time was had!) Pride with great fondness for many years but imagine the cleanup would be bad, especially now it's grown

We are just back from a trip there this weekend. We hadn’t realised pride was on and struggled to get to our hotel. We went for a walk round the city centre and it was a bit off to see how much rubbish there was lying about and it seemed to still be there hours later after the parade was long past. It’s a shame there wasn’t an effort to clear up sooner. We didn’t go near the centre on Sunday but I’d hope it was done by then.

But we had an excellent weekend, good food, lots to do, weather ok and by far the friendliest city we’ve visited.

Wind your neck in OP! Belfast was named by Lonely Planet as THE best place to visit in 2018 in the WORLD and that wasn’t because it smells... FFS. It’s a fantastic city, with lovely people and great craic. I was there 2 weeks ago so should know...

@TripleSeptic what a damning statement to make on a whole city.

Especially at a time when all the tourism counts.

I've been in Belfast on numerous occasions recently and have found the people to be nothing but friendly, humble and kind.

I've found staff in restaurants can't do enough for you, are always willing to explain the menu/ingredients etc

Staff in shops are mannerly and patient.

Maybe do Belfast a favour and don't go back if you're going to so publicly slate the whole city because you smelt a bad smell

What a strange thing to start a thread about on a predominantly English website....

Instead of promoting a city that has faced trouble head on, you, like a critical parent, choose to point out the flaws.

DH is from the north and we've visited a few times. I was blown away by what a great city Belfast is. Lovely people, great shopping and nightlife. Love the accent! I'm from Manchester and it has its fricking awful parts as any city does. Sweeping generalisations about people or places do no-one any favours OP. YABVU.

I love Belfast. Loads going on, cracking night out, brilliant food, really easy to get out into the country for day trips, lovely people.

Been there many a time, some of the most lovely welcoming locals you will get anywhere in the world.

You know the Big Apple Greeter thing in New York, where a native meets you and tells you all about the place and where is best and safest to visit? I was thinking that would work well in Belfast then I realised that it probably goes on a hundred times a day anyway. I'm often stopped by tourists and asked for directions and then next thing I find myself going 'sure I'm going that way anyway, follow me!' and then a couple of streets later you send them off down the street and you see them ask someone else and you know full well that they're going to do the same. It's like an unofficial walking bus!

I guess it depends where you go. The falls would be (in my opinion) rough but I think that’s because of the peace wall and clear divide. I’ve only ever been there for the children’s hospital and was there often but didn’t go exploring. I’ve heard others saying it’s a shit hole but they also say the same about lurgan, and other stereotypes for other areas. Moira is empty and ballymena all say eh at the end of each sentence. Smelling of piss though is grim but that’s down to dirty bastards not the place itself.

We've arrived! Had a bit of a wander around and walked to pick up some groceries (we're self-catering).

We haven't come across anywhere yet that smelled of piss. The people we have encountered so far have been all been polite and friendly.
DS saw a gig poster for a band he really likes, but unfortunately it's after we'll have gone back home.

Tomorrow will be either hop-on-hop-off bus and a meander around, or Ulster Museum (depending on weather).

I dont like it much either. Plus we were told "Dubliners always complain".
The coffee was horrible in the hotel so we had to.

also lots of rain

We turn that on especially in high season for tourists. They like the authentic UKness of it.

Usual MN anti Irish bullshit. Enjoy Brexit.

Huh? Northern Ireland isn’t Irish..

Northern Ireland isn’t Irish..

Oh, don't start.