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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to start a what's great about Belfast thread

105 replies

isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 17:55

in response to the other one decrying this beautiful city as a 'stinking hole'??

I'll go first:

it's a really lovely, easy to get around city. Hills on one side, lough on the other - gorgeous

people - they can't help but talk to you. Super friendly.Like really, really friendly.

Food - from the food at St George's Market to Deanes, Molly's Yard to Coppi, Made in Belfast to Boojums. There's seriously good food, reasonably priced and lots of locally sourced ingredients.

The craic, and the music, and the craic - You can go to a bar that's near 500 years old (Whites Tavern) or the one's that are a mere 100/200 years old all within walking distance of each other. You can see live music, hang out with the locals, and enjoy the fact our standard measures are larger! The Sunflower, The Spaniard, Laverty's, - classics. Perch, Muriels, new and fabulous.

Titanic Museum - Titianic Studios - GOT - the entire quarter - all brill.

W5 - awesome science experience.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:09

A cracking rugby team I should have added! And maybe the best football chant of all time for NI ' We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland'...

OP posts:
suckerforbrowneyes · 05/08/2019 18:12

I’ve only been to Belfast when on boat from Stranraer but I read that thread the other day and thought it was strange!!

I’m from Glasgow and plenty of people I know have been to Belfast on day trips and loved it. Think it’s shedding it’s “troubles” image a bit.

AuntieMarys · 05/08/2019 18:14

Titanic hotel! Anything on the Titanic Quarter! Game of thrones!

Clangus00 · 05/08/2019 18:16

The Belfast Giants.

fancynancyclancy · 05/08/2019 18:20

I went there recently as a “tourist” after not being in years & only visited family there in the past. I thought it had changed a lot & really enjoyed it. Some great eateries & bars, liked the Titanic quarter. Hired a car & visited some GOT sites.

Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:21

Stormont, walking around those grounds on an autumn day, or Botanic Gardens.
Or climbing the Cave Hill and looking down over the whole city, lough and out to Scotland.
The MAC arts centre - they have great shows, in a lovely wee venue for tuppence...

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heidbuttsupper · 05/08/2019 18:23

Visited in 2017. Loved the Merchant Hotel, Crown Liquer Saloon, Crumlin Road Gaol. Our favourite pub was Kellys Cellars. Visited the Titanic museum too. Hopefully will get to go back soon Grin

heidbuttsupper · 05/08/2019 18:24

Visited in 2017. Loved the Merchant Hotel, Crown Liquer Saloon, Crumlin Road Gaol. Our favourite pub was Kellys Cellars. Visited the Titanic museum too. Hopefully will get to go back soon Grin

heidbuttsupper · 05/08/2019 18:24

Visited in 2017. Loved the Merchant Hotel, Crown Liquer Saloon, Crumlin Road Gaol. Our favourite pub was Kellys Cellars. Visited the Titanic museum too. Hopefully will get to go back soon Grin

BrokenWing · 05/08/2019 18:24

dniece is just back from a long weekend with her two friends in Belfast. Haven't caught up with her fully yet, but she said they had a great time, lots to see, great nightlife, friendly city (for a visiting Scot) and they are making plans to go back next year. So can't be all bad!!!

GrapefruitIsGross · 05/08/2019 18:25

Low cost of living
Excellent schools
Much less of an obvious divide between the Haves & Have Nots
Don’t have to drive for miles and miles to get to see some beautiful scenery

Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:26

oh, and the clean air. Living in London you can almost taste the difference in the air when you hop off the plane/ferry.

You can get to the coast or across the lough to Hollywood or to Bangor or Newcastle in no time, and back again, for day trips.

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OtraCosaMariposa · 05/08/2019 18:28

Love Belfast. The city centre architecture reminds me of Glasgow. The kids had many a happy hour in the W5 science centre. The people are warm, friendly and would do anything for you.

lidoshuffle · 05/08/2019 18:29

I loved how walkable everything was, how it felt there was sea and open country very close by. And all the new glass buildings! What a symbol of more peaceful times. The people are lovely, genuinely friendly and welcoming, not in a "have a nice day' way. And I discovered and got hooked on dulse!

Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:30

Shappin ( aka shopping) is pretty good, the city centre has a good mix of indies ( Fresh Garbage till going!) No Alibis ( best bookshop ever), classic high street stuff, and then Victoria Square for the 'posher' end of things. All walkable. It helps that Bittles Bar and Kitchen Bar are right by VS to rest your weary feet...

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GimmieTheCoffeeAndNooneDies · 05/08/2019 18:33

The train journey between Belfast and Derry is stunning.

namechangerreloaded87 · 05/08/2019 18:33

It's starting to feel like a capital city, it's starting to age (for so long it felt derelict with a real post industrial landscape, then a lot of rejuvenation and new constructions, now it's ageing and that's nice to see).

Tourists are a relatively new phenomenon for NI and so you will always feel welcome and special.

The pubs.

People who are as keen to show off their city's good bits as the bad.

namechangerreloaded87 · 05/08/2019 18:33

It's starting to feel like a capital city, it's starting to age (for so long it felt derelict with a real post industrial landscape, then a lot of rejuvenation and new constructions, now it's ageing and that's nice to see).

Tourists are a relatively new phenomenon for NI and so you will always feel welcome and special.

The pubs.

People who are as keen to show off their city's good bits as the bad.

Cyberworrier · 05/08/2019 18:36

Another lovely pub is the Duke of York. I love James St South, great food and the staff are so friendly and helpful (they basically did a family members wedding). I love being able to see the hills rising up behind the city. I love how everything is “wee”, it just seems like such a sweet linguistic thing, a wee biscuit, a wee cup of tea. I don’t think it is used as much in Scotland, where my family are anyhow. People are so friendly.

Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:37

And we've embraced our past, we don't try to bury it

you can do black taxi tours around the 'dodgy' bits, go on 'murals' walks or a history walk. You'll see the 'flegs' everywhere, but for the first time this Pride it was the rainbow flag flying over the city hall.

Crumlin Gaol anyone? There's a dark history but fascinating.

And we are MAD about the fecking Titanic.You can stand on the Titanic slip way where the boat launched. Sank you say? Well, as they say in Belfast ' She was alright when she left here..."

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Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:39

Our humour - black as night but absolutely funny as hell. Go to The Empire and experience it for yourself.

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OtraCosaMariposa · 05/08/2019 18:39

Or as we were told on the bus tour "the protestants in East Belfast were building the Titanic, the Catholics in West Belfast were making the iceberg".

It's such an interesting city, surrounded by hills and a few miles out of town and you#re in the most stunning scenery.

Original poster
isthatapugunicorn · 05/08/2019 18:51

the water - baltic like, but nice and clean and very swimmable once your body's got over the shock! all sorts of water sports you an get up to round the lough,

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longearedbat · 05/08/2019 18:54

Was there in May for a city break. Friendly, excellent food, easy to get around with excellent bus services. Had a wonderful time. And the Titanic museum/quarter is brilliant.

SlatternIsTrying · 05/08/2019 18:59

The people - generally helpful and well mannered.