Linen Quarter will be Belfast’s new gateway

Linen Quarter will be Belfast’s new gateway

Exciting plans to transform the Linen Quarter in Belfast would see the area become a busy hub for tourists to the city and bring a welcome boost to hospitality venues in the district…

As a region, the Linen Quarter is perhaps, a little less well-known than areas such as the Titanic and Cathedral Quarters in Belfast, where a clearly defined offering has helped build awareness and boost visitor numbers.

However, the Linen Quarter is one of a series of areas that have been earmarked for special attention by the city council in its development and investment strategy. The area itself lies immediately to the south of Belfast city hall. At its centre sits the Ulster Hall and its boundaries are marked by Gt. Victoria Street in the west; Ormeau Avenue in the south and Alfred Street in the east.

During the middle part of the 19th century, the area was at the heart of the city’s linen industry and to a degree, that industrial heritage is still evident in some of the infrastructure that survives in the region today. These buildings, however, are under increasing and sustained pressure from development and those elements of the old Linen Quarter that remain into the 21st century are disappearing quickly.

The city council recently released to consultation a document containing its vision for the development of the Linen Quarter. That strategy contains a series of recommended improvements in the region, including the addition of a new and expanded transport hub at Great Victoria Street which would facilitate the arrival of trains from Dublin. This, says the council, would transform the Linen Quarter into Belfast’s “welcome mat”.

Other key interventions proposed by the council include the creation of new public spaces; a ‘redefinition’ of the streets in the area; retention and development of the area’s historical heritage and new rules for the development of local buildings and public realm projects.

Vintners consultant, Gerry Reid, who once owned a hospitality business in the Linen Quarter, says that he believes the planned improvements will bring a big boost for venues in the area:

“There’s been a big focus lately on the Cathedral Quarter while the Queen’s area seems to have dropped away a bit. What I think we’ll see here is a rebalancing of the various regions in the city,” he told LCN.

“You have well-established venues that are still doing very well here, iconic venues such as Robinson’s and The Crown, and new places such as Sweet Afton and The Perch. You also have lots of hotels – some people are referring to this area as the Hotel Quarter now – and with the new tourist hub at the Europa Bus Centre, you’re going to have a lot more visitors coming into the area.”

Gerry worked as a local publican for much of his career, starting in The Linen Hall bar when he was 18. He bought The Bear in Holywood when he was 24 and in 1996, he took on the former Joxer building at Franklin Street in the Linen Quarter, where he went on to develop The Exchange bar, Franklin Gate nightclub and The Bierkeller.

Gerry believes that the new hotels currently in planning for the region will be key to its success, along with the new transport hub and new student accommodation at College Square East, which, he says, will “bring a younger crowd in”.

And while he’s worried about the number of city centre liquor licences currently being bought up by retailers and the multiples, he doesn’t want to see “over-supply” in the Linen Quarter either:

“The tourist coming into the area wants to see nice busy bars, that’s the way it is at the moment and we want to preserve that,” he added.

Public consultation on the Linen Quarter redevelopment strategy closed on March 11.

 

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Sweet Afton at Franklin House is typical of the type of new hospitality development that is beginning to characterise the Linen Quarter.

 

What the trade says…

 

Roisin McErlain, manager, Sweet Afton: “As a business we are obviously extremely excited about the redevelopment of the linen quarter and the increase in tourism and general custom which comes with it. As we aim to provide an environment for all audiences here at Linen House, from students to professionals, it’s a wonderful opportunity. From a personal perspective I have noticed a steady increase of customers are leaving the comforts of the Cathedral Quarter for a new experience here in the Linen Quarter and specifically with us here at Linen House.

 

Michael Johnston, manager, Fratelli’s: We’ve seen the positive impact that redevelopment and reinvestment has had on many areas of Belfast such as the Cathedral Quarter. With the increase in tourism becoming very noticeable around the city and the announcement of Great Victoria Street station becoming a central Belfast hub, this represents a huge opportunity for local business and the council to bring a new lease of life to the linen quarter. Many businesses, including ourselves, have plans in place for further investment which will bring employment opportunities to the local area.

 

Howard Hastings, MD, Hastings Hotels: The Linen Quarter will, without a doubt, become the central focus for bedrooms in the city. Also, the masterplan’s focus on the re-development of the Europa Bus Centre as a gateway to Belfast – I have the sense that funds will now be made available to crack on with that – and if that happens, I would like to think that within three or four years, we could have in place an hourly service to Dublin.

 

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The old Ewart linen warehouse on Bedford Street is to be re-developed into a 70-bedroom hotel.