Since emerging from a tumultuous time in its history, Belfast has grown into a city thriving with artand culture. And with many companies now setting up their Northern Ireland or UK bases in this historic city, it’s not inconceivable that you may find yourself there on business. But rather than playing it safe and limiting yourself to the taxi run between your hotel and your client’s office, why not enjoy the city like only a local can. So here are some tips our friends in Belfast would like us to pass on to you.
From A to B
From the moment you arrive at Belfast International Airport, getting around the city couldn’t be easier. Once you leave the terminal, you’ll find plenty of buses and taxis that will make the 18 mile trip in no time. But if budget is your concern then the Airport Express 300 is a cheap yet comfortable option and takes about 30 - 40 minutes. For most business travellers a taxi will be the most efficient way of getting around. They are plentiful and represent great value.
Once in the city centre, you’ll find that it’s actually quite a compact city and getting around on foot is no trouble at all. But if you’d rather not sweat it out in your suit then the local bus network (The Metro) is incredibly efficient and cheap. You can buy tickets on the bus or get yourself a Daylink pass at one of the many Translink sales outlets across the city. This pass gives you unlimited travel for your chosen time period.
Grab a bite
The Waterfront is Northern Ireland’s only purpose built conference centre, and it enjoys a prime location on, yes you guessed it, the waterfront. There are some great restaurants in the centre such as Arc Brasserie and Sonoma but instead of dining with all the other conference goers, take a quick walk down May Street where you’ll find the much loved Simply Fish & Chips in St George’s Market.
Granny Annies around the corner on Chichester Street is another favourite local eatery filled to the brim with antiques, knickknacks, and vintage local signage. Just being in the place is like a history lesson and the food and drinks aren’t too bad either.
Now Belfast isn’t what you would call a melting pot of healthy food options. In fact, the city seems to thrive on carbohydrateladenfood. But if healthy dining is a must then the aptly named Slim’s Healthy Kitchen have three locations in the city serving up tasty and nutritious meals.
Drink like a local
After a long day of meetings, it’s nice to unwind with a drink, but hotel bars are often so lifeless that you end up watching TV in your room. So for a night of entertainment and drinks head down to The Belfast Empire. This old converted church is now a music hall and has plenty of live acts and comedy nights.
Brennan’s Bar across from The Europa Hotel is a traditional Belfast pub complete with an open fire, mahogany bar, and excellent Guinness. And just down the street, you’ll find a truly historic pub in The Crown Liquor Saloon. This place is so old and storied that it’s owned by the National Trust and boasts a fine selection of Ales served in visually stunning surroundings.
Staying fit
Hotels with swimming pools in Belfast are few and far between but thankfully there is one. The Clayton Hotel in the city centre opens the door to its 15m heated pool from 6.30am – 10pm on weekdays and 7am – 9pm on weekends. You don’t need to be a resident to take a dip, and there’s even a sauna and a Jacuzzi onsite. While pools are at a premium, gyms are tenapenny. Judging by the many facilities there are in the city, the people of Belfast take their exercise very seriously. PureGym and Hench are the most popular but PureGym offers 24hour access and great rates on days passes in two city centre locations. Not the gym type, the take a run or a walk around the Botanical Gardens where you can take in all the landscaped loveliness of the city centre park on its endless network of paths.
Retail therapy
After a day of presentations and phone calls, the last thing you want is a trek through the streets looking for suitable gifts to bring home. For all your shopping needs under one roof, Victoria Square is somewhat of a local retail Mecca. Designer jewelry, clothes, and even a perfumery, if it can fit in your suitcase, then you can probably get it at this mall. And if you tire of shopping or just need a sitdown, there’s an 8 screen cinema showing all the latest flicks.
Something a bit different
Why not get in a round of golf after work in the summer months. Best of the local courses are Royal Belfast and Malone, both of which welcome visitors, as does Holywood Golf Club, home of Rory McIlory, it is a real community club and not the stiffest challenge but worth a visit even just to see the McIlrory exhibition. An alternative after the sun goes down is Belfast’s CitiGolf. It’s a fully licensed entertainment hub where you can play the world’s golf courses while enjoying a drink from the bar. There’s even Karaoke onsite for those musically inclined.
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