Belfast

T

Triptych

At the Start
Joined
Jun 2, 2003
Messages
855
I'm a bridesmaid later on this year and at present the intention is to go to Belfast for the hen weekend. Does anyone know what its like for a night out?
 
You could have a great time there.

Entertainment is mainly concentrated on the "Golden Mile", a string of pubs and restaurants, some of them very good indeed, laid out along Shaftesbury Avenue, which starts off in town at the Opera House and Crown Bar and heads up towards the University district.

Do some research before you go about where to stay. The Days Inn is very central and prices are OK but I didn't enjoy my stay in it last October. Impersonal and, something unique in Belfast, not friendly. It would be worth paying a bit extra for the Europa or going out of town a bit. I'm sure Solerina will have some good advice.
 
Thanks Grey. Accommodation is booked, we're staying at the Europa. Just need to book the ferry, then we're all sorted out!
 
The Europa is the most frequently refurbished hotel in Europe. In my youth I was sitting in the hotel lobby about an hour and a half before it was due its next refurbishment.
 
... and my dad's company put in the windows. Strange the way not all of the refurbishments used recognised codewords, hey? ;) :D

Anyway, back on topic. The Holiday Inn is also very central, as is Jury's - not sure about prices though.

In the City Centre, there are loads of good venues for Hen Nights. The Apartment and Cafe Vaudeville are really popular, and both offer a huge range of cocktails and the bar staff do all the tricks and stuff. Other good drinking bars are Skye and Irene and Naan's. La Lea and Bar Baka are quite expensive, but are a bit more upmarked than the last mentioned. There's also the Pothouse with the glass dance floor in the niteclub adding an extra dimension.

There is also the complex at the Odyssey Arena, which has Precious, Bambu Beach Club and Buddha as viable venues for the niteclub option.

If you're after a bit of atmosphere for a pub, there's Fibber Magee's and the Crown Bar, the John Hewitt and the Spaniard (though I'm convinced it's gone a bit gay recently, not that that should worry you).

For food, I would reccommend the Grill at Bar Red, or Reno's round the corner in Bedford Street. Or if you're really pushing the boat out, Deane's is great but ridiculously dear. The Red Panda at the Odyssey Arena is one of the best Chinese Restaurant's in the city, and good value too.
 
The hen weekend starts tomorrow, we're now flying there from Liverpool. It looks like being a good weekend, weatherwise so at least I can pack light. I have been told that the pub opposite the hotel serves Guiness and oysters for breakfast...... I think I shall decline.
 
Have a wicked weekend Triptych. There's a couple of great bars at John Lennon Airport if you fancy a few drinks beforehand
 
Let me know which bars you are going to so I can avoid them :lol:

Only joking, hope you have a great weekend - you've got no excuses, Belfast is one of the best cities to for a night out in the UK (and I've been pretty much everywhere) - even Llanelli.

I'd recommend the Crown Bar or Fibber Magee's (which are right across the road from the hotel) as good starting off points - they've got the most atmosphere of any of the bars in Belfast.
 
Crown Bar is good if you find anywhere to sit, didn't get into Fibber's, had a bad experience in The Beaten Docket, think I had the wrong accent and I spent the night drinking with an Englishman!! :what:
 
Thanks all. I'll certainly be sampling the bars at John Lennon, Irish Stamp, whoever booked the minibus to take us there has booked it to leave at half seven in the morning. As it should only take just over 2 hours to get there and the flight leaves at half twelve, that leaves plenty of drinking time.

I shall report back when I return and am sober.
 
DO: that's not just nasty, it's patently wrong. Irish women are incredibly beautiful in the main. They have wonderful skin, fabulous hair, and their eyes and lashes are amazing. They also have something a heck of a lot of the UK populace doesn't have: really good, white teeth. I hired planeloads to work in the Saudi Oil Co. and their dress sense knocked ten bells out of every scruffy Brit. They were also very self-confident, didn't take any sh1t from anyone, and certainly put many an over-ambitious bloke in his place in double-quick time! I loved having 'em! :D
 
Originally posted by Colin Phillips@Jun 8 2006, 04:49 PM
Have a good weekend, Triptych.

useless advice :

(i) behave yourself.
Click to expand...
Triptych - don't behave yourself ! Have a great time.
 
I've had an excellent weekend in Belfast and one that involved far too much drinking, junk food and smoking. I now feel barely alive and wishing that people would not take cameras or video phones on hen dos. :ph34r:

Most of the bar/club names mentioned above are far more familiar to me now and I only wish we'd been there longer to sample some more. I wasn't overly impressed with the Europa and thought the service was a bit crap for a 4 star hotel at £110 a night but it is in a good location.

We also had an interesting bus journey along Shankhill Road and Millfield(?) which was certainly different to your normal touristy bus trips!

I'll definitely be back in Belfast sometime once my finances and body have recovered!
 
I'll note what you say about the Europa, Triptych. £110 a night is way too much if the service is not up to it.
 
Back
Top