BELFAST INSIDER
Week of March 5th - 11th 2026
Hello there, Insider! 👋
It feels rare to open the news and not brace yourself.
But this week, Belfast kept handing us wins.
A 17-year-old from Co. Armagh stopped a national TV audience in its tracks on Britain's Got Talent.
The city beat 630 global competitors to secure $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
A local takeaway wins back to back at the British Kebab Awards.
The Belfast Giants strengthened their squad ahead of a huge home week.
And that is before we get to a new dog park, the jazz festival, and the people protecting the hills behind the city.
So yes.
This might actually be a good news only week.
Let’s get into it →
THE DIGEST: Belfast in Brief
🎤 17-Year-Old NI Girl Shines on Britain's Got Talent
A 17-year-old from Co. Armagh just stopped Britain's Got Talent in its tracks.
Niamh Noade paired stunning vocals with a gorgeous harp rendition of Alex Warren’s The Ordinary, and the audience were hooked from the first note. Her vocal coach called it a masterclass in nailing auditions.
We think Northern Ireland’s next global star may have just introduced herself.💜
Watch her incredible performance below and try not to get goosebumps.
💰 Belfast Wins $1 Million to Transform Its Alleyways
Belfast beat 630 cities worldwide to land $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies. And it's all about the alleyways. The council's plan involves local resource hubs, small resident-led grants, and community input shaped by residents themselves.
One Stranmillis resident has already transformed his local passage into Foxglove Alley, and that's exactly the energy this whole thing needs.
Does your street have an alley that needs love? Get involved here.
🐾 New Dog Park Opens at Ormeau Park
Good news, dog owners. A dedicated dog play area funded by the Concert Social Levy has just opened in Ormeau Park, equipped with upcycled play equipment, water stations, and seating for the dog dads and mums. The play area has two enclosed sections (one for wee dogs, and the other for the big dafties). Those big gigs at Ormeau are literally giving back to the community. The launch also kicks off the council's "Take the Lead – Bag It, Bin It!" campaign, so enjoy the park, but don't forget the bags.
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS SCOOP
Openings, Closures & Buzz Around Town
🌯 Belfast Kebab Shop Named Best in NI… Again!
Back-to-back glory for Kebab Company on Sunnyside Street. Brian Craig, who returned home from Australia summer 2024 to launch his dream takeaway. He has just been crowned Best Kebab House in Northern Ireland at the British Kebab Awards for the second year running.
Brian's reaction on socials? "Winner winner kebabs for dinner. Back-to-back champions 2025 & 2026." The people have spoken and they're coming back for more.
Find them at kebabcobelfast.co.uk 🏆
Have you tried Kebab Company yet? Is it genuinely the best in NI?
🏒 Belfast Giants Bolster Squad Ahead of Big Home Week
We do not usually cover sport in the Insider. But this one matters.
The Belfast Giants have signed veteran Italian international goalie Alex Caffi for the remainder of the season — and the timing couldn't be better. The 35-year-old netminder, who has 10 caps for the Italian national team and a career spanning Switzerland, the US, and Austria, joins just in time for a massive week at the SSE Arena. Head Coach Adam Keefe called him "a reliable, well-rounded netminder" and Caffi says he can't wait to meet the fans. Lucky them — they've got a chance to prove it this week in a home double-header against Cardiff Devils on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March. Limited tickets still available.
Would you want more sports features like this?
Your Week in Belfast
🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING:
⭐ Featured Event: Brilliant Corners Jazz Festival Saturday 7 March | Various Venues across Belfast
A big shout out to reader Clare for flagging this one. Brilliant Corners is Moving On Music's annual jazz festival, bringing world-class artists to intimate Belfast venues for a weekend of seriously good music. If you've never been, this is the year to start — the lineup spans contemporary jazz to experimental sounds, and the venues make it feel like a proper Belfast cultural moment. 🎷
Full programme and tickets → movingonmusic.com
Here's what else is on across Belfast this week:
Thursday, 5 March 2026
Friday, 6 March 2026
Saturday, 7 March 2026
Sunday, 8 March 2026
Monday, 9 March 2026
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Which event are you actually going to?
💛 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Belfast Hills Partnership
Belfast Hills Partnership has been quietly doing something extraordinary since 2005 - looking after those green spaces that make Belfast, Belfast. Think Cave Hill, Divis, Black Mountain and Colin Glen. They're the ones making sure it stays that way. With a team of 11 and a volunteer army clocking over 42,000 hours of their time, they've planted more than 237,000 trees and 14km of hedgerows right on our doorstep.
Their Wild Youth programme, run in partnership with Ulster Wildlife, gets 11–25 year olds from North and West Belfast out into nature; bushcrafting, tree planting and doing wildlife surveys - using the hills as a tool for mental health and confidence building.
In a city that sometimes forgets what is right on its doorstep, Belfast Hills Partnership are showing up every week to make sure those green spaces around us are protected, improved, and accessible for everyone - a feat that should be celebrated. They recently secured a £1.1 million investment for nature recovery and to be honest, they've earned every penny of it.
Want to help? 🌿 Volunteer | 🌐 belfasthills.org | 📸 @belfasthills
When was the last time you walked Cave Hill or Divis?
🍽️ RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK
The Chester, Antrim Road
TikToker @caitlincreatesxo has done Belfast a serious favour this week, shining a light on The Chester's £10 lunch menu and honestly, why didn’t we know this all along?
For a tenner you can choose a smoked haddock and prawn chowder with wheaten bread, an open steak sandwich with pepper sauce and tobacco onions, or a full Ulster fry on soda and potato bread.
Add fries for £1.50 extra and you've got one of the best lunch values in the city.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 12PM–4PM. No excuses for a sad desk lunch anymore.
The vibe: Classic Belfast bar with a proper kitchen behind it.
The deal: £10 mains, add fries for £1.50
Find it: 466 Antrim Road, Belfast BT15 5GE
📸 Watch Caitlin's review below | 🌐 The Chester
£10 lunch. Worth the hype?
@caitlincreatesxo Where else in Belfast does good lunch deals? Let me know🍴🤍 #belfastfood #chesterbelfast #affordableeats #belfast #northernireland
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Until next week,
The Belfast Insider Team.