BELFAST INSIDER
Hello Belfast 👋
What’s the craic?
There’s plenty happening around this week.
The city could be in line for better grassroots football facilities, and a new report tells us what’s happening with Northern Ireland’s underground water.
Padel now looks to be Belfast’s newest love as a new Padel and wellness spot is coming to Boucher Road, plus there’s £10,000 in grants up for grabs for Belfast businesses. All of these and more in this week’s newsletter and plenty of reasons to get out and about this weekend.
THE DIGEST: Belfast in Brief
Only the good news, promise.
⚽ Seven projects move to the next stage of the Northern Ireland Football Fund
Seven projects have been selected to move to the next stage of the Northern Ireland Football Fund’s £9m Grassroots Facilities Programme, after 42 applications were received.
The successful projects include Crewe United, Colin Valley FC, Cookstown Youth FC, Dungiven Celtic Youth FC, NFC Kesh, plus projects led by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Belfast City Council.
They'll now go through legal and financial checks, with the first funding agreements potentially coming later this year. Individual awards under the pilot range from £500,000 to £1.5m.
The programme aims to improve grassroots facilities and increase participation, particularly among women and girls, while improving accessibility for disabled users.
💬 What grassroots sports facility in Belfast would you most like to see improved?
💧 Northern Ireland’s groundwater has seen a small decline
Northern Ireland has 75 groundwater bodies, and the latest report shows that 48 (64%) are in good overall status.
That’s a small drop from 51 (68%) in 2021.
The change is mainly down to water quality. 49 groundwater bodies (65%) had good chemical status, compared with 53 (71%) in 2021.
But the amount of groundwater available hasn't changed: 71 (95%) were still classed as having good quantitative status, the same as in 2021.
The new figures are based on monitoring between 2020 and 2025 and are the first update since the 2021 assessment.
🔗 DAERA
💬 Did you know Northern Ireland monitors the health of its groundwater like this?
🛍️ Cathedral Quarter Sunday Market has wrapped up for the season
The Cathedral Quarter Sunday Market has wrapped up its first season in Writers’ Square, bringing local makers, artists, creatives and food producers into the area throughout the summer.
The market gave independent traders a regular Sunday spot in the city centre, with handmade goods, artwork, food and other locally produced items on offer.
It has now finished for the year, but after its first season, the question is whether Belfast will see it return next summer.
💬 Would you like to see the Sunday market return next year?
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS SCOOP
Openings, Closures & Buzz Around Town
🎾 Looks like it’s Padel season in Belfast
Another padel and wellness facility is joining the growing list.
Two Dungannon brothers are turning the former Ulster Tatler headquarters on Boucher Road into FEAT4, a multi-million-pound padel, wellness and hospitality venue.
It's due to open in October, with five indoor padel courts, plus Pilates, physiotherapy, ice baths, saunas, recovery facilities and a café.
The project is expected to create 15 jobs, but the idea is to make FEAT4 more than somewhere to play. The space will bring together sport, fitness, recovery and somewhere to hang out.
And with another padel venue now on the way, it looks like Belfast really is having a padel moment.
💬 Do you think Belfast needs another padel center?
🔗 Source: NI Travel News
💷 Belfast businesses could get a share of £10,000
Belfast City Council's Cultivate programme is looking for early-stage and growth-focused businesses to take part in its latest programme.
15 businesses will share a £10,000 grant prize fund, alongside six months of support designed to help them grow.
Applications close 8 October at 12pm, so if you know a Belfast business that could use the support, this is one to send their way.
💬 Know a Belfast business that should be applying?
🔗 More info: Belfast City Council
🍺 Want your business featured? [Get in touch →]
Your Weekend Lineup
🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING:
Your guide to what’s on across Belfast & Northern Ireland
Here are a few things happening around Belfast from Thursday through next Wednesday:
Thursday 1 October
Friday 2 October
Saturday 3 October
Sunday 4 October
Tuesday 6 October
Wednesday 7 October
💛 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
🕰️ We finally Meet the man behind Albert Clock
Chris Canavan is the man responsible for keeping one of Belfast’s most recognisable landmarks ticking.
He looks after the Albert Memorial Clock, making sure the 19th-century landmark keeps doing what it has done for generations: telling Belfast the time.
It’s one of those jobs you probably never think about until someone points out the person behind it.
And there’s something lovely about knowing that while the Albert Clock has become part of the Belfast skyline, someone is still quietly looking after it.
🌍 MRANI Fest 2026 is bringing heritage and innovation together
MRANI Fest 2026 is returning to Belfast on 10 October, bringing people together at Queen’s University Belfast’s Riddel Hall for a day celebrating Black History Month through heritage, business and innovation.
The Heritage and Innovation Summit will feature keynote sessions, discussions on emerging trends and innovations, networking and an ethnic minority business exhibition.
It’s a full day built around connecting, growing and celebrating.
Nominate next week’s local hero — we love celebrating Belfast’s best people.
Foodie Finds / As Seen 🍴
🍜 Holly the Destroyer finds a Chinese spot worth knowing about
TikTok creator Holly the Destroyer has been singing the praises of Long Express, and the portions are clearly not playing around.
She ordered the £9.60 student box, choosing salted chilli chicken with curry sauce, alongside a spice bag, honey chilli chicken, plum sauce, duck, crispy Korean chicken and noodles.
The crispy Korean chicken was the standout for her big chunks, light and crispy, with plenty of sauce.
And that curry sauce got its own special mention too.
Her verdict?
She'd definitely be back.
If you're heading back from holiday and suddenly realise you haven't had Chinese in far too long, consider this your reminder.
🗳️ POLL OF THE WEEK
💬 YOUR VOICE
Got a story, photo, or random Belfast moment worth sharing?
📸 Send it in — you might be featured in next week’s “Your Belfast” section!
We’re locals, by locals. This newsletter is yours as much as ours.
👋 OUTRO
That’s it for this week’s craic!
If you enjoyed this edition, share it with a friend who loves Belfast as much as you do.
Until next week, stay curious, stay kind, and keep exploring Belfast.
— The Belfast Insider Team