BELFAST INSIDER
Hello Belfast 👋
What’s the craic?
This is a slightly special one.
It’s the edition before our first ever Belfast Insider signature event.
When we started Belfast Insider, the idea was pretty simple: help people discover more of what’s happening around Belfast, and give people more reasons to love living here.
Sometimes that's a good story in your inbox. Sometimes it's finding somewhere new to eat. And sometimes it's putting a load of people who don't know each other around the same table and seeing what happens.
Which is exactly what we're doing this Sunday.
We're bringing Chef Fregz's dinner experience to Belfast for the first time, after he built a following for these events in London.
If you grew up eating African food, brilliant. If you've never tried it before, even better.
Good food. Good conversation. No fancy rules.
Also this week: Samson and Goliath are getting back to work, Belfast City Airport wants to get busier, and a 15-year-old Larne goalkeeper is heading to Arsenal.
Here’s everything interesting we found this week →
THE DIGEST: Belfast in Brief
Only the good news, promise.
🏗️ Belfast's H&W cranes are finally getting back to work
Samson and Goliath have spent the best part of two decades standing over Belfast without building a ship.
That's now about to change. The two giant cranes at the Titanic Quarter are getting a £3m overhaul as Harland & Wolff prepares to return to shipbuilding, with the yard set to build Fleet Solid Support Ships for the Royal Navy.
The cranes should be fully operational by the end of the year.
And the bigger plan is pretty interesting too. New owners Navantia UK want to grow the workforce from around 450 people today to 1,500 by 2030, with 66 apprentices joining in the first intake.
For two cranes that have basically become part of Belfast's skyline, it'll be strange seeing them actually doing what they were built to do again.
Over to you: What's your earliest memory of seeing Samson and Goliath?
✈️ Belfast City Airport wants later flights
Belfast City Airport has unveiled a £200m Master Plan 2040, and there's quite a bit packed into it.
The airport wants permission to increase its annual flight movement cap from 48,000 to 61,000, while extending evening operations from 9.30pm to 10.30pm.
There are also plans for an expanded terminal, a new forecourt, more parking and a dedicated hotel.
But the bit that really caught our eye?
They're safeguarding space for a direct rail halt, which could eventually make Belfast City Airport the first airport on the island of Ireland with a direct train connection.
Getting off the train and walking straight into the airport? Belfast might finally be catching up with the rest of us.
The plan is now going through consultation, so there's still a long way to go yet.
What do you think? Would later flights make life easier for you, or is 10.30pm too late?
⚽ A 15-year-old Larne goalkeeper is heading to Arsenal
Phoenix Blayney, who plays for Larne FC, will join Arsenal as part of their 2027/28 scholar intake.
He's already a Northern Ireland U17 international and made five appearances during the country's European Championship qualifying campaign.
From Larne to London.
Not a bad commute for a teenager.
Over to you: who's the next Northern Ireland kid we should be watching?
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS SCOOP
Openings, Closures & Buzz Around Town
🍕 We now know what's replacing Greens in Ballyhackamore
Greens is out and Orto is in.
The Belfast pizza chain has confirmed it's taking over the site for its fifth location, in a joint venture between Ashley French of French Village and Paul Catterson of NOVA Restaurant.
There's no opening date just yet, but the signs are already up on the Upper Newtownards Road.
Greens loyalist or ready to give Orto a go?
Your Weekend Lineup
🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING:
Your guide to what’s on across Belfast & Northern Ireland
🍽️ Featured: The Fregz Dinner Table
One date needs to jump the queue.
On Sunday 30 August, Belfast Insider is bringing Chef Fregz, the Le Cordon Bleu-trained Nigerian chef, to Belfast for a one-night dining experience at Trait Late on High Street.
Think family-style sharing plates, African flavours, good conversation and a complimentary bottle of wine per table.
£75 per person.
Sunday 30 August.
3pm | Trait Late, High Street
🎟️ Editor's Picks
👋 Moved to Belfast? Meet Up! | Belfast | Sat 29 Aug
New to Belfast, or still trying to build your people here? This relaunched meet-up is for people who've moved to the city and fancy coming along to say hello.
💛 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
🎉 Belfast Mela just turned 20
Twenty years ago, Belfast Mela started with around 500 people.
This year, more than 800 performers, musicians and dancers took part in the carnival.
Not bad for something founder Nisha Tandon initially thought might last two or three years.
Twenty years later, Mela has become one of Belfast's big summer fixtures, bringing music, food, dance and culture from around the world to the city.
And there's still one big weekend to come, with Mela Day at Botanic Gardens on Sunday 30 August.
Twenty years in, still going.
Ever been to Mela? What's your favourite memory?
🍽️ Foodie Finds
🦐 Platito's new seafood boil is a proper hands-on affair
Platito West has launched a new seafood boil bag, and it is exactly what it sounds like.
Shellfish, corn, potatoes and seasoning packed into a bag that's designed to be tipped out and attacked with your hands.
Messy? Almost certainly but that's the point.
It's available daily, although they're apparently selling out quickly, so booking ahead might be wise.
Watch below…
@platito_by_mangan 🦞🔥 SEAFOOD BOIL BAG BELFAST 🤩😎 It’s messy, it’s tasty, and it’s SO worth it! 🤤🔥 Get your hands in and enjoy a proper finger-lickin’ feast!... See more
📸 As Spotted
🚗 Belfast has some roads that leave you in awe
This one came from David Johnston, who captured the road between Manse Road and Upper Knockbreda Road, winding down through the Castlereagh Hills.
Narrow, steep and not exactly one for a nervous driver.
But then the city suddenly opens up at the bottom and you get the view.
Belfast definitely looks very good from up there.
@forthe_outsiders Rocky Road, Belfast 📍 One of the most bumpy and narrow roads but the views are worth every second #belfast #summer #northernireland #rockyroad #ni
Got something Belfast Insider should see? Send it our way.
💬 YOUR VOICE
What should Belfast fix before the next big festival?
The Fleadh brought huge crowds to Belfast, but one reader thinks the city could make the next big festival even better.
Mark from TRAIT got in touch with four things he'd like to see improved:
🎨 City decoration
🌭 More street vendors
👨👩👧 Better family amenities and facilities
🧹 More street cleaning and toilets
His point is pretty simple: getting 1.6 million people through the city is one thing. Making sure they actually have a great time while they're here is another.
And honestly, the toilets might be the least glamorous suggestion on the list but probably one of the most useful. 😂
The Fleadh was a huge success for Belfast.
Now comes the interesting bit.
What should we do differently next time?
What would you add to Mark's list?
Question of the Day
🙂 Was ok
👋 At's us nai!
That's your Belfast briefing for this week.
And a slightly special one for us.
This time next week, we'll hopefully be talking about the first Belfast Insider dinner, the people who came along, what they ate and whether we should do it all again.
If you enjoyed today's edition, forward it to someone who loves Belfast as much as you do.
Someone forwarded this to you?
If you're looking for something to do this Sunday, The Fregz Dinner Table is the one we'd point you towards.
See you next Thursday.
The Belfast Insider Team