BELFAST INSIDER
What’s the craic Belfast!👋
The city had one of those summers it won’t be forgetting in a hurry, and Belfast doesn’t look ready to slow down yet.
Footfall in the city centre is up, one of South Belfast’s best-known institutions has new owners after nearly 30 years. Plenty to get into this week.
Let’s get started →
THE DIGEST: Belfast in Brief
🎬 The Death of Robin Hood is out now, and Belfast is all over it
The Death of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, is now in cinemas after being filmed entirely in Northern Ireland.
Locations including Silent Valley, Glenarm, Murlough Bay, Strangford and Bushmills all made it onto the screen, while Belfast Harbour Studios was used during production.
There’s also a proper local connection. East Belfast actress Tabitha Smyth landed her first role in a major studio film and found herself acting alongside Jackman and Comer.
She said filming here meant plenty of freezing weather, wind, rain and hail, including scenes shot on the edge of a cliff.
If you go see the flick and spend half the film thinking, wait, that looks familiar, you’re probably right.
💬 What’s your favourite movie that was shot in Northern Ireland?
🛍️ Northern Ireland footfall is up 2.8%
Northern Ireland footfall rose 2.8% year-on-year in August, with Belfast up 1.8%, while footfall fell elsewhere in the UK.
Retailers say the Fleadh clearly helped bring people into town, although hospitality and tourism seem to have felt more of the benefit than the shops. The numbers look encouraging, but retailers remain cautious.
We've flagged Belfast's derelict buildings problem before. Now councils might actually get the teeth to do something about it. Everyone in Belfast knows at least one. Boarded windows, weeds growing everywhere, sitting there so long that nobody quite remembers what the building used to be.
Councils across Northern Ireland may soon get stronger powers to force owners to deal with neglected and dilapidated properties, or step in themselves and recover the costs.
MLAs have passed the bill, although it still needs Royal Assent before becoming law.
For anyone who has walked past an abandoned building wondering why nobody can do anything about it, there might finally be a way forward.💬 Did Belfast city centre feel busier than usual to you this week?
🏚️Local councils may finally get more powers to deal with those buildings
Everyone in Belfast knows at least one. Buildings with boarded windows, weed growing out of everywhere and nobody recalling what the building used to be.
Councils across Northern Ireland may soon get stronger powers to force owners to deal with neglected and dilapidated properties, or step in themselves and recover the costs.
MLAs have passed the bill, but there are still a few final steps before it becomes law.
For everyone who has walked past abandoned buildings across NI wondering why nobody can do anything about it, there might be a way forward.
💬Which derelict Belfast building would you most like to see brought back to life?
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS SCOOP
Openings, Closures & Buzz Around Town
🏨 Benedicts changes hands after nearly 30 years
After almost 30 years under Paddy and Edmund Simpson, the Bradbury Place institution has been bought by hospitality operators Colin and Louise Johnston.
The name is staying, and the existing team remains in place. The new owners say they have no intention of changing the character people already know.
The new owners are already talking about further investment in 2027.
💬 Do you have a Benedicts memory? There must be a few good ones out there.
💷 Running a small business? There's up to £4k available
Go Succeed grants are open until 13 October, offering up to £4,000 towards 50% of eligible capital costs.
That can include equipment, machinery, computer hardware, software and web development.
You’ll need to be receiving, or have previously received, support through Go Succeed to be eligible, alongside the other grant criteria.
Know a Belfast business that could actually use this? Send it their way.
Your Weekend Lineup
🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING:
A few reasons to leave the house this week.
So nobody can say there’s nothing to do around here. Here are a few things happening over the next seven days:
Thursday 10 September
Friday 11 September
Saturday 12 September
Sunday 13 September
Monday 14 September
Tuesday 15 September
Wednesday 16 September
💛 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
🎨 Creative Belfast is offering paid internships for young Belfast creatives
Creative Belfast is looking for six Belfast-based people aged 18–25 to take part in paid internships across the city’s creative and cultural sector.
There are 6 spaces available, you get £14 an hour and no previous experience is needed.
Applications close 11 September, so this one is worth forwarding quickly.
🍽️ Foodie Finds
🍗 Gemma Mailey gives The Wings Society a straight 10
Belfast influencer Gemma Mailey has put The Wings Society on our radar again, giving its chicken wraps, fries and garlic ranch a straight 10/10.
er TikTok review is doing the rounds, and apparently the portions aren’t shy either.
One bit of advice: bring someone with you. Half a wrap might genuinely be enough.
If garlic ranch is a personality trait for you, consider this your sign.
Watch her review below…
@gemmamailey Lunch In My City Trend - Belfast Edition Pt.1 🥗 #lunchinmycity #lunchinmycitybelfast #fyp #trending #thewingsociety @Emma Anastacia - N.I ... See more
🧭 As Spotted
🥾 A quiet Belfast walk hiding in plain sight
Belfast TikToker Kate Gallagher has spotted a lovely wee walk just off Saintfield Road, beside Knockbracken Hospital.
Think open meadow, butterflies, plenty of space for a quiet dander and even a farm shop nearby.
One warning from Kate: don’t go expecting the shop to be open on a Wednesday evening. She already made that mistake for you.
Filed under: things Belfast has been hiding from us for no reason.
@kategallagher170 this was soo lovely!!! Definitely come and visit it if you live around Belfast ☘️✨ #walk #belfast #thingstodo #Home #Summer @theravineproject
💬 YOUR VOICE
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Until next week, go explore.
— The Belfast Insider Team