BELFAST INSIDER
Hello Insider! 👋
This week, we focus on what actually makes the city better.
In this issue, we’re looking at how much your postcode really matters. From broadband speeds to petrol prices, location is quietly shaping everyday life across Northern Ireland.
There’s also fresh momentum in Belfast’s tech scene. Another major local business bids farewell, a hotel glow-up, a coffee spot worth queuing for, and a packed events guide to get you out of the house.
No crime. No politics. Just the good craic.
Let’s get into it →
THE DIGEST: Belfast in Brief
🚀 The Fastest Broadband Street in NI
Moatview Park in Dundonald has been named Northern Ireland’s fastest street for broadband and the second-fastest in the UK.
Residents there are pulling download speeds of 1.146Gb. That is roughly six times the NI average.
Meanwhile, over on Orkney Street in Antrim, speeds are reportedly 386 times slower.
Same country. Completely different internet lives.
Northern Ireland now leads the UK with 96 percent full-fibre coverage, according to the Belfast Telegraph. But clearly, not every street got the memo.
Location still matters. More than we like to admit.
⛽ Petrol Prices Hit a Five-Year Low
If filling the car has felt slightly less painful lately, you’re not imagining it.
Petrol prices across Northern Ireland have dropped to their lowest level since June 2021. According to the Consumer Council, the average price now sits at 125.7p per litre. Diesel has also dipped to 133.2p.
Where you live still makes a difference. Carrickfergus is currently the cheapest place to fill up at 122.6p. Antrim is the most expensive at 128.9p.
Heating oil prices have eased too after last week’s cold-weather spike.
It is not often cost-of-living headlines give us good news. We'll take this rare win.
Source: Belfast Live
🧑💻 Belfast’s Tech Scene Just Got More Serious
Techstars, one of the world's biggest tech accelerators, has officially launched in Belfast. The programme kicked off this week at Ormeau Labs in partnership with Queen's University, according to a LinkedIn announcement. It is the first Techstars accelerator ever based in Northern Ireland.
The focus is backing Belfast-based, AI-first and software-led founders, with access to global mentors, capital, and a network stretching from Belfast to Silicon Valley. Alongside local players like Catalyst and Techstart Ventures, this adds real weight to the city's startup pipeline.
Belfast is no longer just "promising." It is building, and the world is paying attention.
For founders, students, and anyone building in tech, this makes Belfast a much more serious place to start.
Check your Post Code. Are you winning or losing? →
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS SCOOP
(Sponsor this section)
Openings, Closures & Buzz Around Town
McPeakes Closes After 87 Years on the Falls Road
An era has quietly ended in West Belfast. McPeakes, the family-run shop on the Falls Road, has closed after 87 years, according to Belfast Media. What started as a hardware store in 1939 became the go-to spot for party supplies, flowers, fancy dress, and last-minute essentials—run by Daniella Campbell (née McPeake) for over 20 years. With no next generation stepping in, the family made the decision to retire. The building at 111 Falls Road will pass to new custodians, but for many, McPeakes will always be part of the street's legacy.
🏨 The Malone Reopens This February
Elsewhere, a Belfast classic is starting a new chapter. Formerly Malone Lodge, The Malone reopens in February after an 18-month, multi-million-pound refurbishment, reports NI Chamber.
Now a 103-room luxury boutique hotel, it's already landed a spot on The Times' "Best New Hotels for 2026" list, the only NI hotel to do so.
One door closes, another levels up. That's Belfast right now.
What Belfast business would you hate to loose?
Your Weekend Lineup
🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING:
Whether you’re looking to network, plan a family day out, or catch world-class live music, Belfast is buzzing this week.
Here’s our curated guide to the best free and ticketed events happening across Belfast from January 22 to 28.
Your next great plan is probably already in here.
Thursday, January 22
Friday, January 23
Saturday, January 24
Sunday, January 25
Monday, January 26
Tuesday, January 27
Wednesday, January 28
That’s your weekend sorted. No excuses!
💛 LOCAL MAKER SPOTLIGHT
🐝Marshall Beekeeping
Christine Marshall
Some of the best local stories don’t shout. They hum quietly at market stalls.
That’s exactly where we met Christine Marshall, the force behind Marshall Beekeeping, at the Belfast Spring and Continental Market in May 2024. What started as a curiosity about how bees live has grown into a thoughtful local business rooted in education, sustainability, and proper hive care.
This isn’t just about honey. Christine focuses on working with the bees, not against them, championing healthy hives and the vital role bees play in the wider ecosystem. That care shows in the quality of what she makes.
What to look out for
Alongside her much-loved local honey, our personal favourite was the hot honey. It is a surprisingly addictive blend of honey and chilli. She also produces beeswax food wraps, beeswax melts, and natural paw and nose balms. A health and beauty range using propolis and pollen is also on the way.
How to support
You’ll regularly find Marshall Beekeeping at Belfast spots like St George’s Market and Victoria Square. Stop by, have a chat, and support a local business quietly doing things the right way.
🍽️ FOODIE FINDS
Cultura, Gilnahirk road.
Recommended by community member Sasha E.
Working from home has its perks, but Sasha missed the ritual of grabbing great coffee on the way to work. A route change on office days finally gave her the excuse to try Cultura in Gilnahirk and it clicked from the first visit.
Must try: The cardamom flat white is the standout; the kind of drink you think about when your home setup isn't cutting it. For something more adventurous, try Autumn in Kyoto (hojicha, red miso, maple) or Saint Nicholas (iced coffee with spiced cream and candied orange). The festive sando with turkey saltimbocca and potato rosti is worth the 25-minute wait, as are the brie bites with sage chips.
The vibe: Modern, warm, genuine welcome
Price range: ££ (Around £26 per person for special drink + main)
Find it: 28 Gilnahirk Road, Belfast
Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM - 3 PM | Sat-Sun 9 AM - 3 PM
Worth the queue. Worth the hype.
📍 Visit Cultura | Follow them: @cultura.cof
Cultura Coffee Gilnahirk Road.
💬 YOUR VOICE
Belfast check 👀
If you could only pick one this week, what’s it going to be?
1️⃣ Faster broadband
2️⃣ Cheaper petrol
3️⃣ A new tech boom
4️⃣ A proper coffee spot
Hit reply with the number and tell us why.
Civil debate encouraged. Barely.
🗳️ POLL OF THE WEEK
That’s this week’s Belfast Insider.
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— The Belfast Insider Team