When the lovely wife told me that we were invited to her friend's wedding in Belfast last October, I wasn't sure what to expect. Historic troubles aside, I wasn't sure if the city would have to much to offer in terms of sightseeing or more importantly halal food.
I was in for a very pleasant surprise!
From fine seafood dining by Michael Deane, great architecture including the Titanic Belfast and it's very own version of the Pont Des Arts or 'Love Bridge' this compact city has plenty to offer for those looking for a short weekend break
SEE
The first thing that struck me was that the city was laid out in a grid, which is quite unusual for a British city and gave it more of a foreign feel.
If you have the will and energy Belfast is extremely easy to explore on foot and with the weather on our side we took in all of the sites on a lazy Sunday afternoon, taking plenty of breaks along the waterfront. The star attraction is the Titanic Belfast, which pays homage to the city's maritime heritage.
The waterfront is currently being developed and is lined with impressive modern buildings which proudly stand alongside more traditional landmarks such as the Albert Memorial Clock (which bears a striking resemblance to Big Ben!) and the City Hall which is undoubtedly the heart of the City.
When we visited there was a bikers gathering taking place with everything from Mopeds to Harley Davidsons. It was quite a sight when they all took off together for a ride around.
For those more artistically inclined a number of sculptures adorn the cityscape, arguably the most prominent of these is the Big Fish with the Thanksgiving statue giving it a good run for its money. Both are very different but equally impressive.
And for the romantics out there Belfast even has it's own version of the Pont Des Arts or 'Love Bridge' which is adorned with padlocks from lovestruck couples.
As we were attending a wedding in the country we also managed to take in the stunning countryside and it's no surprise to see why so much filming takes place here, the photos in the slideshow speak for themselves. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Giants Causeway but I guess that's one reason to make a return visit!
Now, the important topic of food. Being a maritime city, seafood plays a big part here and we were recommended Deanes Love Fish as a place to try out. After our city walkabout we arrived just as lunch service started and had the place pretty much to ourselves. Classy and Elegant are the words which come to mind when describing the decor.
EAT
We opted for a light lunch as we were going to fly back later that afternoon, I opted for Grilled Mackereal on Toast whilst the Mrs had Crab on Toast. The servings weren't generous as you can see from the photos but then this is Michelin Star Fine Dining and what it lacked in portion size it made up for in taste. The fish was lovely & fresh and cooked perfectly and the crab was accompanied by a beautiful zingy dressing. We cleansed our palates with a baked vanilla cheesecake, which was rich and decadent and served with sharp raspberry coulis to help balance it out.
All in all, to quote Gregg Wallace we were both very happy punters.
STAY
We stayed at the Tara Lodge, near the Botanic Gardens, a small hotel with good reviews on Tripadvisor. Service was very good and the rooms were comfortable and clean, breakfast was the main highlight though, beatiful smoked salmon served on freshly baked bread.
We hired a car and this hotel is a good choice if you're driving as there's plenty of free on street parking and it makes it a good base for exploring both the city and the surrounding countryside. Bear in mind though that whilst close to the city centre you will need to drive into the city and park up as opposed to walking from here.
VERDICT
Belast was a very pleasant surprise and a city that I would definitely visit again, although I'd probably want to hire a cottage near the coast in the surrounding countryside to make the most of the stunning landscape. As for food, you probably won't find Halal meat as easily as other parts of the UK but stick to fish, it's fresh, healthier and there's no question of whether or not it's HMC certified :-)
From fine seafood dining by Michael Deane, great architecture including the Titanic Belfast and it's very own version of the Pont Des Arts or 'Love Bridge' this compact city has plenty to offer for those looking for a short weekend break
SEE
The first thing that struck me was that the city was laid out in a grid, which is quite unusual for a British city and gave it more of a foreign feel.
If you have the will and energy Belfast is extremely easy to explore on foot and with the weather on our side we took in all of the sites on a lazy Sunday afternoon, taking plenty of breaks along the waterfront. The star attraction is the Titanic Belfast, which pays homage to the city's maritime heritage.
The waterfront is currently being developed and is lined with impressive modern buildings which proudly stand alongside more traditional landmarks such as the Albert Memorial Clock (which bears a striking resemblance to Big Ben!) and the City Hall which is undoubtedly the heart of the City.
When we visited there was a bikers gathering taking place with everything from Mopeds to Harley Davidsons. It was quite a sight when they all took off together for a ride around.
For those more artistically inclined a number of sculptures adorn the cityscape, arguably the most prominent of these is the Big Fish with the Thanksgiving statue giving it a good run for its money. Both are very different but equally impressive.
And for the romantics out there Belfast even has it's own version of the Pont Des Arts or 'Love Bridge' which is adorned with padlocks from lovestruck couples.
As we were attending a wedding in the country we also managed to take in the stunning countryside and it's no surprise to see why so much filming takes place here, the photos in the slideshow speak for themselves. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Giants Causeway but I guess that's one reason to make a return visit!
Now, the important topic of food. Being a maritime city, seafood plays a big part here and we were recommended Deanes Love Fish as a place to try out. After our city walkabout we arrived just as lunch service started and had the place pretty much to ourselves. Classy and Elegant are the words which come to mind when describing the decor.
EAT
We opted for a light lunch as we were going to fly back later that afternoon, I opted for Grilled Mackereal on Toast whilst the Mrs had Crab on Toast. The servings weren't generous as you can see from the photos but then this is Michelin Star Fine Dining and what it lacked in portion size it made up for in taste. The fish was lovely & fresh and cooked perfectly and the crab was accompanied by a beautiful zingy dressing. We cleansed our palates with a baked vanilla cheesecake, which was rich and decadent and served with sharp raspberry coulis to help balance it out.
All in all, to quote Gregg Wallace we were both very happy punters.
STAY
We stayed at the Tara Lodge, near the Botanic Gardens, a small hotel with good reviews on Tripadvisor. Service was very good and the rooms were comfortable and clean, breakfast was the main highlight though, beatiful smoked salmon served on freshly baked bread.
We hired a car and this hotel is a good choice if you're driving as there's plenty of free on street parking and it makes it a good base for exploring both the city and the surrounding countryside. Bear in mind though that whilst close to the city centre you will need to drive into the city and park up as opposed to walking from here.
VERDICT
Belast was a very pleasant surprise and a city that I would definitely visit again, although I'd probably want to hire a cottage near the coast in the surrounding countryside to make the most of the stunning landscape. As for food, you probably won't find Halal meat as easily as other parts of the UK but stick to fish, it's fresh, healthier and there's no question of whether or not it's HMC certified :-)
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