Bill Wolsey’s Beannchor Group has lodged plans for a major redevelopment of the Ulster Sports Club.
The hospitality firm, which acquired the venue close to its signature Merchant Hotel in late 2018, has filed a planning application to add an additional building to the side of the existing site.
New areas on the first and second floors are also planned as is the creation of an outdoor area on the ground floor.
A retractable awning is penciled in around “new openings on the existing roof”, with a open-air rooftop bar a distinct possibility if the plans are approved.
Having closed its doors in late 2018, the Ulster Sports Club reopened in May the following year, embracing its retro feel as “a heavy lean to the left-of-centre” music venue.
Founded in 1926 on Ann Street, the premises brought people from the Falls, Shankill, Newtownards Road and Markets together, united by sport.
It moved to its current location on High Street and in 1968 women were allowed in, the same time the club started doing cabaret.
However, by 2018 membership had dwindled and the famous cabaret nights on Fridays and Sundays were stopped as the club could no longer afford to pay the bands.
