Entertainment licence for Dublin Road site to boost city hospitality
Belfast city centre hospitality could get a boost with the granting of an outdoor licence for entertainment on the site of the demolished Movie House Cinema on Dublin Road.
At the recent meeting of Belfast City Council’s Licensing Committee, a seven day annual outdoor entertainments licence to provide outdoor musical entertainment was granted to Lawrence Bannon of Tobar Inns Limited, of the Marcus Ward Cocktail Bar and Restaurant.
The outdoor events space on the corner of Bankmore Square and Dublin Road will be surrounded by shipping containers that currently make up Trademarket, much of which is dedicated to upcoming food businesses.
The maximum number within the event space is yet to be agreed by the council building service and may vary depending on individual concert set-up proposals. The days and hours during which entertainment is proposed to be provided are Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 11.00pm and Sunday, 12.30pm to 11.00pm.
A council report states: “The applicant proposes to provide an area for the consumption of food and alcohol which will include the provision of live music.”
It adds: “Public notice of the application has been placed and one objection was received from a local resident on May 9 2022. Further to the objection both parties attended a liaison meeting organised by the Service on June 24 2022.
“The licensee advised that the main use of the space was for the consumption of food and drink with entertainment being provided on Thursday to Sunday, and that a sound barrier was being constructed along the perimeter of the premises adjacent to Marcus Ward Street. Following these discussions, the objector agreed to withdraw the objection.”
Local food vendors already selling their wares at Trademarket include Hill Street Hatch favourites Pi Guy and Moon Gelato.
Also at Trademarket is Shonee McWilliams aka Pie Queen, who be offering sweet and savoury treats and teaming up with local coffee company Napoleon for those needing a caffeine fix, while Kubo is doing a roaring trade offering food of the Philippines in the heart of Belfast.
Software firm Kainos had bought the Dublin Road cinema site but its plans for a vast new premises have been scaled back post pandemic.
