New owners promise reinvestment at iconic Bellevue

Belfast’s iconic Bellevue Arms, which has sat on its lofty perch on the Antrim Road since the mid-1930s, has been bought for an undisclosed sum by Bangor-based hospitality and leisure group, Wolf Inns.

A familiar sight to generations of regular M2 commuters, the modern Bellevue boasts two restaurants and a deli as well as a beer garden with panoramic views of the city.

And its new owners have already indicated that a £250,000 refurbishment plan for the restaurant and beer garden at the venue – which employs 48 staff – is in the final planning stages.

The purchase brings the total number of pubs in the Wolf Inns portfolio to eight. Among its other licensed premises are The Ava Winebar, The Hop House and The Goat’s Toe. It also owns the Pickie Fun Park in Bangor.

The managing director of Wolf Inns, Andrew Gedge, says that he’s excited about the potential of its latest acquisition:

‘The Bellevue Arms is one of the best-known pubs in Ulster,’ he said recently. ‘For generations, the Diamond family and its dedicated team have welcomed locals and tourists alike with outstanding food, drink and entertainment and a welcome that was second-to-none

‘We plan to build on the strong foundations already in place at the Bellevue Arms and begin a refurbishment programme to further enhance the hospitality offering to the people of north Belfast and beyond.’

Mr Gedge went on to say that Wolf Inns, which now employs 172 people across its portfolio of bars, restaurants and leisure outlets, would grow further in 2019, promising further investment in training and the acquisition of new premises to further advance the group’s leasing strategy.

Our picture shows Wolf Inns managing director, Andrew Gedge (left), and  Andy Tew, associate director, corporate banking with Ulster Bank, which supported the purchase.