Trademarket team to give Cuckoo lease of life

New tenants are set to transform the site of a popular Belfast bar after its closure last year.

Cuckoo on the Libsurn Road, known for their funky cocktails, vintage gaming offering and karaoke nights, closed their doors in August 2023 after six years in business.

The former student haunt is to be given a new lease of life under new tenants after work has been spotted getting underway at the South Belfast site over the last number of weeks.

Newly erected posters on the former Cuckoo site have directed customers to the social media account for Happys Belfast, a new bar from the team behind Trademarket, a food, drink and retail collective on the Dublin Road.

Happys Belfast’s bio on Instagram reads: “Your friendly neighbourhood dive bar!

“Potty mouthed little brother of Trademarket Belfast.

“Yes there’s food and yes there’s ping pong. Coming soon to 149 Lisburn Road.”

The team behind Cuckoo told customers last summer that they resigned as tenants of the bar due to “unsustainable” rent and rates.

An email to customers at the time said: “We’ve had an amazing 6 years at Cuckoo, but it’s finally time to go. We have never really fully recovered from coronavirus>covid.

“The cost of living crisis coupled with unsustainable rents, rates and other spiralling costs have forced us to make a tough decision. Therefore, we have officially resigned as current tenants of Cuckoo.

“We’d like to thank everyone that has come to our venue and events over the last 6 years. It has been an amazing ride!”