White’s Tavern pressing on with £1.5m investment

The owners of one of the oldest bars in Belfast are pressing ahead with plans for a £1.5m extension after filing a planning application for an adjoining unit.

If approved the makeover of White’s Tavern will create 50 new jobs with the creation of a new beer hall and licensed fish and chip shop.

White’s Tavern, which dates back to the 1700’s, is part of the Clover Group which operates eight of Belfast’s leading hospitality venues.

Mark Beirne, above, director of the Clover Group, said, “This investment is testament not only to our confidence in the opportunities that there are within Belfast’s social scene but also to the expertise and skillset within our team, who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to deliver exemplary experiences for our customers.

“We are privileged to be the guardians of this outstanding Belfast bar, and the additions we have made will ensure that it will be cherished for generations to come.

“This new investment is groundbreaking, maintaining the long-standing traditional fabric of White’s but adding an exciting quality new offering with an authentic beer garden and the first fully licensed fish and chip shop, delivering local Northern Ireland produce from Kilkeel scampi through to North Antrim Lobster.”

With a proven track record of transforming underpower, unused and derelict locations into cutting edge boutique bars and venues the announcement is the latest in a series of investments by the Clover Group in the last two years, including outdoor city centre venues The Bone Yard and Folktown.