Belfast City Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Belfast City Centre | |
  Belfast City Centre shown within Northern Ireland |
|
| Irish grid reference | |
|---|---|
| District | City of Belfast |
| Constituent country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BELFAST |
| Postcode district | BT? |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| European Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| List of places: UK • Northern Ireland • | |
Belfast City Centre is the central business district of the City of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The City Centre was originally centred around the Donegall Street area. Donegall Street is now mainly a business area, but with expanding residential and entertainment development as part of the Cathedral Quarter scheme - Belfast's Anglican cathedral (St. Anne's) is located here. The Catholic cathedral St. Peter's is located a little to the west of the city centre.
Two of Belfast's three main newspapers - The Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News are also located nearby. The News Letter, which claims to be the oldest continually published English language daily newspaper still in existence, was originally located in the area.
The City Centre is now centred on Donegall Square (location of the City Hall), Royal Avenue and High Street.
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[edit] Redevelopment
Over the past decade the City Centre has seen expansive redevelopment. The Laganside Development includes the landmark Waterfront Hall, BT Tower, Hilton Hotel, Odyssey Complex and various riverside apartment complexes.
The Gasworks Business Park is owned by Belfast City Council and managed by the Councils Estates Management Unit. The site contains commercial offices, call centres, small business units, housing, cafés & restaurants, the Radisson Hotel and an award winning public landscaped park. The Gasworks has been internationally recognised as a key example of brownfield regeneration in Europe and has won numerous awards in relation to all aspects of its development. The initial phase is now almost complete and the City Council are currently preparing a master plan in preparation for the commencement of Phase II development.
Due for completion in 2008, the Victoria Square development is the largest commercial construction project currently ongoing in Europe. Once finished it will house apartments, bars, restaurants, a cinema and shops including H&M and House of Fraser.
In March 2006, the government gave the go-ahead for a £300m regeneration of a run-down part of Belfast city centre, in the Cathedral Quarter, which could create up to 2,000 jobs. Plans include a new shopping centre, anchored by a department store. The project will not be completed until 2011. It is estimated that 1,000 people will help build the development and 2,000 will be employed there.
[edit] Notable buildings
- Albert Memorial Clock, Belfast, Victoria Street
- Bittle's Bar, Victoria Square
- City Hall, Donegall Square
- Customs House, Customs House Square
- Linenhall Library, Donegall Square North
- The Obel Tower, due to be completed in 2007
- Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI), College Square East
- St. George's Church, High Street
- St. George's Market, May Street
- The Ulster Hall, Bedford Street
- The Waterfront Hall, Lanyon Place
- Windsor House, Bedford Street
- Victoria Square, Corn Market
[edit] Bars and Clubs
- McHugh's Bar, Queen's Square
- The Crown Liquor Saloon, Great Victoria Street
- The Limelight, Ormeau Avenue
- The Northern Whig, Waring Street
