Five hidden Belfast gems

We often head for city breaks on the blind but if you're thinking of visiting Belfast here's five hidden gems that you must see.

By Frank McCann

There is a certain satisfaction you get when telling your friends about that cool little spot that nobody knows about. It’s like discovering a quality rock band; being the first to find them makes you feel “in-the-know”.

Belfast is one of the best places for those quirky, unusual haunts. There are dozens of locations that might have passed you by without you even knowing.

So if you’ve already seen the Titanic quarters, been to a gig in the Odyssey arena and admired Belfast City Hall, maybe its time to look for something that will significantly develop your cultural palette.

JOE is here to help you find those hidden gems, highlighting five spots you must visit when in the Northern capital.

1. Belfast’s hidden furniture artists

Ever heard of a beautiful donation? Well that’s exactly what you’ll get if you donate your old furniture to an artistic Belfast business.

Refound is a group started by Belfast resident Jill O’Neill, who looks to reuse your old furniture and turn it into something fabulously unique.

The idea of the business is that old, donated pieces of furniture are distributed amongst a group of artists who will recreate the piece turning it into a functional but unique piece of furniture.

The group run pop-up shops from time to time across Belfast city where they sell the pieces they create.

Checkout www.refoundonline.com to view their work and find their next pop-up shop date.

2. Belfast’s hidden market

If your looking for something unusual in Belfast, the Black Market is where you will probably find it.

Celebrating the talents of independent artists, designers and craftspeople, the monthly event is always an excellent spot for eye-catching pieces of work.

The market has also become a must for collectors of records and books, with several stalls dedicated to selling those hard-to-find vinyls and publications.

The Black market is an event held on the first Sunday of each month. More information can be found at http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Black-Market-Belfast-P17716

3. Belfast’s hidden record shop

Owned by the man who discovered the Undertones, Good Vibes record store is a nice alternative to the big music megastores that are around Belfast city.

Terri Hooley, who is considered to be the Godfather of Northern Irish punk, opened the store and started a record label of the same name in the early 1970’s. If your feeling up to it, Hooley also conducts an alternative walking tour of Belfast, which you can get details of in-store.

His label is most famous for recording “Teenage kicks” by the Undertones in 1978, with his shop claiming cult-status over the years.

A spot worth visiting for history alone, Good Vibes record store is a must for any music fan.

You can look at the label’s full discography at http://www.goodvibesbelfast.com/

4. Belfast’s hidden beer festival

Ok, this isn’t very hidden, but who would want to go to a quiet festival?

Although the Belfast beer festival is popular up north, it mightn’t be as well known to people from the Republic, so its worth going for a weekend break.

The festival, which runs from the 18^th - 20^th November, will have over 95 beers plus 15 ciders available, with 80 brews available at any one time.

At the end of the weekend, one beer will be announced as the champion beer of Belfast 2010.

With live music and all the beer you can drink under one roof, this festival would make for a great lads weekend.

Check out http://www.belfastbeerfestival.co.uk/and look through all the lagers and ales you may potentially consume over the weekend.

Remember to drink responsibly!

5. Belfast’s hidden supper-club

Who’s up for dinner with strangers in someone else’s home? Well that’s exactly what you get here.

Plot 15 supper-club is described as “an alternative-dining scene with up to twelve guests enjoying the best local, seasonal food in a sociable, relaxed environment – our home. All guests eat at one large table providing a comfortable setting for meeting new people.”

If you’re looking for an alternative experience while in Belfast, look no further than here. Dinner with eleven strangers might sound a bit uncomfortable, but will certainly make for some interesting banter.

There are a few rules though. You must bring your own alcohol (probably best to avoid the Dutch Gold) and they recommend a donation of £25. Still, not bad for a three-course meal.

You can find out more at http://plot15supperclub.wordpress.com/

Don’t forget your table manners.