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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Connor Lynch

East Belfast pub gets new life after fire

An East Belfast pub is due to open next week with a new lease of life following a fire.

Hearth on the Newtownards Road in Ballyhackamore is aiming to bring the traditional local pub experience back to the area and become somewhere people know they can relax and have a nice drink in a cosy and welcoming environment.

It will be run by Phil and Sarah Patterson, who also operate the popular Dundrum Inn, and the couple have said they want the community to feel ownership of the pub which they are "running on behalf of them".

Read more: Belfast pub owners vow to rebuild after fire damages bar

The premises had closed due to two fires last year in March and October which caused internal smoke and water damage to the building.

Work is now well underway to reopen the pub under its new name with the aim that it will open in doors on Friday, October 14, all being well.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Phil Patterson said that he was very excited to welcome customers to Hearth after 18 months away and hopes that it will further boost the area which has become a popular destination for many in the city.

He said that it will be a 'wet-led' pub with a focus on creating a nice community atmosphere, however it will become a sports pub when Ireland or Ulster Rugby are playing.

NIFRS at the scene of a fire at the pub last year (Ewan Carmichael)

Phil said: "We are very excited to open Hearth and bring the traditional local pub back to Ballyhackamore.

"We want this to be a spot where everyone in the community knows they are welcome and we have a focus on maintaining a cosy and warm environment for all to enjoy.

"This is a brilliant opportunity to reinstate the pub which has been closed for the past 18 months due to two fires and we know that there are many people in East Belfast anxiously waiting for the doors to open.

"It is called Hearth because of our ethos for the business, where we want it to be from the heart and down to earth. The first thing you will see entering the building is a welcoming fire that will let people know that this is a safe place to relax and enjoy a drink.

"With the colder weather coming in we want the community to know that anyone is able to come in for a bit to keep warm, even if they are not looking to have a drink and we will be more than happy to make them a nice cup of tea.

"While this is not a sports bar, we will be showing football and things when it is on, however when it comes to the Rugby season it will become a sports pub as it has always been a big passion of ours and our customers.

"I would just like to thank Peter McCormick from Fitout building services for the fantastic interior design and refit he has provided for us."

Hearth will be opened in a number of phases in order to ensure that the business is able to grow healthy.

Phase one will see the opening of the downstairs bar, with aims to start phase two next year which will see the upstairs expansion with a restaurant. Phase three will finish with the opening of a rooftop bar space.

Phil said that he hopes to create 10 jobs in the initially with this growing to 30 as the phases progress.

He continued: "Ballyhackamore is a very popular area with many fantastic places to enjoy a good meal and we are hoping that the opening of Hearth will make it even more of a destination for people to enjoy and we believe that it will provide a boost to all of the businesses here."

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