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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

Historic Belfast building to host pop-up day to "build a buzz" in city centre

A landmark Belfast building is to host its latest "pop-up day" in an attempt to breathe a bit of life back into city centre.

A combination of the pandemic and rising cost-of-living has sadly seen many businesses shuttering in the heart of the city in recent years.

But the Bound Concept is hoping to try and draw people back in with products with a local flavour, by hosting a pop-up session for start-ups and small businesses.

Read more: Calls for investment into Belfast city centre as one in three of non-domestic premises empty

Natalie Davis from the business said that they have already been hosting the events and have had good feedback so far.

"Bound went into the Butcher's Building about two years ago," she said.

"Bywater are developing that whole block and there are start-up business and small businesses going in there to try and bring some more people to the area.

"Every month or even six to eight weeks we try and do pop-ups and invite other small businesses to come and sell their products in our space and just draw people in.

"The response has always been really good and we try and invite people in with a big following on Instagram and the likes, so there's a good buzz."

Natalie told Belfast Live that they are hoping that by offering something a little more unique than what big chains might offer, in an historic setting, they can draw in crowds to the city centre again.

"We're very much a destination building and shop and there seem to be other smaller businesses around us just offering something a little different," she said.

"All the students coming back into town as well, we're just trying to get a buzz back into the city centre as it's been so depressing for the last while.

"It also gives small businesses a bit of a chance too because the high street rates are just crazy, and start-ups just can't afford that.

"There's room for everybody and it's just nice to be able to showcase people's pieces."

Natalie also said she hoped that they could bring other NI businesses into Belfast without them having to commit to leasing a space long-term.

"It's a really fun environment and the people we invite down to do pop-ups can sometimes be an established business for years but just don't have a space in city centre.

"For instance, something like Ursa Minor Bakehouse up in Ballycastle - they're amazing, have a massive following and have been going a while and now they can sell their bread in Belfast, so it's great for businesses like that too.

"It's just a great buzz and people can come down and have a look and it's not as intimidating as going into a load of shops and that."

The pop-up event is running from 12-5pm on Saturday September 24 in the Butcher's Building on North Street.

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