It’s a unique and historical market and home to many specialist shops, making it a great place to explore.
Yes, Smithfield Market really is Belfast's hidden gem. It's steeped in a rich history and is still a hive of activity today as both a hub for friends meeting each other and traders selling goods.
The area that makes up Smithfield Market has been a shopper's haven in the city centre for generations. From antique stores to pet shops and everything in between, it has catered for everyone's shopping needs.
Read more: Belfast businesses hope Primark return will revitalise city centre
Smithfield Market is located in the heart of Belfast's retail district, at West Street and Winetavern Street, opposite the rear entrance to CastleCourt Shopping Centre. It contains a range of shops and a café and is open Monday to Saturday, but closed on a Sunday, except in the run up to Christmas.
The site where Smithfield Market is currently located was the former bus station and the original market, that dated back to the 1700s, was situated where CastleCourt is now.
The original market was destroyed by firebombs in 1974 during ‘The Troubles’ and it would be 15 years before it reopened in its current location.
Today, Smithfield Market has over 30 individual retail units and it still provides a unique shopping experience.
While footfall in Smithfield is not what it once was, traders are hoping that a combination of the imminent reopening of Primark's flagship store and influx of thousands of additional students to Ulster University's new landmark campus at York Street will help reverse that trend.
In addition, redevelopment work is ongoing at the former Debenhams site in nearby CastleCourt, where a new 120,000 sq ft cinema, entertainment and retail complex is set to open by the end of the year.
With all this in the pipeline, Clodagh Cassin, Markets Development Manager with Belfast City Council, is hopeful for the future of the area.
"There's lots happening in this area that the traders of Smithfield will benefit from. In terms of other plans for the future, this whole Smithfield and Union Street area is all being redeveloped and whatever form that takes, we'll be bringing the traders with us," she said.
"We're hoping to create an events and market space within this area for the benefit of those who both live and work here in the city centre and to continue the trading and history of Smithfield."
Clodagh added: "What we love about Smithfield is that it's local traders and small independent stores who are all offering something niche to the customer.
"So you can get really anything you want in here from picture framing and rugs to toy models and combat gear. There's something here for everyone. It's a busy little gem in the heart of Belfast city centre.
"It also has links to the nearby St George's Market as some of our business start-ups have migrated from there to set up in Smithfield, so starting off as a market trader and then establishing premises here within the city centre.
"Everyone coming in here is heading to a particular destination because of niche offerings that you just don't get on the high street.
"We have a lot of local customers who come in here every day and they love the mood and friendliness of the place and the fact that they're supporting local retailers."
Gary McCann, proprietor of the Army Surplus Store, is the third generation of his family to trade at Smithfield.
“The store has been owned by my family since my grandfather started the business back in the original Smithfield in the late 1940s,” said Gary.
“My dad took over the business in the 1960s and then I followed him. McCann has been the name above the door for those 80 years, selling surplus goods used by the army, navy, prison service….you name it, so our demographic is quite big.
“Trade has been challenging in recent times with the pandemic impacting on the footfall coming into Belfast plus Brexit and the Primark fire,” Gary admits.
“If you have that footfall then people will buy from you, once they find you and particularly if they find something quirky that they like.
“We have had a lot of TV and film work these days - they don't buy huge amounts but virtually everything you've heard of that's ever been made here has included something that was purchased in the shop.
"It's great that they have chosen to come in here and support local business.”
Despite the retail challenges, Gary still believes Smithfield is something special.
“It has been made up of small local traders who live in Belfast. I'm still here because I enjoy talking to customers and the craic - it's not for the money these days.
“The area has changed a lot and we hope that the new university will be a game changer and bring a lot of new people here. There’s a lot of talk about what they might do with this area and about building a new site for Smithfield.”
Over at Clarkes Framing, Sam Clarke is also carrying on a family tradition.
"My parents opened up here in 1999 and I've been running the business for the past 12 years. It's a great city centre location and the council is easy to deal with and good to their tenants compared to a private landlord," Sam explained.
"We have a very loyal clientele with a lot of repeat customers as well as a lot of people coming to us through recommendation and word of mouth. It's not just Belfast as we have people coming to us from Glengormley, Newtownards and down south.
"People do come in and tell me about the history of the place and how great the old market was."
Sam also enjoys the family aspect of being one of the Smithfield Market traders.
"The majority of the other traders are all dead on and pretty approachable. They would always help you out if you needed anything, had any questions or needed advice. There's a good community here and a few shops that have been around for over 20 years."
Alan Taylor is the owner of Coffee & Heroes comic book store and coffee shop along with his partner Victoria Beechener.
They have been based at Smithfield for the past five years and during that time their business has doubled in size.
These days it's the ideal spot to grab a coffee and a chat or pick up the latest single-issue releases, graphic novels and other comic book merchandise.
"Our customer base is anything from five years old to 60 but we also focus on the community aspect with the coffee side of the business.
"We even have shelves of mugs belonging to all our regular members so it's a safe haven if you're a fan of the geeky pursuits and away from the busy side of town," Alan said.
"We have had to work hard to establish the business because it's not the biggest footfall area but sometimes that's a strength as people come around here for the quiet.
"I've always felt that for a start-up business, Smithfield is a great base to begin - the rent is low compared to the rest of Belfast, the rates are low, it's secure and the units are a good size too."
He added: "I used to shop in Smithfield years ago so it's ironic that I ended up in business here. I really enjoy the community aspect of it and chatting to our regulars.
"The other great thing is that there used to be a comic store across the road years ago called Tallis Man. It was one of the first independent comic stores in Belfast so we like to think that we're continuing on their legacy to a degree in the same area."
So no matter what you’re there for, you’ll meet plenty of characters at Smithfield Market and you never know what bargains you might find too!
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