A representative for the Northern Ireland Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) branch shared his perfect pub crawl through Belfast for those looking for a great pint.
CAMRA is a voluntary consumer organisation campaigning for great beer and great pubs, across Northern Ireland and was an important part of fight for licensing reform across the country.
Paul Malley shared with Belfast Live his recommendation for a pint tour of the city, concentrating on pubs with a "good selection of beer, not just real ale" and those that are within walking distance.
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Here is his "perfect" Belfast pub crawl:
The Woodworkers
A good place to start would be The Woodworkers at 20 – 22 Bradbury Street. It was set up and is run by Laverys’ Bar next door.
It was named after a former woodworker’s supply shop and it offers a changing range of craft beers.
The Crown Bar
The next is the must-see, Crown at 46 Great Victoria Street. It’s a National Trust owned pub is the best place for real ale in Belfast.
There are five hand-pulled ales and, unusually, a hand-pulled cider. If you arrive early enough you may be able to get one of the snugs from where you can admire the ine architecture.
The Crown is a frequent winner of CAMRA NI’s Pub of the Year.
The Garrick
Next, it’s worth calling in to the Garrick Bar at 29 Chichester Street. Dating from 1870 the front bar retains a traditional look, though it has changed a lot over the years.
It doesn’t have hand-pulled ale but it has a decent selection of craft beers and cider.
McHugh's
Another real ale pub is McHugh’s at 29 – 31 Queens’ Square. There is a hand pump dispensing locally brewed ale from Whitewater’s Brewery in Castlewellan.
The building is the oldest in Belfast. Part of McHughs is built on the site of Dubarrys Bar which had quite a reputation in its day.
The John Hewitt
The John Hewitt of 51 Donegall Street is unique in that it is owned by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre. Recently operation of the bar has been provided by Belfast’s Boundary Brewery Co-Op.
There is a great range of Boundary’s own beer and craft beers from other breweries.
Deer's Head
A short walk through Writer’s Square brings you to the Deer’s Head on the corner of North Street and Lower Garfield Street. (1 - 3 Lower Garfield Street).
This is Belfast’s only brew pub. It houses Bell’s Brewery which can be seen in operation behind glass floor-to-ceiling windows.
The owners have made a great effort to restore one of the many pubs and breweries that lined North Street back in the 1800’s.
The Sunflower
Another worthwhile destination is the Sunflower at 65 Union Street. Here you’ll find a hand pump as well as a range of craft beers. The public bar is compact but there is a large heated beer garden.
The Sunflower is notable for retaining its security cage around the front entrance.
This is the current CAMRA NI Pub of the Year.
Paul added: "If I was taking a pint in each of these hostelries I’d be going well after seven. Hardier souls might want some more so here are a few worthy mentions."
His additional bars to check out include:
- The Reporter at 1 Union Street. Not far from the Sunflower, this is a craft beer bar owned by the Maverick Bar next door
- The American Bar at 65 – 65A Dock Street. Another pub dating from the 1800’s with a good selection of craft beer
- The Northern Lights at 451 Ormeau Road. This is owned by the Galway Brewery and has a great selection of craft beers
- The Errigle Inn at 312 – 320 Ormeau Road. Just across the road from the Northern Lights this has a cosy back bar, the Oak Lounge, where there are four hand pumps, often with local ales and a cider on
- Boundary Brewery Taproom at Portview Trade Centre 310 Newtownards Road was opened recently and is adjacent to their brew house
- Bullhouse East at 442 – 446 Newtownards Road is a craft bar owned by Belfast’s Bullhouse brewery and is a short distance along the road from Boundary
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