Victoria street belfast
Exactly facing The Empire Bar is the recently refurbished Regency Hotel, with its delightful Lobby Bar. Only one word describes the place: plush. It is owned by the same company, Winemark (Paul Hunt and Pat McCormick), and I have nothing but praise for the designers. The helpful manager informed me it took 14 weeks to complete, and it clearly shows. Main features of this three-tiered L-shaped bar are the lovely brass rails, attractive draped curtains, nice green carpet with a touch of pink, with green upholstered furniture and green-shaded lights to match. There’s a pretty, small fake library on one of the elevated tiers at the end of the bar. The bar is large, but cleverly designed, with its 12 comfy, intimate snugs on various levels. Flowery pictures plus framed butterfly and cigarette cards adorn the walls. Around the corner on the Lower Crescent side is the reception area for the restaurant, and it is just as nice, with its comfortable flowery settees and a small raised piano area, strategically placed to enable the resident pianist to be heard by all in the bar. The popular up-market Pink Flamingo Nitespot can be reached by a separate entrance in Botanic Avenue.
Everything about this bar is meticulous; it’s spacious, yet at the same time intimate, while the decor and furnishings give you a sense of opulent ease. It’s very obvious by now that I liked this bar very much, and I know you will too, but do try to visit it in the evening, when the pianist is tinkling the ivory.