2-4 Great Victoria St, Belfast BT2 7HR
Unfortunately, you have to be a paying customer, or Patron, before you can get a drink here but, unlike a club, it’s open to the general public. A few years back, when the Arts Council was in the process of restoring the Opera House, a Theatre Bar was essential to requirements, but where to position it?
When this elegant building was built in 1895, they had in mind a fast turn-round in theatregoers. Two shows a night, 6.15 and 8.45 was the order of the day, and they certainly didn’t cater for any loitering about between shows. In the end, it was an ingenious plan the architects came up with – their ‘Bar Conservatory in the Sky’. Supported by iron pillars at ground level, it’s a pretty bar, but – more important – it’s very practical. No draught beer is served, and it’s only open before the evening show and during the interval, and if you work that out, it means it only opens approximately 6 hours a week.
Sipping a quick drink within its glassy dome, you can always watch the twinkling lights of The Golden Mile below.