A number of new outdoor entertainment licences have been granted in Belfast.
Cargo in the Titanic Quarter, Pug Uglys at Bedford Street, and a new event called Flaxx @ Linen Quarter, to be held at the newly constructed pedestrian decking area on Brunswick Street, all received the green light for new outdoor entertainment at Belfast City Council’s recent Licensing Committee.
Last year the council agreed to a temporary measure to cover the road surface on Brunswick Street between the James Street South and Franklin Street junctions, behind city hall, in front of the Travelodge. This portion of the road has been formally closed by Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure.
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It is now temporarily a pedestrianised public space to include a performance stage, cafe/bar/storage container/canopy areas, outdoor seating and associated works. The pedestrianisation project, funded by the council, is for a limited period of two years and will expire on April 19 2023.
The new seven-day annual outdoor entertainments licence allows a capacity of 500 people in the space with entertainment from Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 11.00pm and Sunday 12.30pm to 11.00pm.
The council report states the applicant, Christopher McCracken of Belfast Central Business, has proposed to provide entertainment “such as small music concerts, busker-style musical performances and kids activities”.
Cargo, Belfast’s largest open-air al fresco venue, located in the Titanic Quarter just under the Harland and Wolff cranes, has also received a new seven-day annual outdoor entertainments licence.
The applicant, James Joyce of Coobet Trading Limited, received a licence for a capacity of 4,000 people in the entertainment space, covering Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 11.00pm and Sunday 12.30pm to 11.00pm. The location will include a bar, a restaurant and live music.
The Boneyard at Pug Uglys, located in a car park to the rear of 29 Bedford Street, received a variation on its seven-day annual outdoor entertainments licence and will now provide entertainment to 2.00am from Monday to Saturday and to 1.00am on Sunday, taking advantage of the new licensing laws in Northern Ireland.
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