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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Lauren Harte

East Belfast family run business celebrating 65 years on the high street

A popular East Belfast business is celebrating 65 years in existence this week in what is a significant feat for the family-run operation.

Take a walk down the Woodstock Road and you'll be greeted by a range of innovative businesses all working together and supporting each other, in good times and bad.

The busy stretch is a main arterial route within East Belfast and located just minutes from the city centre boasting an abundance of businesses old and new.

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Like many shopping districts, the popular Woodstock Road has seen many changes down the years and faced the mixed fortunes of some well established businesses shutting up shop while also welcoming new faces to the neighbourhood.

One of the road's most familiar faces is celebrating a milestone this week as Peter Gibson from Gibsons Home Bakery marks 65 years in business. It was first established by Peter's parents, Cyril and Maureen.

The business was first established by Peter's parents, Cyril and Maureen (Submitted)

"We used to be based across the road at number 357 and rented that building but I had the chance to buy this building so we moved across the road," Peter told Belfast Live.

"I lived above the shop for the first six years of my life so I've always been a part of the business. I was in a carry cot and pram and left in the shop while mum and dad worked away so everyone basically knew me from a very early age!

"My dad always said the shop opened the week before St Patrick's Day so I have the date of 10 March to focus on," he added

"A few years ago I had the chance to change the sign and it was nice to put up established in 1958 and here we are 65 years on."

Peter Gibson of Gibsons Home Bakery (Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)

Peter added: "Back during the Troubles people were scared to go into Belfast so they would have come here instead because you could get anything on this road.

"People would have walked the length of it, both sides, and it was grandmothers, mothers and daughters all out shopping and stopping somewhere for lunch. It's not like now but then it's the same story everywhere.

The Woodstock Road business has seen many changes down the years (Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)

"You do still get some of the old faces still coming in and it's great to see them. People still like to come in for their apple tarts, fresh cream and sausage rolls, which all remain very popular.

"One of my staff has worked here since she was about 14 and her specialty is birthday cakes which she's very good at.

"There are some very enthusiastic new business owners on the road too and I applaud what they're trying to do to improve the street."

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