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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Orlaith Clinton

Glenowen Restaurant given new lease of life by Belfast brothers

Damien and Laurence Burns grew up a stone throw away from the Glenowen Bar and Restaurant - and now they are hoping to bring a new lease of life to the family favourite.

The brothers, who are from the Blacks Road, recently took over at the Glen Road business, and have big plans for its future. It may have had a bit of a face lift, but the Glenowen still holds decades of memories inside, and the Burns brothers are now creating more memories.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Laurence said while he and his brother have different skills, they work well side by side, and have a supportive team of employees to help them along the way.

Read more: The families behind some of Belfast's community businesses

"Every day is a challenge, but it is great to work with your brother," he added.

"We are very different people, Damien is very hands on with an electrical background. He can fix anything and do anything and then I have more of a marketing background and went to university. We have different roles but have always worked well together.

"Growing up locally, we have always known of the Glenowen and so many of our family have had christenings here and different celebrations and dinners.

"When we came on board here, were painting the outside and people walking past were asking us if we were changing the name. We would never do that, we want to bring the Glenowen back to what it was because there is a real love for it in the community because it has been here since the 1960s.

The Glenowen (Justin Kernoghan)

"There are plenty of stories to be told, and we want to encompass that history back into it.

"In terms of the Glen Road, there is lots going on. You're looking at a huge building project on the Glen Road, the refurbishment of Casement Park, so we are excited to see what the future brings and we think there is no better time to give the Glenowen a new leaser of life."

Laurence says they don't want people in West Belfast to feel like they have to travel further afield to get good quality food and entertainment. Introducing live music and comedy nights, the Glenowen has transformed into an entertainment hub for the community.

"We have an idea of trying to provide everything that is good about Belfast under this roof," he added.

"Belfast has a very vibrant hospitality industry and really good chefs. There is real talent out there, and we have some of that talent in our kitchen and in our restaurant.

"We want to be there for them to give them guidance and to invest in them. The majority of our staff live within walking distance to us and it is important for us that everything is local. We have local art on the walls, local comedians joining in our comedy nights and local singer/songwriters coming in to play too in our lounge.

"People previously would have travelled, or thought they had to travel into the town to get good entertainment. They don't have to anymore. It's right here from your comedy nights, live music and traditional Irish sessions."

And as they begin preparations for the Winter months, and Christmas plans, Damien and Laurence paid tribute to the Glenowen team for their support.

They added: "We wouldn't be anywhere without the support of our customer base and we want to say a huge thank you to them.

"The staff too, they have all been amazing. It couldn't have been possible without the team, Noel, Cathal, Paddy, the kitchen team and others, have been so supportive in helping us settle in and we are only getting started."

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