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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Sophie McLaughlin

Sandwich shop recommended by Jamie Dornan is a South Belfast favourite for almost 30 years

Established in 1992, Doorsteps has always prided itself on keeping the community's stomachs and hearts full with their "rammed packed" sandwiches and friendly service.

Recently mentioned by Jamie Dornan in his guide to Belfast for the Financial Times, the actor credited the Lisburn Road institution as "keeping me and my mates alive" during his school years.

As they get ready to mark 30 years in business, manager Amy McGlinchey told Belfast Live about why she thinks Doorsteps sandwich shop has stood the test of time.

Amy said: "I would describe the shop as a gourmet sandwich bar and it was Belfast's first actual just sandwich shop, as far as we know, and we specialise in catering platters – last year in the Hospitality Awards we won Upsale Sandwich Shop of the Year 2021 which was big deal for us.

"This particular shop has been opened since 1992 and we did use to have a couple of different other shops around Belfast but this was the first and long-standing one.

Amy and the team were delighted to hear that Jamie was a Doorsteps fan (Justin Kernoghan/ Belfast Live)

"About three years ago, it was bought over by Thomas Fitzsimmons and he gave it a full facelift inside and outside."

The team at Doorsteps never tire of seeing the faces of their regulars coming through the door every week or students or passersby who are looking for a proper hearty lunch.

"It's brilliant because you get to know your regulars and there are a couple of fellas who come in every single morning during the week - there are people coming through the door and you just know their orders straight away and we have that bit of rapport with them.

"It is a nice friendly shop and it's nice to see people come in and be able to chat to them, they aren't just customers who come in and out but you get talking to them and learn about their lives.

"All the girls love working here and thankfully our regulars must love coming in if they're here all the time," she laughed.

Amy explained that the community support on the Lisburn Road from all the businesses has created a "friendly" environment to work in.

She continued: "All the shops are really friendly and we would get workers in all the time and we would head up to other places too to see what is happening about the road and speak to others who are working.

Amy credits the community on the Lisburn Road for making work such an enjoyable environment (Justin Kernoghan/ Belfast Live)

"We work with a number of smaller businesses like Jeffers Home Bakery, we would use their bread that comes in fresh every morning, and it's nice that we all come together. It's a brilliant wee community and everyone is always so glad to see you and the locals are always very nice as well and are always very polite and courteous."

On making Jamie Dornan's official Belfast guide, Amy said the team were "ecstatic" to be recognised on such a massive scale.

Amy said: "Being here as long as we are, the staff probably working in here now probably wouldn't remember him coming in because he did when he was in school but for a big actor like that to compare our sandwiches to those in London, who you'd think would have big upscale offerings, was brilliant. We were all bizz.

Deli recommended by Jamie Dornan has been a Belfast favourite for 30 years– half the time they can't even finish them because they are that full and they'll ask for half to be wrapped up so they can take it with them.

"On top of that, all of our ingredients are fresh every morning, everything is freshly prepped and cooked in-store and I just think that we provide the freshness and quality as well as quantity."

Doorsteps Belfast manager Amy McGlinchey (Justin Kernoghan/ Belfast Live)

Looking to the next 30 years of serving the people of Belfast, Doorsteps hopes to continue being one of Belfast's favourite spots for a classic sandwich and continue to grow with the city.

"We are just hoping that as we continue to stay open, that the community will still come in and back us and just for all the girls to continue being happy at their work which is the most important thing.

"If you have a happy staff then you have a better business – maybe we will open further locations around Belfast in the future again but we are all very happy with the way its going now and we hope that can always continue."

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