HOSPITALITY group Beannchor Group in investing £350,000 to redevelop its popular bar and eatery The National in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.
Set in the historic surroundings the former National Bank Building on High Street, which is of one of Belfast’s oldest buildings, The National it opened in September 2013 following a significant redevelopment of the previously dormant building.
The significant renovation will see revamped interiors and the introduction of a fully retractable roof and heating system in the popular National Garden outside space, alongside a refreshed food and drink offering, with a focus on breakfast and lunch trade, high-quality coffee, craft beers and cocktails.
The National (www.thenationalbelfast.com) will open for breakfast at 8am and will serve food throughout the day until 5pm. At night, the venue will morph into a lively sociable space, serving drinks late into the evening.
Upstairs, cocktail bar and club sixty6 will become ‘Upstairs at The National’, with a revised programme of DJ-led entertainment spanning both spaces at the weekends.
Beannchor Group director Conall Wolsey said: “Continued innovation and investment is crucial in our industry to keep up with changing consumer trends and demands. We’ve listened to our customers and the evolution of The National will reposition the venue and its offering in line with what our people are asking for.
“In addition to the refreshed interior, social responsibility and being a business with a genuine social conscience is at the heart of this project. In line with the wider Beannchor Group’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, sustainability is a core focus.
“Our ambition is to achieve zero food waste at The National and we are working on a range of policies and initiatives to help us reach this goal.”
The Beannchor Group has continued to grow in recent years, having completed a multi-million pound expansion of Bullitt Belfast and expanded its network of Little Wing Pizzerias.
Beannchor has an annual turnover of approximately £20 million and directly employs 750 staff.
