Belfast property group Ducales has confirmed its new Cathedral Quarter hotel and bar venue The Foundry, will open this summer.
The company, which also owns St Anne’s Square, secured planning permission in October to transform the original site of The Harp bar on Hill Street, into a 20-bed boutique hotel.
The new venue, which will feature a 350-capacity bar and restaurant, is expected to open in the ‘early summer’, creating around 40 jobs.
Ducales, which is owned by TJ Jennings, better known as Shamus Jennings, first launched its hotel bid in 2019.
The site at 10-16 Hill Street was developed into offices for the Housing Executive in 1992, but it remains famous as the location of the north’s premier punk venue The Harp Bar.
Ducales has adopted The Foundry as the name of its new venue, a nod to the history of Hill Street, which was once known as Foundry Lane.
Stewart Hadski’s foundry opened in the late 19th century in the area now known as Commercial Court.
Ducales has appointed Jim Crawford-Smyth as general manager of The Foundry.
Mr Crawford-Smyth previously owned Lisburn Road bar Cuckoo. He also ran bars for the Shine group, including Stiff Kitten and the Limelight, and was a former general manager of The Kremlin.
“We are very excited to reinvent this historic Belfast site,” he said.
“We have spent a lot of time curating the concept of the hotel, while still ensuring the site itself retains its legendary status.
“With The Foundry we are challenging the traditional take of a boutique hotel while also reflecting and accommodating the bustling social scene within Belfast city centre.
“It is our hope that the new bar and restaurant will present the perfect hangout space, with a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere with good food and drinks on offer.”
Gordon Devenney, principle of O’Donnell O’Neill Design’s Belfast studios, has been brought on board to design the venue’s interior.
Ducales has also commissioned commercial street artist, Visual Waste, to produce work inside.
“A lot of history has happened on this site that we wanted to make sure we didn’t forget and so have tried to encapsulate what that was all about whilst still injecting a modern yet classic twist with The Foundry,” said Mr Devenney.
“It has been a lot of fun to work with the guys on this project. The Foundry will be like no other venue or hotel in Belfast.”
The Foundry is one of a number of new hotels planned for the Cathedral Quarter.
Planning approval has been granted for a 120-bed hotel in the former War Memorial Building on Waring Street, while a 164-bed Moxy Hotel has been proposed for the former Nambarrie Tea building.
