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3080) One of the
oldest bars in Belfast,
White’s has a very cosy
atmosphere and is a
great place tomake
for on a cold winter’s
night.At this time of
year they usually have
an open fire and you
might even catch
an Irish traditional
music session.
LIVE MUSIC
The
Empire
(42 Botanic
Avenue, tel: 028 9032
8110) This live-music
venue is housed in a
former church and as
a result has loads of
character.There is live
music over two floors
most nights, while
every Tuesday, there’s
a comedy night, the
Empire Laughs Back.
LATE & LIVELY
M
Club
(23 Bradbury
Place, tel: 028 9023
3131) Justin Bieber
popped into the M
Club during his recent
visit to Belfast. It’s a
massive nightclub
sandwiched between
the city centre and
the university areas
of town.Themusic
is as diverse as the
clientèle it attracts.
THIS MONTH
SHOP
Crafty Belfast,
a recently opened
store, is a treasure
trove of all things
collectable. If you are
the sort of person
who likes to ferret
around shops looking
for interesting pieces,
then you should check
out this delightful
shop, who knows what
you’ll come away with
(29Wellington Place).
Belfast
UK
UP TO €30
Benedict’s
(7
Bradbury Place, tel:
028 9059 1999) If
you’re in themood for
some no-nonsense
pub grub, thenmake
your way to this
sprawling restaurant.
There are lots of cosy
nooks and crannies to
hide away in on a cold
winter’s night.There
is a beat-the-clock
offer available, when
the amount you pay
demands on how early
you order.
UP TO €50
James
Street South Bar
+ Grill
(21 James
Street South, tel: 028
9560 0700) This
informal bistro is a
sister restaurant to
the hugely successful
James Street South
next door. It has only
been open for several
months, but already
has a reputation for
excellent food. If you
want to learn how the
chef does it, check
out the cookery
school upstairs.
EXCLUSIVE
Shu
(253 Lisburn Road, tel:
028 9038 1655) For
well over a decade now,
Shu has been among
the top restaurants in
Belfast. It’s situated
on the trendy Lisburn
Road and the food is
second to none. If you
are on a tight budget,
there is a great-value
pre-theatremenu
available from5.30pm.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY
White’s
Tavern
(2Winecellar
Entry, tel: 028 9024
DIALLING CODE
+44
CURRENCY
£
FLY FROM
Alicante,
Amsterdam,
Barcelona, Bristol,
Edinburgh, Faro,
Geneva,Glasgow, Ibiza,
Krakow, Liverpool,
London (LGW, LTN,
STN, SEN),Málaga,
Malta,Manchester,
Newcastle,Majorca,
Nice, Paris (CDG)
FROM THE
AIRPORT
Pre-bookyour taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs £25.
Translink run a
service to the
centre.Tickets: £7
single; £10 return.
Visit the Europcar
desk for special
easyJet rates.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €15
The
Graduate
(130
Ormeau Road, tel:
028 9043 8764) This
trendy eatery opened
late last year and has
already gained
a reputation for great
food at reasonable
prices.There is also
a terrific public bar
next door called
the Hatfield. Perfect
for a pre- or post-
dinner drink.
SEE
Don’t miss Noel
Gallagher’s High
Flying Birds at the
OdysseyArena on
Thursday 16 February.
Following the release
of his well-received
eponymous debut
album, Gallagher and
co hit the road.The
band will be playing
a selection of Noel
Gallagher classics as
well as songs from the
new album.
GO
The Ormeau
Road is one of the
most diverse roads in
the city, with lots of
interesting bars and
restaurants as well
as a beautiful old pub
sat right by the river.
Try the Errigle Inn for
a drink and Soul Food
for lunch. Belfast’s
answer to Notting Hill.
ESCAPE
County
Fermanagh is one of
themost beautiful
and unspoilt counties
in Ireland. It is just
over an hour’s drive
fromBelfast and is
home to hundreds of
picturesque loughs.
Perfect if you are
into boating.Why
not pay a visit to the
300million-year-old
MarbleArch Caves
and take a trip to the
charming town of
Enniskillen town.
NOWAY!
Stairway to Heaven
,
one of the all-time
classics of rockmusic,
was first performed
by Led Zeppelin
on the stage of the
Ulster Hall.
Chris Sherry/
Ulster Tatler
TAXI
bar, with authentic
art-nouveau decor
and pianomusic from
1920s’Paris, is the
perfect place to sip
a glass of Champagne.
LIVE MUSIC
Sud
(7 Burgweg, Basel)
Sud’s recent futuristic
makeover (including
an aquarium-like
bubble for smokers)
means that one of
Basel’s biggest and
bestmusic venues
is back. In an old
brewery, Sud offers
live bands or DJs.
LATE & LIVELY
Hinterhof Bar
(81Mänchenst-
einerstrasse) Set in the
industrial wasteland
south of Basel, this
is one of the newest
offtrack and offbeat
venues in the city.With
many foreign bands as
well as exhibitions and
a bar that usually
opens only at 10pm.
THIS MONTH
SHOP
Glausi’s really
stinks.Aswell it should.
Inside you’ll find the
best selection of fine
cheeses inBasel.A
great place to sample
Swiss cheeses aswell
as some fromFrance
(12 Spalenberg).
SEE
The Puppenhaus
Museumhas an
exhibition on named
Eyewear
, which
documents the use of
glasses throughout
history – from
costume wear, fashion
accessories and just
good old reading
glasses.Throughout
themonth (1
Steinenvorstadt).
GO
While alpine
skiing in the hills of the
Voges between Basel
and Colmar can be
depressing when the
highAlps glimmer in
the distance, ski runs
on the Ballon D’Alsace
are still great fun, and
the 40kmof nordic
skiing loops twist and
turn through scenery.
ESCAPE
Europe’s
longest floodlit
toboggan run covers
6km fromPreda to
Bergün in eastern
Switzerland. Just
getting there is half
the fun, with a train
journey over some
of theAlps’most
stunning viaducts.
NOWAY!
There are six
Iglu-Dörf hotels
around Switzerland
made out of ice.
Richard H
arvell
Basel
/
Mulhouse
/
Freiburg
Switzerland
With Basel Theatre
and Zoo on the
doorstep, this hotel
makes a great
base for exploring
the city. From
€170, book at
hotels.easyJet.com.
RADISSON BLU
HOTEL
★★★★
★
A CARGO OF CULTURE IS PRESENTED IN
IRELAND’S ONLY FLOATING HERITAGE CENTRE -
THE NEW AND LUXURIOUS BELFAST BARGE.
T. 02890 232555
t
www.belfastbarge.com
t
Admission (£4 adults, £3 concessions)
Titanic Boat Tours joint ticket also available.
This unique attraction, afloat on the River Lagan,
brings the past and present together in its stunning
museum and multi-use performance space.
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