Cathedral Quarter in Belfast; Cobbled Streets & Alleyways

Taking its name from St. Anne’s Cathedral, the Cathedral Quarter is home to a bustling culture and arts scene, cozy pubs, underground music venues and a host of contemporary restaurants.
The Cathedral Quarter in Belfast is a developing area of the city. It also contains the former "Little Italy" area. The Cathedral Quarter extends out to the old merchant quarter of the city.

History - The Cathedral Quarter was the centre of Belfast's trade and warehousing district, where the linen and shipbuilding industries were based. The quarter features some of Belfast's oldest buildings and thoroughfares.
Belfast's Cathedral Quarter: A Cultural Hub
Although the area fell into a state of disrepair in the twentieth century, it has recently re-emerged as a 'cultural quarter' of Belfast because of the recent growth in arts- and culture-based organizations that are located there, including Northern Visions TV, The Safehouse Arts Gallery, Belfast Print Workshop and Belfast's small Zen Meditation community.
The area also boasts a rich literary heritage as The Northern Whig; a popular newspaper that was circulated from 1824 until 1963, was based there. Today, its building has been transformed into a popular pub and restaurant. The Irish News, another well-known newspaper, still has its head office on Donegall Street.
Another well known pub in the area is named after Belfast poet John Hewitt. The pub showcases noteworthy artwork and photographs for sale.

Attractions in the Cathedral Quarter
St Anne’s Cathedral-Built in 1899 on the site of Belfast’s first Church of Ireland Episcopal parish, St. Anne's is a neo-Romanesque building. The Cathedral was designed by Sir Thomas Drew and the foundation stone was laid on 6 September 1899 by the Countess of Shaftesbury. It was initially constructed around the old parish church of St Anne until 31 December 1903 when the old church was demolished.
In 1925, the west front of the cathedral was built as a memorial to commemorate the Ulstermen and women who served and died in WWI.

Writer’s Square, which is located directly opposite the Cathedral, celebrates Belfast’s literary past with quotations from famous local writers carved into the stone underfoot.

St. Anne’s Square
St. Anne's Square is Belfast's equivalent to the European Plaza. Throughout the year, the square hosts a wide variety of outdoor performances as part of numerous arts festivals in the city.

The MAC
Opened in 2012, the MAC is a contemporary multi-arts venue comprising several galleries and performance spaces.

The Black Box
A cultural venue where local musicians, performers and poets hone their craft and visitors are able to experience the underground cultural scene of Belfast.

The Albert Memorial Clock
Known as Belfast’s ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’, the Albert Memorial Clock was erected in 1853 as a memorial to Prince Albert.

Belfast's Custom House
A popular site for public speakers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was also located within the Quarter. The location hosted numerous lively and spontaneous debates on many subjects. Nowadays, Custom House Square hosts activities, performances that are mainly family-oriented.

University of Ulster
A public university located in Northern Ireland that was established in 1968. The university has branch campuses in London and Birmingham, and an extensive distance learning provision.

North Street
North Street is home to many of Belfast's most well-known bars and venues.

Northern Visions Television (NVTV)
NVTV is now the only local community station in Northern Ireland and is operated by the Northern Visions media and arts project. Its current headquarters are located in the Belfast Cathedral Quarter.

Belfast Exposed Photography
It is Northern Ireland’s principal gallery of contemporary photography, commissioning, publishing and showing work by local and international photographers.

The Belfast Print Workshop
Established in 1977, BPW offers an extensive programme of practical courses, alongside open studios and demonstrations, designed to enhance public knowledge of printmaking.

Belfast Community Circus School
The Belfast Community Circus School produces a number of shows featuring young people each year.

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is an annual festival of music, comedy, theatre, art and literature. The festival takes place in the first weeks of May in the Cathedral Quarter, featuring many local and international performers.

Belfast Film Festival
Founded in 1995, the Belfast Film Festival promotes film education and practical filmmaking skills and showcases local talent alongside the best in new International cinema.

[mikedrown]

Beautiful Victorian city. Enjoyed the video 👍😊♥️🇺🇸 watching from New York State

[ThePittStops]

We were just there and did a film on it too! We loved it! It was so colorful:) Subbed :)

[fergusalex]

so much for the cobbled streets and alleyways...……..good thing I live in Belfast and know where they are....and you were way off the real cathedral quarter...…..and by the way the big yellow cranes are in the titanic quarter...……..go buy a compass and map

[charlesd]

What a waste - Cobbled Streets and & Allyways to Hidden Bars? Where? You never showed any.