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Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
The best pubs and bars in Northern Ireland
Think of Northern Ireland, and thoughts of a good pub probably aren't too far behind. This is a place with an excellent pub scene, with hundreds of traditional boozers where you can enjoy a pint by the fireside, as music plays. But there's also a burgeoning cocktail scene, particularly in Belfast, and tiny old bars that are best to cosy up in with the paper for a few hours, when it's blowing a gale outside. Whatever you're after, here are some of the best places for a tipple in Northern Ireland. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best things to do in Northern Ireland. Find out more below, or for further inspiration, explore our guides to Northern Ireland's best hotels, things to do, restaurants and beaches. Search nightlife by type: Best traditional pubs Crown Liquor Saloon The poster child for Northern Irish pubs, the Crown Liquor Saloon is one of those rarities that's enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Its elaborate Victorian exterior (preserved by the National Trust, no less) is matched by a darkly cosy space inside, with carved mahogany partitions, stained glass and gunmetal plates where patrons would strike matches. Nowadays, punters make do with pints of Cornish pale ale or a snifter of Bushmills whiskey. Blake's of the Hollow A traditional boozer, The Hollow feels like it hasn't changed a jot since it opened its doors in 1887. The front bar, with its tiled floors, marble bar top and lamppost style light fixtures, is perpetually cosy, and is at its best on a quiet afternoon, when you can sit with a pint and the paper. If you prefer something a little less low-key, there's live traditional music every Friday night. The Duke of York It may be one of the most popular pubs in Belfast, but walking down the cobbled alley to its entrance always feels special. That alleyway, with dozens of flower-filled hanging baskets and vintage Guinness signs, is cracking on a sunny day, but the interior is the epitome of cosiness, with a brick bar, low ceilings and weathered floor tiles. Nab a seat by the vintage printing press, to see if you can spot the dirty words hidden in the lettering. Sunflower Though the Sunflower name on the door is relatively new, this spot has been the home to a pub for over 100 years. The entrance is distinctive, with a bright green cage over the door (leftover from The Troubles) and the sign outside is one of the most photographed in Belfast: 'No topless sunbathing. Ulster has suffered enough'. There aren't any bells and whistles inside, but an excellent selection of craft beers like Yardsman stout and Kinnegar ales, and there's a beer garden, too. Best for live music Peadar O'Donnell's A minimalist's nightmare, this pub has paraphernalia hanging from every inch of space, from antique sewing machines to a proliferation of flags. As such, it feels like a quintessential Irish pub, particularly in the evening, with traditional musicians filling the room with song. Get a low table in the corner, order a well-poured pint of Guinness, and listen to the masters at work. House of McDonnell Owned by the same family for almost 300 years, this listed building is where you'll find some of the best traditional music in the country, with a session every Friday night, and other gigs throughout the week. It's on the Ballycastle Trad Music Trail, and it's even been name checked in some traditional Irish songs and poems. There's a charming little outdoor area, with weathered brick walls and wooden seats, and it's open until 1am. Best for chic cocktails The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant If you'd rather drink a negroni in style than step over a sticky, beer-stained floor, The Cocktail Bar in The Merchant Hotel is a great choice. This relatively small bar has a sophisticated, old-world sense of style, with plenty of dark wood, burgundy velvet armchairs and an antique fireplace. More importantly, the cocktails are impeccable, and you're served a little 'browsing drink' made with Jawbox gin, while you peruse the menu. Rattlebag Don't be put off by the fact that this cocktail bar is inside a hotel – this intimate spot has built up some serious kudos since it opened, with a menu that changes with the seasons and a series of pop-up collaborations with hip wine bars and musical folks. Expect to see quirky ingredients shaken up with classics, like pine distillate in a martini or cumin tincture in a gimlet. Best for cosy vibes The 1614 Bar Part of the historic, thatched Old Inn, this pub feels like a traditional carriage house, with low ceilings, thick wooden beams and roaring fires. It can get busy in the evening, when there's live sport on or a local band playing, but it's an ideal spot for a quiet Irish coffee if you've been out walking in the Crawfordsburn Country Park. They also serve food at lunchtime, with pub food like smoked haddock or fish and chips. Daft Eddy's Technically, this is more a seafood restaurant than a standalone pub, but the bar is lovely and cosy (and if it's sunny, the outdoor tables right on the water are perfect). Plus, if you're coming from Portaferry, you can take a 10-minute ferry journey to save you the drive, which adds to the novelty factor. Area: Strangford Lough Website: Price: £ How we choose Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Nicola Brady I'm originally from Sussex, and I went on holiday to Ireland 16 years ago and never came back. While I'm now based in Dublin, I spent a decade living on the Northern Irish border and still visit regularly.
Irish Post
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Leo Sayer's Irish soul and broader backstory
FOR Leo Sayer, Ireland was never just the place his mother came from — it was the heart of his childhood summers, the wellspring of his inspiration, and the secret engine of his songs. Long before You Make Me Feel Like Dancing became a Grammy-winning anthem, young Gerard Hugh Sayer — born in Shoreham-by-Sea on England's south coast — was perched on a barstool in Belfast's Crown Liquor Saloon, listening to Dominic Behan recite poetry and soaking up the wild lyricism of the Irish oral tradition. Leo Sayer has strong Irish connections. His mother, Teresa Nolan, was born near Enniskillen, and her family are all based around the border counties, both north and south. She came from a large family, so Leo — or Gerard, as he was born — still has cousins, nieces and nephews scattered around the region. 'We'd load into the car and head for Fermanagh. My mum and dad and three kids — every summer until I was about 15 or 16. 'Home' in Ireland was Maguiresbridge,' Leo says. 'So from about the age of three or four till I was 15 or 16, it was Fermanagh every summer. Of course, we'd travel about to other counties — Donegal and Sligo, mostly. "I had one grandfather who had a farm near Swanlinbar in Cavan. Another grandfather, Hugh Nolan, was postmaster in Newry. A great man altogether!' Leo Sayer has strong Irish connections (Pic: Tony Mott) So Gerard (Leo) Sayer's early years were typical of so many children of the diaspora — particularly in the 20th century — and still part of the yearly rhythm for many families in the 21st. Leo was interested in music from an early age. 'The family were devout Catholics, and so I became an altar boy. Our parish priest in Shoreham, Father Dermot MacHale, really helped my interest in music — singing in particular. I was an altar boy, then a chorister, and that brought my singing voice along. He was a big inspiration.' Leo has perfect pitch and a photographic music memory, which helped him carve out a stratospherically successful career. Inspiration for Leo's lyricism also came from another family connection. 'Through one side of my family in Ireland,' he says, 'and this is an interesting connection — we are related to the Behan family. 'So if you can imagine a young kid of, like, seven or eight years old going to Belfast and sitting in that famous pub opposite the Europa Hotel, the Crown Liquor Saloon bar... sitting there and hearing poetry coming from Dominic Behan — and sometimes his brother Brendan Behan, when he was out of nick, you know. 'So I heard those guys, and the passion of writing. I remember Dominic recommending Flann O'Brien, and reading his books — and James Joyce as well.' Leo — the musical career Leo moved to London in late 1967, right at the moment the youth revolution was changing the world. There, he met painters and musicians, started writing poetry and working on a book. By day, he designed record covers and illustrated top '60s magazines. By night, he frequented Soho and Kensington folk clubs — and sometimes got up to play the harmonica. 'I was at art school. I was very much into folk and blues music, and I was playing harmonica. After a while, I went up to London and hung out with loads of musicians — some of them from the acoustic world, people like John Martyn and Ralph McTell, even some Irish musicians as well, you know... but also kind of hanging out with blues bands. I was singing with people like Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, before they were in Cream with Eric Clapton, in the Graham Bond Organisation. So I'd be sitting in on gigs, singing, playing harmonica — and that was, for me, a nice contrast to working in the art studio during the day... sometimes doing rather boring work.' Sayer pictured in 1974 In 1970, a talent contest led him to David Courtney, a songwriter and drummer. The two clicked creatively, writing songs in Courtney's Brighton flat. Their demos caught the attention of Courtney's former bandmate, Adam Faith, who soon managed Leo and launched his career. His 1973 debut album Silverbird — featuring the now-iconic Pierrot image — established him as a unique voice, bolstered by support from Roger Daltrey, who recorded several Sayer-penned tracks. Hits from his second album Just A Boy confirmed Leo's popularity, even after ditching the clown costume. International tours followed, showcasing his dynamic stage presence in venues like The Troubadour in L.A. After parting ways with Courtney, Sayer continued to score hits, including Moonlighting, and by 1976 had teamed with producer Richard Perry. The result was Endless Flight, featuring You Make Me Feel Like Dancing (US No.1, Grammy winner) and When I Need You (No.1 worldwide), cementing his global fame. His band included alumni of the Rolling Stones and Stevie Wonder, and he appeared regularly on US television. Albums like Thunder in My Heart and Leo Sayer followed, but by the early 1980s, career pressures and personal changes — including divorce and a dissatisfaction with the drift toward cabaret — took a toll. A comeback came with 1980's Living in a Fantasy, powered by the hit More Than I Can Say. Collaborations with Alan Tarney and Arif Mardin brought further chart success. In the 1990s, he embraced dance-pop and found surprising popularity in Russia and Vietnam. A 1997 remix revived student interest, and in 2006 a DJ Meck version of Thunder in My Heart returned Leo to the UK No.1 spot. With multiple reinventions and a career spanning decades, Leo Sayer remains a significant figure in international pop history. He now lives in Australia, in the wine region of New South Wales. 'It's an area called the Southern Highlands. It's lovely, only about 600 people here live here in our town. It's nice and quiet, and have my studio in my house where I make all my records. "It gives me a great sense of freedom living here, and has really reignited my love for music — not that the flme had ever really gone out' He remains busy, touring as well as recording. His British and Irish tour begins next month at the GuilFest in Cranleigh. Leo Sayer's tour of England and Ireland Saturday, July 5 — GuilFest 2025, Cranleigh Monday, July 7 — Wyvern Theatre, Swindon Wednesday, July 9 — Grand Theatre, Blackpool Friday, July 11 — National Opera House, Wexford Saturday, July 12 — Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin Sunday, July 13 — Cork Opera House, Cork Friday, July 25 — Ulster Hall, Belfast See More: Irish, Leo Sayer, Music, Tour
