OCTOBER
TOTALLY TOURISTS TRAVEL FEATURES
ONTOUR NI WHO’S TOURING
CRUISE NEWS THE FASHION FILES WHAT’S IN STYLE
BELFAST 1888 STORIES FROM THE PAST
PAGE 24-27
FOODIE PAGES
17
CAFE PARISIEN PAGE
BELFASTTIMES
And just like that, it’s Autumn. It’s the start of cosy season and nights snuggled up under your winter duvet.
Last month was busy for Discover NI as they launched 2 campaigns; a map for TV and Film locations, and an October celebration in a number of distilleries across the region.
We have even more pages this month in our biggest issue yet, with Foodie Photos, new columnists, more travel and more what’s on.
I hope you enjoy this issue Don’t forget to follow us on socials @belfasttimes for regular updates and behind the scenes of what’s looking like a very busy Autumn
Jeff
We bought tickets to see Follies at the Grand Opera House, now that was a special night out. However our highlight of the month was meeting an actual professional astronaut We had lunch with Joan Higginbotham at a NASA event in the Titanic Hotel, and we talked about going on cruises!! And obviously space stuff!
Sitting in slip seats at an amazing Follies performance at the Grand Opera House
CafeParisieninvitedus forlunch
The Crimson Cocktail Bar at
Catching a Winnie Ama gig at Culture Night
OCTOBER
WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER
Belfast Restaurant Week returns 4th-12th
October, inviting food lovers from near and far to pull up a chair and discover the best of the city’s vibrant culinary scene, whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply curious to try something new.
Now Press Play – the festival that celebrates music in film returns to venues across Belfast from 1-5 October.
Belfast International Arts Festival (BIAF) returns to venues throughout Belfast from 14 October – 9 November with a new season of contemporary arts and culture featuring the very best international and homegrown artists from the worlds of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, and film.
Late Night Art Belfast 2 October 6-10pm
The Cinemagic International Film Festival for Young People runs from 28 September to 2 November
The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans. Friday 10 and Thursday 23 Oct. th rd
Bounce Arts Festival, 2-5 October, is Northern Ireland's showcase of disabled/Deaf and neurodivergent artistic talent including comedy, dance, literature, music and circus.
AUTUMN THEATRE
9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL
TUE 7 OCT - SAT 11 OCT
Ulster Operatic Company is delighted to bring this hilarious musical comedy (based on the hit movie) to the stage.
DID YOU KNOW?
OTTILIE
WED 15 OCT - FRI 24 OCT
The international premiere of a new one woman show based on the life of Northern Irish blues singer Ottilie Patterson.
INSPECTOR MORSE: HOUSE OF GHOSTS
TUE 14 OCT - SAT 18 OCT
Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts marks the first-ever stage adaptation of the iconic detective show. ITV’s longrunning Inspector Morse, hailed by Radio Times as ‘The greatest British crime series of all time’.
BLOOD BROTHERS
TUE 28 OCT - SAT 8 NOV
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
MARJORIE’S DEAD
THU 6 NOV - SAT 8 NOV
Based on a true story, travel back in time to 18th-century Ireland, to a place where ancient myth meets a changing landscape and a young woman in Lurgan is buried alive.
AUTUMN THEAT
LYRIC THEATRE THE MAC
Dear Arabella starring Joanne Crawford as Elsie, Katie Tumelty as Jean and Jayne Wisener as Arabella is just a joy to watch at the Lyric Theatre.
Three mini stages on the big stage separated by a glistening sea, each stage is the characters’ own little worlds. The sea possibly represents the divide in their worlds, three different lives, yet still connected by being human.
Dear Arabella is three tales of love, regret and loss, subtly brought to together with one random act of kindness.
This Marie Jones play is packed with little snippets of humour, but it’s also an incredibly touching tale and a reminder that we just don’t know what’s going on in someone’s else’s world, and a reminder to be kind.
As each character tells their story, another character follows suit, ending sentences, completing the story from their own perspective. It’s all connected, and it’s a poignant look at being human with all its insecurities, its trials and tribulations.
Elsie, Jean and Arabella will make you laugh but they’ll also move you. Maybe they’ll remind you of your own situation and that’ll hit hard! Dear Arabella highlights how even the most simple chance encounter can change a life in the most meaningful and enduring way
Don’t miss this wonderful production.
Tickets at https://lyrictheatre co uk
THE ART EDIT
Radical Hope – works from the Arsenal Gallery collection.
Golden Thread Gallery
13th September – 8th November 2025
An exhibition developed in collaboration with Arsenal Gallery in Białystok, Poland
The exhibition offers a timely reflection on uncertainty, resilience, and the transformative potential of art
Marie Hanlon & Rhona Clarke: LAST ACT
The Mac 9 Oct 2025 - 4 Jan 2026
LAST ACT is a synchronised video installation by Marie Hanlon in collaboration with composer Rhona Clarke. The work presents climate change as something both real and abstract, as such mirrors the human response to a changing earth.
'The Bell Archive Exhibition' Ulster Museum
19th Sept - 30th Nov 2025
These extraordinary images are a fraction of the archive of photographs taken by four brothers - Nelson Victor (b 1897), James Kennedy (b. 1900), Herbert (b.1904), and Jonathan Benjamin Bell (b. 1907).
Niamh Seana Meehan: Sea Skin
The Mac 9 Oct 2025 - 4 Jan 2026
Sea Skin features a tactile soft sculpture inspired by the experience of sea swimming and encounters beneath the ocean’s surface
The iconic 10 to 14 Tomb Street Belfast is back in business with a brand new night-club Liquid Club and Lava Lounge
The same four walls that once pulsed with the basslines of Milk and Rain have been given a well deserved disco reboot.
Belfast DJ and nightlife legend Mal Houston, also the man behind The River Rooms on Donegall Quay and Belfast Hen and Stag Parties, is the visionary behind this sparkling resurrection, together with his wife and business partner Maureen
With themed nights already inked into the calendar, including an LGBTQ plus night on Mondays and Vintage Groove Nights, Mal and his team are bringing back 'Disco' to Northern Ireland
ONTOUR NI
OCTOBER
Who’s on tour this month? Check out our gig listings on social media ONTOURNI
AD-CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR TICKETS!
Introducing
makes you feel like you could walk into City Hall and demand they turn the lights purple just because it suits your outfit.
And that, my sweets, is what I’ll be bringing you here in Belfast Times every month. My spin on the latest fashion and beauty trends (spoiler: some of them are daft, and I’ll say so), and the low-down on the hottest style events happening across our brilliant city.
Because let’s be honest half the fun of living in Belfast is that we’ll put on a pair of heels, grab a cocktail, and call it culture. So expect insider gossip, real talk on what actually works in the wardrobe, and the occasional rant about why micro-bags are an insult to women who still need to carry keys, phones, and possibly snacks. In short: I’ll be your eyes, ears, and high heels on the ground. Fashion, beauty, Belfast with a twist of Nuala.
Astronaut Joan Higginbotham recently completed a tour of UK and Ireland in partnership with NASA to share news about the number one attraction in the US, NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre We were invited along to the promotional tour event in Belfast and had the pleasure to chat with Joan at a special lunch in the Titanic Hotel.
On this occasion it was hard not to fan boy, the let’s play it cool mode was firmly switched on, when in reality in my head I wanted to dance around the room and rejoice that I was sitting next to a professional astronaut. But that’s ok isn’t it. It was a really special moment.
From the guests around the table the questions were coming thick and fast. Joan talked about the emotion of seeing earth from the International Space Station, the sunrises and sunsets she witnessed as her Space Shuttle sped around the earth, the curvature of the planet and the atmosphere that protects us It was fascinating to learn about her 20 year career with NASA straight out of university, the responsibilities at a young age with the organisation as a payload engineer. In her first 9 years she actively participated in 53 space shuttle launches. She was the lead orbiter project engineer on Space Shuttle Colombia.
A comment by a manager that she’d be a great astronaut changed her world and the 10 year journey to become a professional astronaut began.
When Joan launched into space in December 2006 she became one of the few people from earth to experience the force of a shuttle taking off, of living in space for 12 days, and to have been part of the team building the International Space Station
Joan has her parents to thank her for the drive and determination to be her best They are her inspiration, and in turn Joan is now inspiring new generations of future astronauts She can be seen at Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) motivating, sharing stories, and being the inspiring astronaut and scientist. Her next visit to KSC will be 15-18 October.
Find out more about Kennedy Space Centre at www.kennedyspacecenter.com
This month @keevaeats sent us foodie photos from La Bottega.
Belfast’s biggest celebration of food and flavour is back this October and this year, it’s set to be even more mouthwatering than ever before Belfast Restaurant Week returns 4th-12th October, inviting food lovers from near and far to pull up a chair and discover the best of the city’s vibrant culinary scene, whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply curious to try something new.
The week-long celebration in over 50 restaurants is a chance to explore Belfast’s hospitality scene through exclusive menus, collaborative pop-ups, and unique dining experiences that highlight local talent and Northern Irish produce
Whether you're craving a cosy midweek lunch, a bold tasting menu, or an exciting food-and-drink pairing, there’s a seat at the table for everyone during Belfast Restaurant Week
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
Make it a Date Night to remember at Cafe Parisien. Share a delicious bread board, enjoy a main course each and raise a glass with a bottle of house wine or Prosecco. £80 per couple. Nova's Perfect Pairing: Wine and Pasta for £19.50
Dinner Before the Show: 2 Course Menu only £25 at MrDeanes
10% Off All Food Throughout Belfast Restaurant Week + £5 Beer Cans at HALT Weavers Cross Steak Night for Two – £85 Feast at Millar’s Grill & Seafood
£20 Off Your Next Visit when Dining at Fratelli during Belfast Restaurant Week
PERFECTPAIRINGS
As a qualified wine expert, I am often asked for advice on pairing wine with food And while that can sometimes mean artisan cheeses or gourmet dishes, the truth is, most of us are far more likely to be winding down at the end of a busy week with something much simpler: a glass of wine and some crisps.
Here are a few of my favourite pairings, which are tried and tested and guaranteed to elevate your wine and crisps tasting experience.
If you enjoy ready salted crisps, then sparkling wines like Champagne, Cava or Prosecco are a great match. The acidity and the bubbles in the wine act as a palate cleanser, cutting through the fattiness of the crisps, while the salt in the crisps enhances the wine’s flavour.
If salt and vinegar is your crisp flavour of choice, then Spanish Albariño is a perfect pairing This vibrant, zesty wine is bursting with citrus and crisp green apple notes with a subtle hint of salinity which complements the sharp tang of the crisps beautifully.
One of my personal favourite pairings is prawn cocktail with rosé wine. Any style of rosé will do, but a light and refreshing Provence rosé is especially good. The fresh and easy-drinking style of the wine is a fantastic partner to the sweet and punchy flavour of the crisps.
Just as Malbec is an ideal match for a roast beef dinner, exactly the same applies in the world of crisp pairings. Relaxing by the fire on a chilly autumn evening, curled up with a glass of Malbec in one hand and a bowl of roast beef flavoured crisps in the other is a perfect way of to spend an evening.
Smoky bacon crisps can be more of a challenge to find a good wine pairing for because of their strong flavour, but I have found South African Pinotage to be a great option. Grown almost exclusively in South Africa, the Pinotage grape is known for producing wine with flavours of blackberries, spice, tobacco and, believe it or not, bacon! A perfect combo indeed
So, next time you’re reaching for some crisps to enjoy with your wine, why not try one of these pairings, or maybe even experiment with some of your own
About me
My name is Lisa, and I am a wine educator and writer based in Belfast I have a passion for making wine both accessible and enjoyable and host a variety of informal yet informative wine classes in and around Belfast
In March 2025 I published my first book, ‘The Divine Wine Guide’. This beginner-friendly guide covers everything you need to know about selecting the perfect wine for any occasion and is available to buy on Amazon as both a hardback and eBook.
LUSH are iconic at Halloween with their ever increasing spooky collection of products. The Belfast store is one of our favourites to visit, the smells, the products, the packing (or lack of it), its ethical buying and the team.
Pop into the store and enjoy the Halloween craziness with fun shower and bath products.
REGATTA
Men's Frankie Borg
Half Zip Fleece
£60
MATALAN
Black Zip Through Hoodie
£20
RIVER ISLAND
Brown Faux Leather
Borg Trim Jacket
Regatta
Frankie Borg Full Zip Fleece £60
Argyle Crop Cardigan, £16
Collar Check Bomber, £28, Red Scarf £10
THE LITTLE MERMAID
Visit the famous statue inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, a small and iconic landmark in this beautiful city.
NYHAVN
Visit the old harbour of Nyhaven, bustling with places to try Danish food, cobbled streets and tall ships.
ON STRØGET
Strøget is a pedestrian, car-free shopping area in Copenhagen, Denmark. This popular street is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe at 1.1 km.
AMALIENBORG PALACE
Amalienborg Palace is home to the royal family and a museum about the Danish monarchy. Every day at 12pm, you can watch the changing of the guards.
TIVOLI GARDENS
One of the world’s oldest city centre amusement parks, with beautiful gardens and fun rides. Was Walt Disney inspired by this magical place?
CROSS THE BRIDGE TO MALMO
Cross the longest bridge in Europe and visit Malmo for the day. Turn your trip into a 2 city break. It’s worth it!
Lawlor’s of Naas’ in the heart of the town centre has a quirky style, you’ll find something unique in every corner of every room. It’s an eccentric hotel and a visual experience where you’ll lose yourself in a multi-layered world of repurposed artefacts and antiques.
Lawlor’s combines decadence, a respectful nod to history, a contemporary approach to sustainability and the hospitality with which the name has become synonymous. From brass plates that were once the floor heating grates for Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin to the 100-year-old hand laid parquet floor, Lawlor’s Hotel is a treasure trove
The hotel is known for its hospitality and for its location convenient to Naas and Punchestown Racecourses.
The hotel is easy to find in Naas town centre, it has an entrance right on the town square, but the main entrance is now on the other side of the complex. With a recent large extension, underground parking, plenty of places to eat and drink within the building, you can literally park up, check in and not leave the grounds.
We enjoyed a delicious meal in the bistro, and as with everywhere in the hotel, you tend to sit, look around and wonder where the inspiration came from for its brilliant quirkyness.
Lawlor’s is a little Irish hospitality gem, and we doubt you’ll experience anything like it again!
Find out more at www.lawlors.ie
Portrush Adelphi is the sixth property in the Marine & Lawn collection, and the brand’s second in Northern Ireland.
Opening in Spring 2025 the Adelphi brings a sumptuous luxury to Portrush Main Street. The decor is layer upon layer of deep colours, bold patterns, classic tartans. The rich greens and blues, art and designs, are inspired by the stunning Causeway Coast.
The hotel is home to the Red Sail Room restaurant serving contemporary Italian cuisine including a grill menu, pastas and breads, tiramisu and affogato.
Dogs are welcome in the hotel and it also caters for golfers with storage and rentals and if you are adventurous you can hire a bike
The Red Sail Room Bar & Restaurant is an opulent place to relax in the bar area or enjoy the exceptional flavours in the dining room for breakfast, Sunday Lunch, Afternoon Tea or an evening meal. If you have a special event to celebrate you can enjoy an intimate gathering in the private dining area with seating for up to 16 guests.
During our stay we enjoyed the convenience of nearby coastal walks and glorious views of the Causeway Coast There’s also a beach at the bottom of the road if you take the notion for a sea swim in the Atlantic Ocean
We adore the heritage look of the Adelphi and its luxurious and welcoming cosy vibe, from the decor to each member of the team, a stay here is something you won’t regret
Visit their website at marineandlawn.com
B E LFAST —1888—
1888 in Belfast saw a lot of building work happening as the city centre expanded as a result of its new city status. We’ve spotted buildings with 1888 on them on Fountain Street and Royal Avenue. One of the most prominent buildings opened at the corner of Donegall Sq and Donegall Place, opposite Belfast City Hall. At the time The White Linen Hall was opposite the building and was replaced by the City Hall in 1906 to reflect the city status.
The corner site remains in use today with Cafe Parisien and The Ivy, and the entrance to the former has this mosaic entrance flooring (top right).
In addition to the building of Belfast City Hall, it was also decided in 1888 that the city should have a new Cathedral. Plans were put in place to construct it on the site of the St Anne’s Parish Church (founded in 1776). The foundation stone was laid in 1899 an over the next 100+ years the Cathedral building was added to, including the Baptistry in 1928, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in 1932, the Eastern Apse and Ambulatory in 1955 and the Transepts were completed in 1981. The Spire of Hope was built in 2007, adding to the Belfast skyline.
CRUISE
The inaugural visit to Belfast by NCL Jewel. An exchange of plaques and goodwill as the Captain and invited guests celebrate the first visit of Norwegian Jewel to the port
Cruise from Belfast to Southampton in August 2026 on the Oceania Vista Solar Eclipse Sailing. Prices from £5000 for a 15 day voyage. More at oceaniacruises.com
Whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights in Norway or exploring Iceland’s dramatic landscapes, you’ll enjoy the comfort of sailing direct from the UK on a no-fly cruise, combined with the warmth of Britain’s authentic cruise line, Ambassador Cruise Line. More at ambassadorcruiseline.com
Princess Cruises revealed that Camila and Matthew McConaughey will serve as godparents of the new Star Princess
