At Banana Block, the first souvenir you take away from the Belfast Beer & Cider Festival fits in the palm of your hand: a glass bearing the festival logo. It is with this glass that you move from the beer bar to the cider bar, beneath the roof of a former spinning mill in east Belfast. For anyone who knows Ireland mainly through its stouts, it is well worth the visit: you can sample, in one place, what Northern Irish producers are making and compare their drinks with those from elsewhere on the island and from Great Britain.
The Northern Irish branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) organises the event at Banana Block, in the Portview Centre. The building was once part of Strand Spinning Mill, a mill associated with Belfast’s linen industry. On Newtownards Road, this redevelopment is a good reason to venture beyond the city centre: the former industrial buildings of EastSide now host activities with little connection to textiles, but have retained the address.
For this edition, the organisers are announcing around 100 drinks in total, including beers and ciders. Start with the Northern Irish producers if you want to discover what will be harder to find at home. To compare them, ask for two small measures of the same style, or move from a dry cider to a sweeter one. The festival drinks list makes it possible to plan a few points of reference. If there is a particular drink you are especially interested in, come at the start of the festival instead: the box office says the choice is generally wider during the first few days.
The ticket includes the festival glass and programme. Drinks are paid for separately: at the bar, you can pay by card or with a pre-paid festival card. If you are travelling with children, choose a daytime visit and check the time until which under-18s are allowed to stay in the organiser’s FAQ. Banana Block says that the venue is wheelchair accessible.
From the city centre, the G1 Glider serves the Connswater stop on Albertbridge Road, a few minutes’ walk from the Portview Centre. Buses also stop on Newtownards Road. On-street parking is limited around the venue: if you plan to sample the drinks, the simplest option is to leave the car at your accommodation and check your return journey before setting off.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
Banana Block, Portview Centre, Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HE, EastSide, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Tourist sites in Ireland
