I decided the next step of my proposal should be collecting information on Hill Street and this is what my proposal is based on. This will help to know what to write in my portfolio as I will be more educated in the businesses and culture of this area.

Hill Street

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

THE BLACK BOX is housed in a Grade II listed building on Hill Street in the Historical Cathedral Quarter of Belfast, originally constructed c. 1850 and converted into its current usage as an arts venue in 2006.

The Black Box continues to occupy the building and has been established as one of the principal arts and entertainment venues in the city, ‘a home for live music, theatre, literature, comedy, film, visual art, live art, circus, cabaret and all points in between’.

STREET ART

Still Waters

Nomad Clan, 2017
Hill Street

Manchester-based Nomad Clan’s touch on Belfast’s industrial heritage in this piece, which shows a modern young woman face-to-face with a wolf, representing past tensions and an acknowledgment of past and present.

 

The Duel of Belfast, Dance by Candlelight

Conor Harrington, 2012
Hill Street

This stunning piece on Hill Street in the Cathedral Quarter was painted by Irish artist Conor Harrington. It hints towards the colonial West, depicting two duelling men and an onlooker.

 

BUSINESSES

HILL STREET HATCH

Northern Irish couple, Ryan Crown and Ema O’Kane, have announced the opening of the Hill Street Hatch, a new incubation space, located in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter that will host hospitality entrepreneurs and creators.

Independently funded by Ema and Ryan, Hill Street Hatch will provide unique hospitality start-ups with a ‘shop-window’ to allow creatives to safely sell their menus to the public during the pandemic which has placed local restaurants and hospitality businesses under significant stress.

Ryan Crown, Creative Director, Crown Creative said: “Hill Street Hatch aims to enable and support hospitality entrepreneurs by offering them a space, community and opportunity to test their ideas and to have early-days face-to-face interactions with customers which is a quintessential element of the hospitality sector.”

“The hospitality industry has undoubtedly been devastated by the ongoing pandemic but we believe current circumstances should not stifle the long-term creativity of vibrant and home grown entrepreneurs. The space, coupled with our expertise in working with local and international brands, will provide 360 concept development services for food and drink start-ups looking to launch new ideas within a safe support system.”

“In the past few months we have witnessed members of the hospitality industry band together during these difficult times and we’ll seek to sustain this spirit of collaboration through Hill Street Hatch. With many in the sector without work, some people have taken the opportunity to go back to the drawing board and create a concept of their own and we want Hill Street Hatch to be the place where those ambitions and ideas come to life.”

 

44 HILL STREET

44 Hill Street offers seasonal menus for you to share with friends and family. From a causal lunch and sharing plates to a full dining experience; you can enjoy it all with wine, beer, cocktails or bubbles.

The history of 44 Hill Street’s building has ranged from a bonded warehouse to a butter merchants, evident in the industrialised interior with exposed brick work and metal beams dating back to the last century.

 

DUKE OF YORK/ HARP BAR-

The thing about the history of the Duke is that nobody can agree on what’s true, and we are not here to help. The only way to know what it’s like is to come and experience it yourself.

Willie Jack has owned the Duke since the early ’80s but it already had plenty of unique Northern Irish character. It was a pub for 200 years but got blown up in 1972 – terrorists were going to bomb the High Court but came to a security checkpoint and bolted up the alleyway to get away. The bomb went off prematurely and flattened the pub. It wasn’t targeted but it had to be rebuilt.

Today it’s known for the history of Belfast distilling which is visible on bric-a-brac inside, the murals, the Belfast phrases covering the place. For 30 years Willie saved up precious Belfast ephemera from pubs across the nine counties of Ulster, and continues to do so. Everything on display is original and true Belfast, it’s got provenance. Added to that are the new murals from guest artists which cover most of the walls outside.

 

COMMUNITY

EDUCATIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

The Educational Shakespeare Company are pioneers of using film as therapy to help socially-excluded people rebuild their lives. We use group work and creative storytelling to take our participants on a journey through their own lives, giving them new perspectives to enable them to make real and lasting changes themselves. We deliver transformative film-making projects to excluded individuals within learning disability and mental health issues.

How to access this support

Men and women with learning disabilities who find it difficult to engage in regular services – Women and men with severe mental health issues and forensic behaviours.