Historic Pubs, Cathedral Quarter

Each pub you will hear about on this walking tour, from Kelly’s Cellars to the Dirty Onion, The Duke of York to White’s Tavern, and The Morning Star to McHugh’s, has fascinating tales and links to our city’s history that will be teased out. You’ll learn why several establishments claim the city’s ‘oldest pub’ title, which of them is in fact the oldest tavern – according to your Belfast Green Badge specialist guide - and what precisely the ‘oldest’ claims of some of the others relate to!

Exploring the oldest part of Belfast town before it became a city in 1888, you’ll hear about early merchants and importers, where secret societies met, the pick-up points for mail coaches, old jails, former whiskey warehouses, newspapers of long ago, and more.

The tour will start from outside Kelly’s Cellars at 2pm. The tour will end 4pm outside McHugh’s, where you may choose to stay on to enjoy a drink or coffee and perhaps an afternoon traditional music session.

The tour will cover up to 1.5 miles and will take place whatever the weather, so please come prepared. No refreshments are included as part of the tour ticket, but we will stop for a break along the way, when you may purchase a drink.

Please note:

• The tour begins outside Kelly’s Cellars, Bank Street. Please arrive five minutes before the advertised start time.
• The tour will end outside McHugh’s Bar, Queen’s Square.
• The tour will last for two hours.
• You will walk 1.5 miles on flat ground.
• The tour will take place, whatever the weather! Please come prepared and in comfortable shoes.

For queries, including a private booking of this tour for a group at another time, please email: creativetoursbelfast@gmail.com

Find out more>>