Although Ballyhackamore would appear on the surface to be a vibrant area, in terms of shopping, it perhaps is rather deceptive. The reality is that many units are simply lying empty and an awful lot of shops seem mto be closing. Maybe it is a sign of the economic climate, but there seem to be quite a number of shops closing down and a growing number of ‘for let’ signs appearing.
The area of course, is well populated by trendy restuarants and a few good bars, but the shopping experience is quite poor. There are a limited number of ‘ordinary’ shops and many of these are closing their doors. One of the prime reasons given for shops closing is the rather high rents which are charged by landlords in the Ballyhackamore area.
In fact some retail units have now lain empty for months (some for years), and the main reason appears to be the exorbitant rents being asked. In fact in some instances it is possible to acquire a city centre location for much lower rent.
So what is going on - is high rent the main reason? Or is it a decline in local customers? Is it the trend away from using smaller shops and customers shopping just in the big shopping outlets. Perhaps its a mixture of both.
What are your views? either as a local customer or a small shop owner in the Ballyhackamore area?
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Rumour has it that JD Wetherspoons pub chain have their eye on Ballyhackamore. They of course run pubs across the UK and perhaps Ballyhackamore, with its growing social scene, is looking tempting for the large Wetherspoon chain.
Would they be welcome here? The pub chain specialise in cheap food and drink, but of course that brings its own set of problems. Maybe the streets of Ballyhackamore overrun with young people gorged with cheap booze.
What’s your opinion on this story then? Maybe readers can throw some more light on this rumour. Let us know below.
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I am writing on behalf of the George Best Community Cup Committee,
regarding an exciting opportunity to support the inaugural George Best
Community Cup which is taking place during the 16th,17th & 18th July
2010.
The event will be a 3-day, East Belfast based, cross-community and
cross-border football tournament, and will include 5 teams coming from
Republic of Ireland, as well as 5 teams coming from mainland UK such
as Liverpool and Manchester United Juniors. The focus will be on two
sections, junior and senior and we aim to have a total of 32 teams or
480 young people participating in 11-a-side games (plus 3 adult
supervisors/coaches attending with each club). The event will have an
anti-sectarianism and anti-racism theme. Last year the tournament was
a great success.
The event, builds on a successful single identity football tournament
organized by Sydenham Historical and Cultural Society in 2008. The Cup
is intended to be a festival of football, taking place in conjunction
with the second Titanic Festival in East Belfast in 2009. We want to
develop and expand the tournament for 2010, with a view to making it a
landmark annual event for the area which takes place within the East
Belfast area; therefore bringing all communities together for positive
reasons, rather than the only annual contact between communities being
at times of predictable tension or conflict.
The event encourages children of all cultural backgrounds from across
NI, ROI and mainland UK to participate, and will use the experience as
a way of coming together to develop understanding and respect via the
mechanism football. For too long football has been used (by some) as a
tool to reinforce sectarianism and division. We are attempting to
provide young people with an alternative experience, which we hope
will change their view of themselves and each other.
The George Best Community Cup Committee are holding a fundraising,
fun-filled cabaret night on Saturday 12th June 2010 in the East
Belfast Constitutional Club. We intend to hold an auction and a number
of ballots. We would greatly appreciate if you could supply a gift or
donation towards the fundraising event to enable us to cover the costs
to ensure the tournament will be a brilliant success and to make the
community of East Belfast proud.
For more information contact Leanne on 07955977037 or Janice on
07912611474.
Kind Regards
George Best Community Cup
www.georgebestcommunitycup.co.uk
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Queen’s University Boat Club are holding a fundraiser at the new
Little Wing Pizzeria in Ballyhackamore on Wednesday 19th May. We are
hoping to use the money towards going to the National Irish Rowing
Championships this July, in which we are currently the favourites to
win. We have a set price of £10 for 2 courses and feel this is a
perfect opportunity for the locals from Ballyhackamore to come and try
the new restaurant as well as support rowing in Belfast
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Big issue Please!
What’s your opinion on the Big issue sellers who are selling in Ballyhackamore? I note there are two now a short space from each other. Do you feel they have a right to be there on the street selling the big issue? Are they only making a living for themselves?
Or do you feel they are essentially ‘begging’ and perhaps make you feel awkward walking by?
Give us your opinion below!
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