Another weekend in Belfast, another excuse to do a bit of sightseeing. I always enjoy spending time back in the city, and there is usually a good excuse to explore somewhere new, revisit an old favourite or find somewhere good to eat.
This time, we decided to combine a visit to Titanic Distillers with a walk along Belfast’s Maritime Mile, taking in some of the city’s history along the way before heading into the city centre for a few drinks and dinner.
With a distillery tour, a few quirky landmarks and some excellent food on the agenda, we had the makings of a pretty good day out.
A visit to Titanic Distillers
Our starting point was Titanic Distillers, housed in the historic Thompson Dock Pumphouse in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage is such a huge part of the city’s story, so it was interesting to visit somewhere that brings together two important parts of its industrial heritage: shipbuilding and whiskey.
The pumphouse is part of the historic dock complex associated with the building of the Titanic. Following the ship’s launch in May 1911, her hull was moved into Thompson Dock for fitting out before she eventually set off on her maiden voyage. The pumphouse itself was built to house the machinery used to drain the dry dock, making it a rather fitting home for a distillery bringing another part of Belfast’s industrial past back to life.
The team behind Titanic Distillers have restored the old pumphouse, retaining many of its original features and pieces of machinery. There’s plenty to look at, and the building itself is a big part of the experience. It’s almost a museum and distillery rolled into one.
We’d booked a guided tour and tasting, and our guide took us around the distillery, explaining how whiskey is made and sharing more of the history behind the building and the site. It was an interesting combination of industrial heritage and whiskey-making, with the setting adding something a little different to a standard distillery visit.
We finished in the bar area, where the tasting included a cocktail made with their whiskey and apple juice, a sample of their vodka and a premium Irish whiskey.
At the time of our visit, Titanic Distillers was still relatively new, so its own whiskey wasn’t yet ready for sale. Irish whiskey needs to mature for at least three years, meaning there was still a little waiting to be done before we could try the spirit being produced on site. In the meantime, whiskey from a sister distillery was available for visitors to sample.
We really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was both informative and funny, and we came away with a better understanding of what they’re trying to achieve with their own whiskey. The samples went down rather well too, so much so that we bought some to take home! I’m also now a bit of a convert to whiskey and apple juice.
With the tour and tasting finished, it was time to head towards the city centre. Rather than simply making our way straight there, we decided to take the scenic route along the Maritime Mile.
Walking Belfast’s Maritime Mile
The Maritime Mile connects the Titanic Quarter with Belfast city centre, taking in landmarks and attractions along the River Lagan. It’s an easy way to explore more of the waterfront on foot, and there are plenty of interesting things to spot along the way.
We passed Titanic Belfast, one of the city’s most recognisable buildings. We’ve visited the museum before, so didn’t go inside this time, although the exhibitions have changed since our last visit. That’s one to add to the list for another day.
Even if you aren’t planning to visit the museum itself, the building is worth seeing from the outside.
Continuing along the waterfront, we came across a few more of the landmarks that make this part of Belfast interesting to explore.
One of the more unusual things to look out for is the Game of Thrones stained glass windows. Northern Ireland was a major filming location for the series, and these windows celebrate that connection in a rather different way.
They’re worth stopping to see if you’re a fan of the show, and they make a fun addition to the walk.
We also crossed the Lagan Weir, heading towards one of Belfast’s best-known landmarks, the Salmon of Knowledge, more commonly known as the Big Fish.
Nearby is the Beacon of Hope, which has acquired several alternative names over the years, including Nuala with the Hula and the Thing with the Ring. You have to admire Belfast’s approach to naming its public art.
Another familiar character associated with the River Lagan is Sammy the Seal, who became something of a local celebrity. He’s a reminder that there’s more to the waterfront than its industrial past.
It’s one of the things I enjoy about exploring a city on foot. You can take in the bigger attractions, but it’s often the smaller details and the slightly quirky landmarks that make a walk memorable. Belfast certainly has its fair share of those.
By the time we’d made our way into the city centre, we’d had a good walk and taken in a different side of Belfast, with plenty of reminders of the city’s past along the way.
A drink at Ulster Sports Club
After all that walking, it was time for a drink. We popped into the Ulster Sports Club for a quick pit stop before dinner.
I love this place. It’s like walking back into the 1970s, with that old-school social club vibe you don’t really find anywhere else these days. It’s a bit different from your usual city-centre bar, which is part of its appeal.
We opted for more whiskey, enjoyed a little light refreshment, and then it was off to our dinner reservation.
Dinner at The Waterman
The Waterman had been on my list for some time and came highly recommended, so I was delighted when we managed to get a last-minute table.
The restaurant was already busy when we arrived, and we saw a few people being turned away. Clearly, we were lucky to get a table, so I’d recommend booking ahead rather than leaving it to chance as we did.
We started with cocktails and the house focaccia served with whipped tomato butter. I’m always happy when good bread makes an appearance at the beginning of a meal, and this was a very good start.
For starters, we chose the steak tartare with crisps and espelette, and the burrata with organic tomatoes and black olive. Both were dishes I’d happily order when I see them on a menu, so it was a fairly straightforward decision.
For mains, we went for the cod with Portavogie prawns, grilled sweetcorn and fennel, alongside a Tyrone 10oz sirloin steak with Café de Paris butter.
The cod was beautifully tender, with the prawns adding a lovely contrast, while the steak was cooked medium rare, just as requested. Both were excellent choices, although I suspect the steak would have been difficult to resist whatever else had been on the menu.
I also liked seeing Northern Irish produce featured so prominently. Between the local beef and the Portavogie prawns, there was a real connection to the region, rather than just another restaurant menu that could have been anywhere.
Of course, we weren’t finished yet. For dessert, we opted for brown bread ice cream with Guinness caramel and Friend at Hand whiskey truffles.
The brown bread ice cream and Guinness caramel sounded like a very Belfast combination, while the whiskey truffles were another nod to the region’s whiskey heritage. Both made for a fitting end to the meal.
I’m glad we finally made it to The Waterman. The food was excellent, the restaurant had a great atmosphere, and it’s definitely somewhere I’d happily return to next time we’re in Belfast. Just remember to book ahead!
With dinner finished, we were ready for one final stop before calling it a night.
Finishing the evening at the Duke of York
No evening exploring Belfast’s city centre would feel quite complete without a visit to the Duke of York.
Tucked away in the Cathedral Quarter, it’s one of those places that features in plenty of Belfast photographs, thanks to its cobbled surroundings and the colourful displays that make this part of the city so distinctive.
By the time we arrived, the pub was heaving, and the street outside was just as busy. There was plenty of craic and music inside, but outside was arguably even livelier, with people making the most of the extra space to dance.
It’s one of those places where you can happily spend longer than planned, watching the crowds and taking in the atmosphere. A quick drink can easily turn into a longer stop, particularly when there’s so much going on around you.
After a day that had taken us from the Titanic Quarter along the waterfront and into the city centre, it was a good place to round things off.
Exploring Belfast, from the waterfront to the city centre
This was a great way to spend a day in Belfast, combining a visit to Titanic Distillers with a walk along the Maritime Mile before finishing with good food and drinks in the city centre.
If you’re visiting Titanic Distillers, I’d definitely recommend allowing some extra time to explore the waterfront rather than heading straight back into town. There are plenty of landmarks to look out for along the way, and it’s an easy way to fit in a bit of sightseeing without having to plan a separate trip.
Add in a stop at Ulster Sports Club, dinner at The Waterman and a final drink at the Duke of York, and you’ve got a day that takes in a little of Belfast’s history, some whiskey, a decent walk and some very good food.
And really, what more could you ask for from a day out in Belfast?