A new bar has opened in Belfast city centre and promises to be a “one-of-a-kind experience”.
The Watson, located on Little Donegall Street, is made up of multiple venues each with its own distinct identity.
The Library Café & Cocktail Bar will offer wine, spirits and cocktails, while on the ground floor The Watson Draught House will serve classic draught and craft beers.
Speaking to The Irish News David Neely, Operations Manager at Jar Ltd said: “It was too good a space just to have a normal bar.
“The Library Café & Cocktail Bar is at the front part of the building and will offer European style experience with wine, cocktails and coffee.
Sneak peek: An historic Belfast venue has reopened after a multi-million pound revamp. The Watson features a café, cocktail bar and draft house, with plans to revive the iconic Frames pool hall in the Victorian 'Smoothing Iron' building. pic.twitter.com/epcplcFq5V
— The Irish News (@irish_news) December 18, 2024
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“Then next door we have The Watson which is our draft house. It’ll be a saloon bar where we’ll have entertainment, music and we’re going to be showing sport. There’s something for everyone.”
The latest venture from Jar Ltd group which also operates Lisburn Road venues The Crafty Vintner and The Bowery, as well as The Deer’s Head in the city centre have also said they will revive the venue’s iconic Frames pool hall.
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“From the minute we started working on the venue it was always our intention to bring back the pool hall,” said Mr Neely.
“That’s the thing about this venue as a whole, every time we were working on a particular area we just decided to go into the next section and start that - which is why we’ve ended up with so many different venues with more to come.”
Mr Neely described the venue as a “real labour of love,” having taken three years to design and so far costing £3.5 million with a further £1.5 million investment planned for phase two which is set to open in Spring 2025.
“We’re aiming for phase two to open during the first half of next year which will be The Watson’s Wine Warehouse which will be an off sales and wine bar as well as another pool and interactive gaming hall.
“But this is such a fantastic space, it has so much potential and lends itself to so many different facets.
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“We have another two floors in this building and renovating those will be phase three which we’ll start working on in the second half of next year.”
The Watson is housed in the iconic Library House building, which has been a landmark of Belfast since the late 19th century.
Known locally as the ‘Smoothing Iron’ due to its distinctive wedge-like shape, the building was designed by William J. Fennell for Robert Watson & Co., a renowned cabinetmaking and upholstery business.
“Over the years Belfast has either pulled buildings down or blown buildings up.
“So it’s great to see old buildings like this being brought back to life, we’ve not modernised it, we’ve just brought it back to what it was and hopefully we’ve done it an honour by doing what we’re doing.”
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Although Mr Neely confesses there are “some nerves” about opening the venue so close to Christmas.
“It’s not great opening the week before Christmas but we just want to get people in. We’re not the finished article yet but we’re very close and we’re so excited.
“The Watson is more than just a bar or entertainment space, it’s a celebration of Belfast’s vibrant culture and history. Our aim was to create a venue where people can come together, whether they’re enjoying live music, discovering our curated cocktail list, or experiencing the revival of Frames Pool Hall.
“Every detail has been carefully considered to make The Watson a place where locals and visitors alike will feel connected to the city, its heritage, and its future.”
