The Beannchor Group has announced a £350,000 investment in the redevelopment of its popular bar and eatery, The National in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.
Set in the historic surroundings of one of Belfast’s oldest buildings – the former National Bank Building on High Street – The National initially opened to the public in September 2013, following a significant redevelopment of the previously dormant building.
The evolution of The National will include a significant renovation, with revamped interiors and the introduction of a fully retractable roof and heating system in the popular National Garden outside space, alongside a refreshed food and drink offering, with a focus on breakfast and lunch trade, high-quality coffee, craft beers and cocktails.
The National will open for breakfast at 8am and will serve food throughout the day until 5pm. At night, the venue will morph into a lively, sociable space, serving drinks late into the evening.
Upstairs, cocktail bar and club, sixty6 will become ‘Upstairs at The National’, with a revised programme of DJ-led entertainment spanning both spaces at the weekends.
Innovation and sustainability considerations are core to the re-development of the venue, with a range of new initiatives designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the business.
Conall Wolsey, director of the Beannchor Group explains: “Continued innovation and investment is crucial in our industry, to keep up with changing consumer trends and demands. We’ve listened to our customers and the evolution of The National will reposition the venue and its offering in line with what our people are asking for.
“In addition to the refreshed interior, social responsibility and being a business with a genuine social conscience is at the heart of this project. In line with the wider Beannchor Group’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, sustainability is a core focus. Our ambition is to achieve zero food waste at The National and we are working on a range of policies and initiatives to help us reach this goal.”
The Beannchor Group has continued to grow in recent years, despite the tough economic climate, having completed a multi-million pound expansion of Bullitt Belfast and expanded its network of Little Wing Pizzerias. Beannchor has an annual turnover of approximately £20million and directly employs 750 staff.
Renovation work begins this week, with the venue set to reopen to the public in mid February. For further information and to stay up to date on the developments, visit www.thenationalbelfast.com