The Harrison Chambers of Distinction in Belfast will launch 11 new suites, a residents-only piano bar, and a supper club now spanning five stunning Victorian merchant townhouses this February 2025. A favourite place to stay for creatives, art lovers, and culture enthusiasts, this jewel box of delights features rooms themed after several iconic Northern Irish figures.
A boutique townhouse property in a leafy neighbourhood on the doorstep of all that’s interesting in Belfast, The Harrison Chambers of Distinction is an architectural gem and labour of love created by its owner, well-travelled Belfast native and born storyteller, Melanie Harrison. Opened in 2021, it has won numerous press awards and glowing reviews from the international community.
“I can’t wait to reveal what we have done next with our new suites and guest lounges. Everything about The Harrison Chambers of Distinction celebrates what is great about this city,” says owner Melanie Harrison. “Guests just love the sense of fun combined with luxurious touches. Our design ethos is all about local craftsmanship and talent, covering three centuries from the Victorian era to the present day. Every object and element has been chosen for its interesting history and what it brings to the story of The Harrison. I’ve combined pieces I’ve collected over many years with the very best facilities that the 21st-century traveller demands and expects. What better way to get immersed in the culture of the city than to learn about the people who shaped it?”
An inveterate solo traveller with a keen eye for style and antiques and a profound love of stories in every shape and form, Melanie has transformed a fine 19th-century merchant’s home into a captivating hotel. This charming property will now feature 30 comfortable, elegant, and playful rooms that create the perfect backdrop for your own Belfast story. From reclaimed mahogany floorboards that were once installed in the nearby Royal Victoria Hospital to railings from Ebrington Barracks dating back to 1840, and from antique furniture sourced from Irish Victorian and Edwardian houses to bespoke wallpapers and objets d’art, a captivating story is the throughline that links everything together at The Harrison, creating an individual celebration of Belfast like no other.
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction consists of lovingly restored landmark Victorian merchants’ residences from 1879, nestled in the heart of Belfast’s theatre and museum district, specifically in the Queens’ Quarter. The large house that forms the foundation of The Harrison belonged to the Cleaver family, founders of the famous Belfast department store Robinson & Cleaver. This wealth is reflected in the building’s fine detailing, marble colonnades, and ornate cornicing. The Lyric Theatre, where Liam Neeson learned his craft, the Ulster Museum, home to the largest art collection in Northern Ireland, and the Botanic Gardens, which host music events and festivals throughout the year, are all just steps away in this heritage quarter of the city.
Huge bay windows, polished mahogany flooring, rich velvet curtains, irreverent artwork, and bathtubs in bedrooms combine elegance with an underlying sense of mischief and tongue-in-cheek humour. One new suite will be named “The Stairway to Heaven,” referencing the famous concert where Led Zeppelin performed their iconic hit for the first time at the Ulster Hall in 1971. Another room will be themed around the intriguing stories of Hercules Mulligan, a tailor and spy who saved George Washington’s life twice, along with others named after famous figures like inventor Lord Kelvin, Thomas Andrews, the designer of the ill-fated Titanic, and an opulently decorated suite for writer and dandy Oscar Wilde. Additionally, there will be a “Murder She Wrote” suite in tribute to Angela Lansbury’s mother, Moyna Magill, who lived just around the corner on Eglintine Avenue.
The piano lounge will be named after the famous local landmark Napoleon’s Nose. Located at the top of Cavehill, Napoleon’s Nose is a popular hiking spot overlooking the city, featuring a set of rocks that resemble a giant profile of a man’s face. It is rumoured that Jonathan Swift took inspiration from Napoleon’s Nose when writing Gulliver’s Travels. Consequently, the Harrison piano lounge, “Frenchman’s Nose,” will offer a fusion of French and Irish food and drink. Locally produced cheeses, meats, pressed oils, and vinegar, along with regional dishes, will be served in a French style with Irish spirits and French wines. Each evening during happy hour, “Cinq à Sept,” residents can enjoy music, entertainment, sample food, and mingle with Melanie and her staff for a warm Belfast welcome.
The quiet and relaxed lounge will be called “Not Tonight Josephine “ in reference to Napolean themed piano lounge. Guests will enjoy a fireside book and coffee as they unwind in tranquillity after a busy day of exploring the city.
“Living in and loving this city,” says Melanie, “it’s so important to me that each guest visiting us receives the special experience they deserve. This incorporation of architecturally stunning, listed heritage townhouses promises to elevate The Harrison Chambers of Distinction—a proper neighbourhood hotel—to the next level. Our continuing story is not just about celebrating the city of the past but also its vibrant present and exciting future. Guests to The Harrison are in for a very special experience in 2025!