The Dirty Onion

Last Update: 14 Jun 2016 | General Update

  • Address: 3 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
  • Use: Leisure
  • Floors: 4
  • Cost: £1,250,000
  • Planning Reference:

    Z/2009/1761/F & Z/2010/1671/F

  • Planning Status: Approved
  • Project Status: Completed
  • Start Date: July 2013
  • Completion Date: November 2013
  • Developer:

    Beannchor Group

  • Architect:

    ADO Belfast

  • Contractor:

    Strong Construction

A £1.25m entertainment venue within a previously vacant four-storey B+ listed warehouse dating from 1780. The development opened in November 2013 as a bar, live music venue (The Dirty Onion) and rotisserie chicken restaurant (Yard Bird).

In 2009 Bill Wolsey’s Beannchor Group purchased the building and appointed Consarc Design Group to redevelop the vacant building. A full planning application was submitted in December 2009 to convert the listed warehouse to a “cultural centre incorporating school of music, tuition rooms, recording studio, performance area, public bars, food servery, external seating areas and office accommodation”. This application was approved in August 2010 and in December 2010 a further application was submitted (proposing minor amendments to the internal layout) and approved in March 2011.

When the above applications were approved the Beannchor Group proposed access to the development from Waring Street. In late 2012 c4628ft2 of development land at 3 Hill Street was placed on the market with an advertised price of £450,000. It is understood that the Beannchor Group purchased this development land to open up access from Hill Street.

Construction began in July 2013 and was completed in November 2013. The new venue opened on 28 November 2013.

3 Hill Street