The Irish Soda bread stall - St George's Market, East Bridge St, Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, BT1 3NQ
Image details
Contributor:
Tony Smith / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2PM6264File size:
54.9 MB (2.4 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5256 x 3648 px | 44.5 x 30.9 cm | 17.5 x 12.2 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
19 August 2017Location:
East Bridge Street, Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, BT1 3NQMore information:
St George's Market is the last surviving Victorian covered market in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is located on May Street, close to the River Lagan and the Waterfront Hall. Belfast Corporation (now Belfast City Council) commissioned the building of St George's Market, which was built in three phases between 1890 and 1896. Before 1890 St George's Market was an open market and most likely contained a slaughterhouse and a meat market. Today it is a thriving market with 300 traders, crafters, musicians, and food vendors. By the 1980s, St George's Market had developed into a general market and it became the last of Belfast's thriving Victorian markets. The market was pressured with increased maintenance costs and changes to hygiene regulations, among other issues, and Belfast City Council decided to source other uses for the listed building. A campaign backed by the city council, traders and the general public resulted in a Heritage Lottery Fund-backed £3.5 million refurbishment programme assisted by the Environment and Heritage Agency. Brick and stonework that had badly deteriorated was returned to good condition, and special bricks were produced in England to match the original unusually sized bricks. The fully renovated St George's Market reopened its doors on 14 May 1999. St George's Market is primarily used as a market, however a number of other events are held at the site. These range from food festivals, art initiatives, exhibitions, charity launches, fashion shoots and live music events. Local software company Northbrook Technology hold their annual Staff Christmas Party at the venue. The market has won a number of recent awards, including being voted Best Large Indoor Market 2014 and as one of the UK's top five markets by the National Association of British Market Authorities in 2006, and winning third place in the best markets category of the Observer Food Monthly/Waitrose Awards in 2004