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PRIVACY
Retail & Consumer

Call for investment into Belfast's former 'Golden Mile'

It comes as renowned Belfast fish and chip shop Bishop's has been demolished

Photo By Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live The site of Bishop's Fish and Chips restaurant on Shaftsbury Square, Belfast.

There has been a call for investment into Belfast's former "Golden Mile" as a renowned fish and chip shop has been demolished.

In the past few weeks, Bradbury Place in South Belfast has changed dramatically as Bishop's Fish and chip shop was knocked down, changing the landscape of the street forever.

Belfast City Council have approved plans for a 156 bed student accommodation and retail development on the site.

The stretch from Great Victoria Street, along Dublin Road to Bradbury Place, was known as Belfast's Golden Mile and had been the "beating heart of Belfast hospitality".

However in recent years, while the area still has very popular and thriving businesses, there has been a growing number that have had to close their doors and local councillors have called for investment to bring it back to its full potential.

Botanic SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown said: "Bradbury Place, the Dublin Road and Great Victoria Street are in need of real investment. This area was once the beating heart of Belfast hospitality, but now needs a boost.

"There are some fantastic businesses keeping the area alive and offering great service, plus new ideas such as the pop-up street food and independent retail market Box Office at the old Movie House breathing new life into the area, but the 'Golden Mile' needs strategic support to reach its full potential.

"That said, any development must also respect the historical and architectural heritage of the area as an asset rather than something to be bulldozed.