Under a long Victorian roof of brick, iron and glass, St George's Market is one of the last surviving covered markets of its kind in Ireland. It stands near the river Lagan, a short walk from the centre of Belfast. The hall was built in the 1890s on a site that had held a market for centuries, replacing an open-air market with a grand permanent building. Its tall arched front and rows of iron columns inside are typical of the confident public architecture of the late Victorian city. Over its history the market has sold everything from fish and farm produce to live poultry, and during wartime it served other uses. After a period of decline it was restored at the end of the 20th century and given a new lease of life. Today it is busiest at weekends, with markets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday selling food, crafts, antiques and street food. Stalls offer local produce, baked goods and seafood, and live music often plays among the crowds. The market has won awards as one of the best in the United Kingdom and has become a fixture of city life. It lies close to the river and the Waterfront Hall, within easy reach of the city centre. During the Second World War the hall was pressed into use as a temporary mortuary after air raids on the city, one of several roles it has played over the years. The Friday market has the longest history, mixing fresh food with bric-a-brac, while the weekend markets lean towards crafts and street food. Dozens of traders fill the hall under its glass roof, and the smell of cooking and the sound of live music give it a festive feel. It is owned and run by the city council, which restored the building and brought the markets back to life. On busy weekends the hall fills with shoppers browsing stalls of fresh fish, local cheeses, baked goods and crafts, with hot food and live music adding to the atmosphere.

Type: Market / Mall

Address: 12-20 East Bridge Street, Belfast, United Kingdom, BT1 3NQ