Applicant: Belfast City Council
Location: Belfast City Centre
Grant awarded: £2,187,000
Total project cost: 3,280,000
Grant programme: Heritage Grants
Type of heritage: Historic buildings & sites

Aims of the project
To restore a historic city-centre market building and refurbish it internally so that it can continue in use as a flexible commercial space and public venue. The project also set out to preserve and enhance the long-standing market tradition in this part of Belfast and to contribute to the wider regeneration of the city.

Background to the project
St George’s Market is a well-established feature of everyday life in Belfast City. It was constructed during 1890–96 to the design of JC Bretland, the city surveyor, and is the only surviving original market building in Belfast’s once-thriving market area. St George’s Market is distinguished by its classical-style façades, which front an otherwise functional. Its interior spaces are light and spacious.

The building is listed Grade B1. St George’s Market was originally a fruit market. In recent decades, the Markets area suffered from under-investment and decline, as the markets closed and their buildings were demolished or reused. St George’s remained open for business, however, due to the loyalty of its customers, who continued to use the market regularly despite its run-down appearance. It also survived damage as a result of numerous bombs aimed at the nearby High Court Building and telephone exchange.

Recently Belfast’s Markets area has become the focus for various regeneration initiatives. St George’s Market is in the heart of the Laganside Development, which has given rise to several landmark buildings on the site of the old markets including the Waterfront Hall.

Against this background, the City Council decided to refurbish St George’s Market internally and externally so as to preserve a well-loved historic building while at the same time creating a flexible space that could be used for other functions, such as exhibitions, promotions, fairs and live performances. The council applied for a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant in June 1995.

What did the project involve?
JC Bretland’s original drawings were used as the basis for the restoration work, which included specialist work to the stonework and ironwork. The original bricks were of a unique size and shape, and new bricks were manufactured specially for the project. The project also included an educational element, with the entrance to the market hall being used as interpretive space outlining the history of the building, surrounding area and the market tradition. Modern improvements to the existing building included the installation of shop units and a mezzanine-level restaurant and bar, as well as draughtproofing, heating and toilets. HLF did not contribute towards non-historic elements such as the restaurant and bar.

What difference has the project made?
HLF awarded St George’s Market its grant in 1995, making it one of the first projects supported in Northern Ireland by the HLF. Its success has been a continuing source of pride to Belfast City. Since reopening in May 1999, the market has moved from being an underused, overlooked market hall into one of the city’s best-known and most vibrant cultural, conferencing and retail venues. It has made a significant contribution to the regeneration of the local area. The revitalised St George’s Market provides a traditional-type shopping venue and is a valued alternative to high-street chains and supermarkets. Visitors are welcome at any time but most are attracted by the vibrant weekly markets. 5–7,000 people shop at the regular market each Friday. A regular Saturday Farm and Speciality Food market offers a wide range of local high quality produce. St George’s Market won third prize in the annual Observer Food Monthly Awards in 2004 for markets throughout the UK.

How did the project meet our criteria?
The project conserved a historic building and gave it a sustainable future. In this case the heritage asset was not only the listed market hall but also the market economy and tradition. The project set out to increase people’s involvement in their built and cultural heritage and to open up the building to a wider range of users.

Useful tips
This project’s success is seen as being linked to the fact that ‘It didn’t try to make the market something it wasn’t.’ In other words, it strengthened its core function as a local market and gradually expanded that remit to include other types of markets, such as farmers’ markets and craft fairs.