Ulster Sports Club

The greyhound after-hours that ended up being a club venue

The greyhound owners, trainers, punters, and bookies who founded Ulster Sports Club in 1926 on Ann Street weren't looking for a nightclub: they wanted a place to keep chatting when Belfast pubs closed at ten. The club moved to 96-98 High Street, a 1935 building that had been a furniture store and survived the 1941 Blitz while the properties next door were destroyed. In 1968 women were admitted and the Friday and Sunday cabaret began. It was written into their constitution that if it moved, it had to remain in the center: it could not end up in a neighborhood marked by only one side of the city.

For decades it was a non-sectarian members' club. People from the Falls, Shankill, Newtownards Road, and the Markets mingled in front of signed Irish league jerseys, portraits of Joe O'Kane, and boxing paraphernalia. Membership went from about 400 members at the turn of the century to about 100 in 2018. Without money for bands, the cabarets fell away. On December 31, 2018, it closed as a private club.

2019 Relaunch: the underground venue of the Beannchor Group

Beannchor Group, Bill Wolsey's group behind the Merchant Hotel, bought the property in December 2018. In May 2019 it reopened as a concert hall and public bar, with the exterior almost intact and a renovated interior: front bar, lounge, and upper floors. The group presents it today as an underground live music venue, with an emphasis on craft beer, concerts, and electronic music. It kept the name and much of the retro aesthetic of the social club, including posters by local artist Fiona McDonnell.

Three floors, four rooms, and a brewery

The total declared capacity is 595 people. There are four spaces—three available for rent—: the Committee Room, with a small bar and about 40-50 standing; the Lounge, up to 144 standing, with billiards, darts, and a projector; and Out of Office, up to 100 standing. In 2021 part of the second floor became a microbrewery; in 2022 the Out of Office taproom opened, with tours and KeyKeg beers that are also served downstairs. There is an elevator, step-free access to the bar, and the venue declares itself fully accessible.

Electronic dance floor while remaining a mixed venue

It is not a single-room nightclub: it is a city center venue where matches on screen, indie bands, and club nights coexist. Twitch Belfast has brought Erol Alkan, Daniel Avery, and Richard Fearless. The AVA festival has used the building for after-parties and in 2022 Goldie DJed at the venue. There is in-house programming, such as USC Presents, and local residents like Conor Schmutz. The published hours are Monday to Thursday from 17:00 to 01:00, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 03:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 01:00.