Are new stores bringing shoppers back to Belfast city centre?

Martina Connolly is the chief executive of Belfast One Business Improvement District

New retailers in Belfast are encouraging more people into the city centre and providing a boost to businesses, the head of the area's business improvement district has said.

It comes as Primark has invested £2m opening its first homeware store at Fountain House in Belfast, just metres from Bank Buildings which reopened in 2022 following a devastating fire.

Martina Connolly, chief executive of Belfast One Business Improvement District, said the investment showed real confidence in the city centre.

"Footfall year to date is up, we have seen the transport hub opening and an increase in visitors coming from Dublin on the train, but we also have our students living in the city centre," she said.

Primark has invested £2m opening its first homeware store at Fountain House in Belfast city centre

"We have challenges, just like every other city, but we have movement and some great brands coming in - some which I can talk about and some which I can't.

"The likes of Russell and Bromley, the Lego store, Krispy Kreme are all opening in the next few weeks.

"There is real confidence in the area that we had seen prior to Covid, but it had dropped off.

"That confidence is coming back. Year-on-year figures are coming back up to those pre-Covid levels and the investment that's happening in the city means we can see Belfast is back on track."

How much has footfall in Belfast increased?

Data from the NI Retail Consortium released for January showed footfall in Belfast increased by 4.8% year-on-year.

There have been concerns raised by business organisations that the increase in employers national insurance contributions from April would put off investment.

Ms Connolly said she thought it would have an impact, but added that there were positive signs for the future too.

"Having places like Primark investing in Belfast will help drive footfall for the likes of the hospitality venues, and Grand Central Station is helping with that," she said.

Grand Central Station, which cost £340m, fully opened in September and is the main transport hub for Belfast, including cross-border services.

More than 40 new retail jobs

Fintan Costello says consumer demand for homeware had risen significant since the pandemic

More than 40 new retail jobs have been created as a result of the new Primark store, bringing its total workforce to over 1,300 across Northern Ireland.

Fintan Costello, head of sales in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said the rise in employers national insurance contributions did not have any impact on the company's job creation.

"We've got 40 new jobs in this store alone," he said.

"We know what we need to run our business and we are fully committed to that."

Mr Costello said it reflected the importance of having a bricks and mortar presence and that consumer demand for homeware had risen significant since the pandemic.

"Our home offer has really grown and Northern Ireland is one of those markets with a strong mix," he said.

"If we take a look over the last few years, people are investing in their home more.

"If we think back to Covid times when we were all at home, since then it's really taken off.

"At Christmas obviously people traditionally always dressed their home, but now Easter - we have a collection here in store and our best selling line is a stand up Easter bunny."

'A wee nosey'

Geraldine McLaughlin came in to town especially for the new Primark home store

Geraldine McLaughlin came in to town especially for the new Primark home store.

"I want to see what they have for the house so I'm in this morning to have a wee nosey," Ms McLaughlin said.

"Hopefully it will bring people in, I would like to think so.

"I've noticed a few new places have opened, there's an awful lot of coffee shops [that] have opened," she added.

"So it's looking to take off a wee bit and brighter days are coming. Nice to see the tourists coming back and the ships coming back."

Mr Mitchell said there is "a lot of derelict buildings" in city centre

Katie Muldoon prefers to buy second hand clothing instead of buying new in an effort to protect the environment.

She said: "When you walk around the city centre, there's literally just derelict buildings or shops shut so it's good to see new things coming in to Belfast because the town is dead."

Jackie Mitchell said the new store opening probably would bring more people to Belfast.

"Anything that's cheap brings people in doesn't it?

"There's a lot of derelict buildings, parts of it are alright and parts of it are run down, there's a good bit to go yet," Mr Mitchell added.