Fort Bar (McCartan's), Falls, Belfast

A CAMRA Inventory Heritage pub and we jumped on the Glider not appreciating just quite how far down the Falls Road we would end-up. But in we went and apart from a discreet waving-away of our GB passports proffered as part of the COVID check-in, we were left to our own devices. The reason to come here are the doored booths which line the front of the bar. These are made of wood and have inlaid smoked glass, though sadly the wood has been glooped with grey and gold paint so they seem a bit cheap – so a Poundland version of the Crown Liqour Stores, if you will. In the booth it was heated under the seats which was a novelty, though said seats had little in the way of depth and it wasn’t particularly comfortable. The bar area also been glooped but thankfully the ornate lakeside painted tiles on the bar front remain, and the intricate bar back and gantry remain varnished. Usual Diageo guff on keg, so a Guinness for me whilst a half of the same for the lady turned up as a pint of Harp, so a bonus glug for me. If you like your interiors then this is well-worth a trip to sample but be mindful of your location if you’re English and come on a quiet weekday evening when there’s no football on the telly.