Northern Lights, Ormeau, Belfast

Facebook page of Northern Lights - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Northern Lights - www.facebook.com

Out in the student area, this is a modern and large bar run by Galway Bay Brewery. Sited over two levels with a mezzanine-style upper, it’s done-out in battleship grey with the usual stylings for this sort of thing. An unclipped and forlorn cask pump (confirmed only used occasionally) though 20 keykeg taps to dig into, clearly labelled with prices per portion over a pair of large blackboards. These contain about a third of GBB’s portfolio alongside a pretty-well curated selection of guests over a range of styles. In addition were a fair number of canned and bottled beers. Kudos to the young barman who was excellent throughout and rustled-up a spot-on replacement suggestion when one of the wife’s required cans was found to be sold-out. They do food here of the student variety, we found value in the chicken wings. Usually I ‘m unenamoured by these sorts of places (especially when they don’t even have a token cask on) but there was enough quality and good service to leave me feeling positive and they gained an extra few quid in pocket as we stayed for two extra drinks. With Errigle’s just over the junction, it’s worth spending a couple of quid to get the bus out here.

Official site of Northern Lights - www.galwaybaybrewery.com

Official site of Northern Lights - www.galwaybaybrewery.com