{"id":616339,"date":"2026-09-06T14:40:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T14:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/616339\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T14:40:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T14:40:22","slug":"concern-as-historic-belfast-bar-becomes-an-eyesore-amid-continuing-deterioration-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/616339\/","title":{"rendered":"Concern as historic Belfast bar becomes an \u2018eyesore\u2019 amid continuing deterioration \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

An historic but increasingly dilapidated west Belfast<\/a> bar has been branded an \u2018eyesore\u2019 amid growing concerns over the deterioration of the listed building since its closure two years ago.<\/p>\n

The Fort Bar on Springfield Road, known locally as McCartan\u2019s, served its last customers in September 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n

Dating back to 1865, the pub has been recognised for its historical significance by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Fort Bar on the Springfield Road. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN <\/p>\n

The premises was owned by the Beannchor Group, headed by hospitality businessman Bill Wolsey, before being sold at auction. <\/a>However, local representatives say efforts to contact the current owner have proven difficult.<\/p>\n

\"Concern<\/a>\"Relic<\/a><\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in<\/a> councillor Claire Canavan said the building\u2019s decline is having a significant impact on the surrounding area.<\/p>\n

She told The Irish News:<\/a> \u201cIt is getting worse, and it is the businesses and residents around the Springfield Road who are really noticing it. It has an impact on the whole road. The building is a big part of the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Fort Bar was a crowd favourite for generations, keeping the same decoration both inside and out. <\/p>\n

The bar was a crowd favourite for generations, with the decoration inside remaining the same.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Fort Bar in 2024 after keeping the same design through the years. <\/p>\n

Cllr Canavan continued: \u201cIt was one of Belfast\u2019s<\/a> oldest surviving pubs. It had many Victorian features, including a beautiful mahogany bar and traditional wooden snugs. People took real pride in it, but since its closure in 2024, we have seen a steady deterioration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe council identified loose slates on the roof, which could pose a danger to the public. If the owners fail to take action, the council can ultimately pursue enforcement measures, including a summons and court proceedings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope we see improvements soon and, ultimately, that the building is brought back into use, even if that is not as a bar. The longer it is left, the more costly it is likely to become for the owners. When it was sold at auction, many people assumed it would reopen as a pub because it came with a licence.<\/p>\n

\u201cLocal businesses and residents have been raising concerns for some time. It sits on a busy stretch of the Springfield Road and has become an eyesore. Alongside the deterioration of the building itself, the rear of the site has become a dumping ground, with large gas canisters left there, while the surrounding fence has also been damaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is such a shame. Listed buildings are protected for a reason. They should be preserved and cared for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"IrishFormer manager Ray Crangle said it was sad to see the building in its current condition.
\nPICTURE COLM LENAGHAN <\/p>\n

Former manager Ray Crangle said it was sad to see the building in its current condition.<\/p>\n

He told The Irish News:<\/a> \u201cIt is sad to see it fall into such a state of deterioration. As a public house, it was full of character and atmosphere which should be enjoyed by generations to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many people from Belfast and further afield hold fond memories dear to their hearts of the Fort Bar, and its maintenance should be a priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

The condition of listed buildings across Northern Ireland<\/a> has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. In July, controversy surrounded the demolition of part of the listed Antrim Arms Hotel in Ballycastle without prior approval.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Irish News revealed fewer than three people have been convicted over the past decade for demolishing or altering listed buildings without permission, despite at least 20 listed structures being demolished and 40 altered in the past five years alone.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and the Department of Communities<\/a> have been contacted for comment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An historic but increasingly dilapidated west Belfast bar has been branded an \u2018eyesore\u2019 amid growing concerns over the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":616340,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4501,72,61,60,10414,103152],"class_list":["post-616339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-belfast","tag-business","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-pub","tag-west-belfast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/616339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=616339"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/616339\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/616340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=616339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=616339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=616339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}