Belfast city centre’s Frames Complex is to be revamped in a £3.5m investment that will bring 40 new jobs, it was announced today.
Pub group Jar Ltd announced it will open The Watson bar and entertainment complex at Little Donegall Street in spring next year.
The name pays homage to the building’s origins in the late 19th century as the headquarters of Robert Watson & Co cabinet makers and upholsterers.
In more recent decades, Frames became a beloved haunt of journalists working at the nearby former headquarters of the Belfast Telegraph and Irish News.
David Neely, operations manager at Jar Ltd, with Duncan Campbell, manager of The Watson Belfast
Jar Ltd is the pub operator behind Lisburn Road venues The Crafty Vintner and The Bowery, as well as The Deer’s Head in the city centre.
It said The Watson will be made up of multiple venues, with The Library Café & Cocktail Bar selling wine, spirits and cocktails, while on the ground floor The Watson Draught House will serve classic draught beers and craft beers.
Jar Ltd has also said it will revive the venue’s old pool hall, which it described as “a Belfast institution known for its legendary status in the 1980s”.
The restoration of the pool hall, said Jar Ltd, is to offer “a premium pool experience that harks back to its heyday when it was one of the largest pool halls in the UK”.
David Neely, Jar Ltd operations manager, said: “This has been a huge undertaking and a dream project for us. The Watson has been years in the making and we’re so proud to see it coming to life.
“This venue is designed to be a destination in every sense of the word, offering something for everyone under one historic roof. We can’t wait for people to experience it.
“Every detail has been carefully considered to make The Watson a place where locals and visitors will feel connected to the city, its heritage and its future.”
David Neely, operations manager at Jar Ltd, with Duncan Campbell, manager of The Watson Belfast
The Watson will be inside the Library House building, once called the ‘smoothing iron’ due to its wedge-like shape. It became a furniture showroom and factory, with its products, including the famous Watson beds, even gracing the Titanic.
Architect Orla Maguire of Oscar & Oscar Interior Design and Architecture said: “Our goal was to honour the incredible history of Library House while reimagining it as a modern, multi-faceted venue.
“Every space within The Watson has its own vibe and identity and we want visitors to be captivated by the seamless blend of heritage and innovation. This is a building with stories to tell, and we’re excited to write its next chapter.”