353 Newtownards Road, BT4 1AJ
About East Belfast Constitutional Club
East Belfast Constitutional Club, also known as the Con Club, is situated at a prominent location on the Newtownards Road, near the junction with Templemore Avenue, serving as a key nodal point at the entrance to East Belfast. The existing three-storey building has historically functioned as a social club and bar. It has hosted significant gatherings, including a notable meeting in October 2019 where loyalists discussed the Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU .
In recent years, the club faced operational challenges. In February 2020, the premises were searched by the PSNI and HMRC as part of licensing checks, leading to tensions with the authorities . Despite efforts to remain operational, the club ultimately closed in September 2024 after members voted to sell the building to developers.
The building's origins trace back to at least 1855, initially serving as the New Road Public Elementary School. In early 1934, it became the new premises of the East Belfast Constitutional Club. The structure has undergone various alterations over the years, with tenders for repairs and modifications appearing in local newspapers in 1956 and 1957. Notably, one of its former pupils was Brian Desmond Hurst, the director of the 1951 film "Scrooge" .
In February 2025, SHRM Ltd submitted a planning application (LA04/2025/0295/F) proposing change of use from Sui Generis (Public House/Bar) to Class C1 (Residential). The proposed development includes the construction of a two-storey rooftop extension and a three-storey rear extension. The scheme would provide 19 new residential units, comprising a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with associated amenity space and site works.
According to the application, the proposed works would retain and adapt the existing building while incorporating the new extensions to facilitate the change of use.
Project Information
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Belfast Stories
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