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Former Grand Central Hotel, Belfast

It was hoped that the three railway companies serving Victorian Belfast would be united at a central station in Royal Avenue. The traders could not agree so the owner of the site built the 200-bedroom Grand Central Hotel instead. It opened in 1893 and traded until 1971 when the decline in business following the bombing campaign forced it to close. It was an army barracks from 1972 until the early 80’s. After that the ground floor was let as shops. Royal Avenue was a fairy grim place in those days and the building and its neighbour the GPO were eyesores of the second-highest grade. It was demolished J3374 : Development site, Royal Avenue, Belfast and replaced by the Castle Court shopping centre J3374 : The Castle Court, Belfast (3).