For cigar smokers in Northern Ireland........

[senor_robusto]

since there's a serious lack of information available online of where to buy and smoke cigars in northern ireland, i thought i'd try to compile as much info as i can for the benefit of us members from 'norn iron (and anyone else who's likely to visit our 'pleasant' wee country, lol)! anyone else who's anything to add, please do........

note: visitors coming to northern ireland do so by flying into belfast (city or international) or (london)derry airports, or by sailing into belfast (from liverpool (http://www.norfolkline.com/EN/Irish_Sea_Ferries/Belfast_Liverpool/), stranraer (http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/routes/stranraer-belfast/), isle of man (http://www.steam-packet.com/SteamPacket/Our-Ports/belfast.htm)) or larne (from fleetwood (http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/routes/fleetwood-larne/), cairnryan, troon (http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/routes_cairnryan_troon_-_larne_routes_-_Cairnryan_or_Troon_to_Larne.htm))!!! if anyone on this list happens to be visiting northern ireland, i will be happy to help with any queries, cigar related or not (just PM me with with your query and what air/ sea port you're travelling to, belfast, larne or (london)derry)!!! this list is intended to help you make the most of your visit here, with minimum of fuss finding nice places to relax and enjoy a good cigar!!!

all the best,

alex:849:

[senor_robusto]

for a start.........

i've been doing my research on cigars in northern ireland! so far, i've turned up very little except this information (btw, everything underlined is linked):
WHERE TO BUY
1. miss moran's (belfast city center habanos specialist) (photo) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackeeadio/1150072435/)
2. lecky's newsagent (belfast, a few doors up from miss morans, normally stock RyJ (no. 1, 2 3, sometimes short churchills and churchills) and cohibas (siglo 2)
3. the vineyard (belfast, ormeau road) http://www.vineyardbelfast.co.uk/about.htm
4. gap wines (http://www.gapwines.com/) on belfast's antrim road and also in carrickfergus have a small display humidor (supplied & approved by H&F) carrying a few tubed habanos cigars by h upmann, RyJ, montecristo! information kindly supplied by gary!!!!
5. direct wine shipments (http://www.directwine.co.uk/index.html) in belfast's docklands!!! H&F display humidor with the usual tubed suspects (montecristo, ryj, h upmann etc)
6. the lighthouse off sales in whiteabbey village (jordanstown, between belfast and carrickfergus) have a small counter top h&f humidor, stocking tubed montecristo, ryj and h upmann (much the same a gap wines)!!! also a great selection of wines and spirits, especially whiskies!!! cigars can then be enjoyed in the sheltered outdoor smoking area in the bureau bar and bistro a couple of doors up.....
7. mackay's confectioners, queen's arcade in belfast city center (beside boots on donegal place)! carry a selection of tubed habanos by ryj, montecristo, h upmann, partagas, punch & bolivar!
8. asda (anywhere, normally stock punch coronations and h upmann corona junior)

also, here's some info from hunters & frankau, type in your postcode and see what comes up:
http://cigars.co.uk/locations

WHERE TO SMOKE: COMFORTABLE OUTDOOR SMOKING AREAS
as far as COSA' s are, there's not much except the grotty space provided by your local pub or a couple of chairs outside a cafe (where you can sit an be frowned at by passers by), here's a couple from the H&F list, http://cigars.co.uk/:

row 1 pics 1 & 3 (armagh city hotel (http://www.armaghcityhotel.com/) & molly brown's (http://www.mollybrownsbar.com/), formerly the whisky haw in newtownards)
row 1 pic 3, row 4 pic 1 (http://cigars.co.uk/category/gallery/comfortable-outdoor-smoking-areas?page=2) (radisson roe, limavady (http://www.radissonroepark.com/eng/home) and lavery's bar belfast (http://www.laverysbelfast.com/))
row 3, pic 4[/URL] ([URL="http://bellinisnewry.com/"]bellini's, newry (http://cigars.co.uk/category/gallery/comfortable-outdoor-smoking-areas?page=4))
row 4 pic 3 (http://cigars.co.uk/category/gallery/comfortable-outdoor-smoking-areas) (crawfordsburn inn (http://www.theoldinn.com/))

londonderry arms hotel in carnlough (http://www.glensofantrim.com/) up the antrim coast was once owned by sir winston churchill (in fact, you can even stay in his room)! though there's no smoking room or anything, it's a nice, quiet wee place where you can sit with a guinness or coffee outside and have a smoke!
*as a point of interest, sir winston churchill owned quite a lot of property in the north antrim coast between glenarm and glenariff, including garron tower (now st macnissi's college)!!! here's some info (http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2010/04/garron-tower.html)! also, you can stay in one of his cottages (https://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Fallowvee-Carnlough-Ballymena-P6465) down by the sea!!!

the courtyard in carrickfergus (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotos-g209947-d211199-Coast_Road_Hotel-Carrickfergus_County_Antrim_Northern_Ireland.html# 18438853), a few meters away from mauds ice cream (on the sea front, right next door to the coast road hotel in the 'scotch quarters)!!! a quiet, secluded wee place, with a nice sit in deli (a great selection of cheeses and gourmet food at reasonable prices, as well as doing fantastic coffee), a couple of nice shops (beauty salons and jewelry shops to occupy 'er indoors, lol! also a 'well being' holistic center, and a couple of craft shops) and plenty of outdoor seats to sit and smoke a cigar and have a coffee!!!!

the joymount arms (http://www.joymountarms.com/) in carrickfergus is supposed to have one of the best COSA's around, a sheltered area out the back with patio heaters located at most tables, an open fire for the winter months and televisions (so you never have to miss any of that important game whilst you nip out for a smoke)!

the windrose bar in carrickfergus (http://www.thewindrose.co.uk/bistro.asp) has a great outdoor heated area, and oddly enough is home to the davidoff cafe!

lynden heights restauraunt (http://www.restaurant-lynden-heights.com/lynden.asp), between ballygally and glenarm!!!! fantastic food, great location (with views of the antrim coast and scotland), plenty of outdoor seats........and best of all, a conservatory where you can have a smoke after 9:30pm!!!

mccollam's bar in cushendall (http://www.mccollamsbar.com/index.html) is a great wee 'quiet man' type pub, with live music and great food (http://www.upstairsatjoes.com/)! there's a sheltered courtyard with heaters etc! great place for a guinness and a cigar.........and you're likely to bump into a certain liam neeson!

la boca (http://www.labocabelfast.com/index.html), Argentinean restaurant in belfast city center!!! great place to get a nice cuban coffee (or argentine yerba mate) and some great tasting latin food!!! they also serve a great selection of alcohol, (including carribean rum - havana club, appleton estate & goslings)!!! they sell a small selection of (unhumidified) cuban cigars, such as tubed RYJ no. 3 & guantanemero minuteos, montecristo puritos, smoking is confined to outdoor tables......

the garrick bar (http://www.thegarrickbar.com/), belfast city center! one of belfast's old style bars, just down the street from the city hall!!! great place for food, entertainment and a smoke!!!! they have a small counter top H&F humidor stocked with tubed montecristo, R y J, h upmann and punch cigars!!! decent outdoors smoking area!!!

the bureau bar & bistro in jordanstown (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/eating-out/good-day-at-the-bureau-then-dear-13502380.html) (between belfast and carrickfergus) has a great sheltered outdoor smoking area!!! the food's supposed to be pretty good there too!!! cigars can be purchased from the lighthouse off sales a couple of doors down (tubed montectristo, RYJ and h upmann)........

the chester (http://www.thechester.co.uk/beer_garden.html) on belfast's antrim road (north belfast) has an 'all weather' beer garden with heaters etc!!!! they are also listed by H&F as habanos retailers (however i've never noticed them)!!!

the wellington park hotel, belfast (http://www.wellingtonparkhotel.com/wellie_bar_grill.php) has a good COSA!!! recommended by niall, the proprietor of miss morans tobacconist (n. ireland's only habanos specialist)!!!

the ivory bar & restauran (http://www.theivorybelfast.com/)t, victoria square belfast!!! located on the top floor of belfast city center's house of fraser, this has been recommended as one of the best COSA's around!!!

the central wine bar in ballycastle (http://www.centralwinebar.com/index.php)!!! not only does it get rave reviews for it's food, drink and general ambience, it's 'beer garden' gets a lot of praise (by all accounts it's a great COSA)!!! by all accounts a great place to enjoy a cigar (it's sheltered & heated) if you're on the north coast!!!

PLACES TO BE CONFIRMED....
the following are places i've yet to visit, so i can't comment on their COSA's as i don't know what the smoking policy is at these establishments!!!!
*the merchant hotel, belfast (check post 15) **niall, proprietor of miss moran's confirmed that they sell cuban cigars, but have nowhere to smoke them!!!
*the bushmills inn (check post 16)

[cj121]

Excellent post senor:thumb: albeit outlets are thin on the ground. Nice to see where folk can smoke one off though, and I'm sure your efforts will help travellers out.

[senor_robusto]

thanks again cj,
i can be the first to admit, and i'm sure gary will agree, that northern ireland is a little, ahem, behind the times with 'modern culture'! we have 2 proper habanos specialists to cater for the whole of the north and there's very little in the way of places to enjoy them! i was at a friend's wedding last weekend in the stormount hotel, which is supposed to be a wee bit classy! whilst sitting out enjoying an exceptionally fine RyJ churchill, i got into a couple of conversations with other smokers! except for the token chancers and scroungers (you know the sort) looking to blag a freebie, the general consensus was the same:
1. they'd love to get into smoking cuban cigars, but know nothing about them and have no way of educating themselves, except with considerable personal expense!
2. the cigar shops in belfast are a little intimidating for someone starting off (i can vouch for that)!
3. there's nowhere comfortable to smoke them (if you're gonna sit and smoke a cigar for around an hour, then you at least want to be comfortable)!

this is why i thought i'd set this up! i'm sure gary, like myself, even finds it frustrating here in belfast sometimes! also, i noticed there's another couple of members on here from northern ireland (liono and niall)! hopefully we can all pool our resources and help each other out, maybe sometime down the line even have a HERF!!!! who knows.......

anyway, thanks for the encouraging words,

all the best,

alex:849:

[Lads2000]

I sometimes visit Belfast with work, this is a great help for the lonely souls like myself who often hit a city they do not know on where to go, especially as I sometimes fancy a nice smoke after work.

Thanks Guys

[Liono]

Of course smoking indoors in public places is a no no nowadays, but i wonder would this apply to a private members club?

Anyone know about the legalities of this? Could be an interesting idea? :smoke:

[Gary]

I'm not sure if this would be allowed either, it's something that would need looking into. I think if it's the type of private club that would be employing people then no, but if it's something like a private residence, then possibly?

[Gary]

A link showing Miss Moran, in case any of you ever visit Belfast and want to go and get some cigars.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackeeadio/1150072435/

[senor_robusto]

updated the list this evening.........if anyone's interested!!!!

alex:849:

[senor_robusto]

called in to gap wines on belfast's antrim road on saturday afternoon!!! i was surprised to see 2 cohiba siglo 6's in the small humidor, even more so when i saw that they were £25 each (£3 cheaper than anywhere else in belfast)!!! anyway, i got talking to the owner (well, i presumed he was the owner) about cigars!! he told me that all their cigars came from hunter's & frankau and that a rep calls out every few weeks to check the humidor and supply him with new cigars!!! upon closer inspection, i was impressed to see that there was a humidifying device, small tray of salt and a hygrometer (that was reading 65% i believe) at the bottom of the humidor!!! well, i bought the siglo 6 and he said that, if there was ever a particular brand of cigars or a particular cigar i wanted, then he would 'order' in for me!!!! he said that, because cigars aren't that big a seller for him, he would only be stocking tubed cigars and in small quantities........which i thought was very reasonable!!!!

just thought i'd let the other interested belfast/ northern ireland parties know.........

all the best,

alex

[senor_robusto]

hey all,
was in belfast city center yesterday meeting an old friend for lunch! anyway, we progressed on to the garrick bar (http://www.thegarrickbar.com/), just down from the city hall!!! whilst ordering a couple of pints of the black stuff, i noticed a small H&F style humidor on the counter, stocked up with tubed montecristos, h upmanns and romeo y julietas!!! i've noticed this with quite a few of the old style bars in belfast, they'll have a small selection of tubed havanas!!! what's also cool about the garrick is there's a pretty decent sheltered smoking area right outside the front door........

all the best,

alex:849:

[HabanoSy]

What's also cool about the garrick is there's a pretty decent sheltered outdoor smoking area right outside........

I trust you managed to use said outside smoking area senor...!?! :41:

Cheers, HabanoSy

[senor_robusto]

lol...........holy cow, how'd that happen?

well pointed out habanosSY, for pointing that out!:wink:

alex:849:

[senor_robusto]

actually, i'll just edit it..........

alex

[senor_robusto]

just read in the last couple of days that the luxurious 5 star hotel here in belfast, the merchant (http://www.themerchanthotel.com/index.php/welcome.html), has had a £16million extension!!!! as well as the expected additions of new accomodation, private gym, luxury spa, blah blah..... there's a new 'roof top garden with, quote:
"......stunning landscaping, canopies for inclement weather and an external fire."

sounds like an ideal COSA......

unfortunately i can't find any pics of this new development or, more importantly, the roof top garden!!! however, given the merchant's reputation for class, i'm sure it will be fantastic........sounds like a great, classy, place for a herf!!!

more news when i can find it........

alex:849::tongue::41::rock::cowboyic9::cool:

[senor_robusto]

also, planning a campervan holiday around the north coast and donegal for sometime in the next few weeks, and i remembered this place, the famous bushmills inn (http://www.bushmillsinn.com/default.aspx)!!! 5 minute's walk from the famous distillery (http://www.bushmills.com/Gateway?ReturnUrl=%2f).......

had a meal with the missus in here about a year ago, which was awesome!!! the bar was great.........with a great outdoor seating area!!! not sure about shelters etc..........so, again, i'll do a bit of re-con as soon as i can and report back!!!

also, the village itself (http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=57) has a couple of traditional type tea houses (not cafes!!!) which typically have tables and chairs outside, as well as the usual craft shops and stuff associated with a place popular with tourists!!!!

alex

ps: just read this (http://www.bushmillsinn.com/news_article/1.aspx), which states of the new developments & extensions to the hotel! sounds interesting.......

[travisbickle34]

Goood ooold NI.

I paid an tenner for a RyJ No.2 a couple of weeks back in a local bar.... Painful

But it tasted good nonetheless:smile:

[oldjabroni]

Hello everyone....the wif and I are headed to Belfast mid-June for a wedding, and from everyone's posts, the only cigars available locally are the run of he mill type. Should I just bring enough of my own, to last for the week? Also, I saw postings on the smoking bans, etc.....I will be able to enjoy a stogie while on the golf course, won't I? Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[senor_robusto]

Hello everyone....the wif and I are headed to Belfast mid-June for a wedding, and from everyone's posts, the only cigars available locally are the run of he mill type. Should I just bring enough of my own, to last for the week? Also, I saw postings on the smoking bans, etc.....I will be able to enjoy a stogie while on the golf course, won't I? Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

hey oldjabroni,
miss moran's in belfast city center is northern ireland's only habanos specialist!!! you'll get a great selection of all sorts in there, LE's, RE's, h&f vintage (1997, 98, 99), as well as the usual suspects of cohiba, montecristo, partagas, bolivar etc etc!!!

i could help you out better if you could give me a rough idea of where you are staying and where the wedding is (PM if you want)!!!!

by all means bring your own, but decent cigars can be had in belfast!!! also, check my COSA section on the best places to smoke IMO!!!

alex

[oldjabroni]

Thanks a bunch....we're at The Balmoral, weding is saturday the 18th....we'll be getting on Wednesday the 15th, and leaving the 21st

[senor_robusto]

hey all,
just read, in the local newspaper, a glowing review of the central wine bar in ballycastle (http://www.centralwinebar.com/index.php)!!! not only does it get rave reviews for it's food, drink and general ambience, it's 'beer garden' gets a good mention!!! by all accounts a great place to enjoy a cigar (it's sheltered & heated) if you're on the north coast!!!

also, for what it's worth, the ferry from ballycastle to campbelltown (http://www.kintyreexpress.com/ferry service.html) is running again, so it's easy to access from scotland!!!

also, for what it's worth, there's plenty of inexpensive places to stay in ballycastle and neighbouring ballintoy (home of the carrick-a-rede rope bridge)!!! there's a good choice of decent hostels, b&b's and hotels!!! it's a great base to explore the north coast from.......

alex

[Gary]

Just a we'd update for this thread, was in Laverys bar in Shaftsbury Square (Belfast City Centre) this afternoon with the wife for some good old pub grub. The bar has an adjoining off sales which had a Hunters & Frankau style bar/restaurant type humidor with a decent selection of tubos smokes including Bolivar, Cohiba, H. Upmann etc, as well as 3 or 4 boxes of Bolivar which I found surprising. On the down side they were selling Cohiba Silgo VI for £38 each!!!

[NornIron]

Was walking past Miss Moran's today, and had to pop in!
Didn't buy anything, but I always have to have a quick look around when I'm in town.

[baccybert]

Very comprehensive mate, thanks for this! Moran's can be hit or miss. If the male owner is working at the time he is very helpful and pleasant to chat to, but I've encountered two women who were very rude ( one actually held my note up to the light and then consulted her co worker to check if it was real, in front of me) and they were not welcoming. They are also so overpriced. Until now it was my go to for pipe and cigar goodies, but I'll be trying these other shops :)

Crawfordsburn Inn is a 2 second walk from where I am and a brilliant place for a smoke. A nice sheltered seating area out back, almost like a bar with no windows and a roaring hearth fire is very pleasant, enjoyed a Churchill Lancaster there the other week and will be there more frequently from now on. I'd definitely recommend it, nothing better than to sit sipping your favorite tipple and working on a stogie, all the while being kept toasty by the fire, perfect.

[senor_robusto]

Just a we'd update for this thread, was in Laverys bar in Shaftsbury Square (Belfast City Centre) this afternoon with the wife for some good old pub grub. The bar has an adjoining off sales which had a Hunters & Frankau style bar/restaurant type humidor with a decent selection of tubos smokes including Bolivar, Cohiba, H. Upmann etc, as well as 3 or 4 boxes of Bolivar which I found surprising. On the down side they were selling Cohiba Silgo VI for £38 each!!!

hey gary, how's it going mate? how's the little one doing?

that's shocking the price of the cohiba siglo 6! moran's sell them at £35 each (i think), gap wines and the vineyard sell them for £27 each! that's still expensive, and the very reason i still regard the cohiba siglo6 as a treat for special occasion......

alex

[senor_robusto]

Very comprehensive mate, thanks for this! Moran's can be hit or miss. If the male owner is working at the time he is very helpful and pleasant to chat to, but I've encountered two women who were very rude ( one actually held my note up to the light and then consulted her co worker to check if it was real, in front of me) and they were not welcoming. They are also so overpriced. Until now it was my go to for pipe and cigar goodies, but I'll be trying these other shops :)

Crawfordsburn Inn is a 2 second walk from where I am and a brilliant place for a smoke. A nice sheltered seating area out back, almost like a bar with no windows and a roaring hearth fire is very pleasant, enjoyed a Churchill Lancaster there the other week and will be there more frequently from now on. I'd definitely recommend it, nothing better than to sit sipping your favorite tipple and working on a stogie, all the while being kept toasty by the fire, perfect.

hey bert, that sounds like a good place to relax and burn off a good cigar in comfort!! as for miss moran's staff, i think anyone who has visited has come away with the same feeling about the staff!! to be honest, as much as niall is a decent guy, he can be rude as well (without realising it)! the old saying 'beggars can't be choosers' applies, since they're northern ireland's only habanos 'specialist'!

alex

[Gary]

Hey Alex, going ok mate, good in fact, just finished my degree on Friday past and I've finally got my life back, finished the final exam in the proper way with smoking cigars down at Jordanstown with some guys out of the class which I provided, which everyone enjoyed! The wee women is doing fantastic, getting big, 10 months and becoming a wee madame!

Just on Miss Moran, your correct Niall (don't know him personally) can be quite short without realising it I think, but the women with the short dark curly hair is a fucking ignorant pig, and I don't mind saying it, I've lost count of the number of times she's grunted at me, to be honest, the shop definately lost something when the previous owners sold up, two elderly brothers who were two lovely gentlemen who would always stand and chat, give advice and just be happy to shoot the breeze basically, pity it's changed, but I guess everything does, unfortunately not always for the better.

Anyway keep in touch chum, hope you had an enjoyable Xmas!