Belfast restaurant SHU to relaunch following £1m investment

The expanded restaurant, which originally opened in October 2000, has been extensively refurbished and redesigned during the lockdown period.

The new-look venue, which has expanded into the neighbouring property, will encompass three separate elements - SHU dining room on the main ground floor; private dining space The Upper House, which will be located in the top floor extension; and basement bar and dining venue Jul’s.

The Upper House will feature two rooms, The Club Room and the Board Room, which have sliding doors between them that allow the space to become one larger room.

Jul’s will have DJ performances on Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday afternoon offer focusing on live jazz played on the house piano.

“We and the entire team, many of whom have been with us since the early days, are delighted to finally reach this point in our 20-year history where we are investing in the next chapter,” says co-owner Alan Reid.

“This huge financial investment is testament to the quality of our food and hospitality, the hard work of our team and the loyalty of our guests throughout the years.

“We are confidently emerging from the pandemic lockdown, which has been the greatest-ever challenge to the local and global hospitality industry.

“We fully plan to come out stronger, brighter and even more confident.”

Since its launch, SHU has won numerous awards for its innovative, modern French-inspired cuisine, including Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland at the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

“This refit and expansion is a sign of the strength of our brand and the local hospitality sector in general,” says head chef and co-owner Brian McCann.

“There is a real sense of anticipation about the relaunch as it marks some positive news for the local hospitality industry which has suffered so much this year.”

“We look forward to getting back to business and giving our much-valued guests new experiences and memories as we approach our third decade in the city.”