Destroyed Dukes (Dukes Hotel)

Member Name: byblox

Product:	Dukes Hotel
Date:	04/10/08 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Could be rescued

Disadvantages: What is that metal thing?

This is perhaps less of a hotel review than a lament for a grand old Belfast building. I have not stayed in Dukes but have spent some evenings there and it is a pleasant but not remarkable place.

My point is that Dukes was a very imposing Victorian building in a great location, a red brick, monumental, vaguely French edifice. However, my problem is that the place has been allowed to be utterly vandalised within the last few years and by its owners not nameless hooligans.

When first developed years ago as a hotel Dukes was quite well regarded. It looked handsome, had a nice bar and was near everything in the University area.

It changed hands a few times and someone in their wisdom built a conservatory onto the side, it enhanced the bar and looked fine. Then a couple of years ago a strange tall metal structure was added to the side, a bit like a unfinished glass lift, it seemed to have no purpose and looked strange. Next someone decided to badly block off the steps at the entrance for some reason. Now it was difficult to know how to get in. After that, the front was altered again and 'Finn McCools bar' opened with its shoddy front and odd Chinese lion sculptures outside, again it seems unclear as to how to get in and leaves you wondering why the steps were blocked in the first place.

Now it sits, closed and getting even more run down. Such a shame, again it seems that developers can do as they like to our heritage and get away with it.

Summary: Shame