Comments for NI grapevine http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:04:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on The Tuatha Dé Danann (“People of the Goddess Danu”) by chris http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/10/the-tuatha-de-danann-people-of-the-goddess-danu/#comment-46 chris Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:04:07 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=1607#comment-46 definately going to have a read Book of Invasions. definately going to have a read Book of Invasions.

]]> Comment on Causeway Smithy Bed and Breakfast by Valerie and Harry Allen http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/10/causeway-smithy-bed-and-breakfast/#comment-44 Valerie and Harry Allen Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:01:31 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=1541#comment-44 Fabulous.We have just returned home after a delightful 2 nights in Causeway Smithy. Denise and Les are great hosts and we were made most welcome. The rooms are beautiful with everything provided and we really appreciated our own private entrance. We felt so at home in our lovely private living room and the king size bedroom was very comfortable. Breakfast was excellent and we just can't wait to go back again. Please try and visit here, you will not be disappointed. Fabulous.We have just returned home after a delightful 2 nights in Causeway Smithy. Denise and Les are great hosts and we were made most welcome. The rooms are beautiful with everything provided and we really appreciated our own private entrance. We felt so at home in our lovely private living room and the king size bedroom was very comfortable. Breakfast was excellent and we just can’t wait to go back again. Please try and visit here, you will not be disappointed.

]]> Comment on Crown Bar Belfast by Anna Anna Pilkington http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/11/crown-bar-belfast/#comment-42 Anna Anna Pilkington Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:16:12 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=1929#comment-42 The Crown is probably one of the most beautiful bars that I have ever been in, like going back in time. Spent a whole day there recently with my friends, we arrived at one o'clock and sat in one of the snugs. The Craic was good and by 4pm we were rightly on and were having a great laugh, when one of the bartenders came across and asked us to leave as we were too noisy. Granted we were laughing and having a great time but there was no use of bad language or any horseplay, we were simply sitting in the snug drinking and laughing. That brought that great fun day to closure and the mood changed to disapointment. We asked a Taxi driver where else there was to go in Belfast and he said that most of the bars in Belfast were dead due to it being a Thursday so on that note we departed back to Bangor and went to our local bar to finish off the night. Shame that the Bar staff in one of Belfast's most prominent and famous pubs cannot put up with a little laughter from their patrons. And a further shame that Belfast seems to be like a village during the week as apposed to a " City ". I would advise to go visit the crown as it is beautiful however if you are going there please remember that they do not like it if you are enjoying yourself too much. The Crown is probably one of the most beautiful bars that I have ever been in, like going back in time. Spent a whole day there recently with my friends, we arrived at one o’clock and sat in one of the snugs. The Craic was good and by 4pm we were rightly on and were having a great laugh, when one of the bartenders came across and asked us to leave as we were too noisy. Granted we were laughing and having a great time but there was no use of bad language or any horseplay, we were simply sitting in the snug drinking and laughing. That brought that great fun day to closure and the mood changed to disapointment. We asked a Taxi driver where else there was to go in Belfast and he said that most of the bars in Belfast were dead due to it being a Thursday so on that note we departed back to Bangor and went to our local bar to finish off the night. Shame that the Bar staff in one of Belfast’s most prominent and famous pubs cannot put up with a little laughter from their patrons. And a further shame that Belfast seems to be like a village during the week as apposed to a ” City “. I would advise to go visit the crown as it is beautiful however if you are going there please remember that they do not like it if you are enjoying yourself too much.

]]> Comment on Café Vaudeville by Andrea Close M I T http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/11/cafe-vaudeville/#comment-39 Andrea Close M I T Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:19:21 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=1901#comment-39 The bar/ restaurant is one of the best designed themed bars to rejuevate the centre of Belfast.....its a trend setter..I wish more were like this one.....in our heart of Belfast. The retro decor has been very complimentary to the existing archetiture.......With a hint of the middle east oramentation..Its a place to escape much later on on your way round from other Belfast Bars. It is a place to be seen and not to missed! Love the fact, there is a separate VIP area for private parties and the change of scenery if you get a chance to pass the party list bouncers.....can be amusing to look down rather than look up...... Not like many other Bars in Belfast this place has different long lounge chairs or snug seat areas either to gather a crowd around you or snug to snog or just drown out the usual loud music.. Cafe Vaudeville, do it best when they have singing acts and theme music,,dont miss it especially at christmas/new year. Menus are predicatable and need to be reviewed in my opinion.... When eating here, it has always been the case, that food has been served quite slowly and can only ruin your hungry appetite as the food goes cold rather quickly too!. The staff are pleasant and friendily but dont expect them to be on a late Saturday night, as it murder tryin to get any attention to even get a drink... on a very negative side For the many times I frequent Vaudeville, as yet havent found their toilet facilties in good hygienic state...and is very off putting sight after climbing so many stairs to go!. The bar/ restaurant is one of the best designed themed bars to rejuevate the centre of Belfast…..its a trend setter..I wish more were like this one…..in our heart of Belfast.
The retro decor has been very complimentary to the existing archetiture…….With a hint of the middle east oramentation..Its a place to escape much later on on your way round from other Belfast Bars. It is a place to be seen and not to missed!

Love the fact, there is a separate VIP area for private parties and the change of scenery if you get a chance to pass the party list bouncers…..can be amusing to look down rather than look up……
Not like many other Bars in Belfast this place has different long lounge chairs or snug seat areas either to gather a crowd around you or snug to snog or just drown out the usual loud music..

Cafe Vaudeville, do it best when they have singing acts and theme music,,dont miss it especially at christmas/new year.

Menus are predicatable and need to be reviewed in my opinion….
When eating here, it has always been the case, that food has been served quite slowly and can only ruin your hungry appetite as the food goes cold rather quickly too!.
The staff are pleasant and friendily but dont expect them to be on a late Saturday night, as it murder tryin to get any attention to even get a drink…

on a very negative side
For the many times I frequent Vaudeville,
as yet havent found their toilet facilties in good hygienic state…and is very off putting sight after climbing so many stairs to go!.

]]> Comment on Christmas Market – Belfast – City Hall by Stephen McCallister http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/events/christmas-market-belfast-city-hall/#comment-37 Stephen McCallister Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:43:27 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?post_type=event&p=1883#comment-37 Visited the Christmas market on Sunday 21st of November 2011 with my wife and two children. After getting in the side gate we tried to get through the crowd which wasn;t easy as it is very cramped and you need to hold onto your children for fear of them being trampled. I would hate the thought of one of those stalls catching fire as there would be no quick escape route if people pannicked there would be mayhem and no doubt injuries. I think that the site for this event is far too small and the council need to consider somewhere like the grounds of the Odyssey Arena where there is ample parking and the stalls could be set out with more space in order to reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt in the event of fire. This Venue is totally not child or friendly towards those who are disabled. There is absolutely no seating available for those who purchase something to eat apart from the Beer tent which is generally packed to the doors. Come on BCC think of families with children and disabled people who would like also to enjoy the market and move this event to somewhere like the Odyssey where there would be ample space for everyone to enjoy. Oh and it may even attract more stalls from other countries apart from the Dutch pancake and flower bulb, German Sausage and Beer drinking ones that mostly aquire the sites each year. Maybe even a little live music wouldnt go a miss just to get people to enjoy it a little more, just some food for thought. Visited the Christmas market on Sunday 21st of November 2011 with my wife and two children. After getting in the side gate we tried to get through the crowd which wasn;t easy as it is very cramped and you need to hold onto your children for fear of them being trampled. I would hate the thought of one of those stalls catching fire as there would be no quick escape route if people pannicked there would be mayhem and no doubt injuries. I think that the site for this event is far too small and the council need to consider somewhere like the grounds of the Odyssey Arena where there is ample parking and the stalls could be set out with more space in order to reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt in the event of fire. This Venue is totally not child or friendly towards those who are disabled. There is absolutely no seating available for those who purchase something to eat apart from the Beer tent which is generally packed to the doors. Come on BCC think of families with children and disabled people who would like also to enjoy the market and move this event to somewhere like the Odyssey where there would be ample space for everyone to enjoy. Oh and it may even attract more stalls from other countries apart from the Dutch pancake and flower bulb, German Sausage and Beer drinking ones that mostly aquire the sites each year. Maybe even a little live music wouldnt go a miss just to get people to enjoy it a little more, just some food for thought.

]]> Comment on Giants Causeway by Kaye McArdle http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/giants-causeway/#comment-30 Kaye McArdle Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:36:01 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=110#comment-30 This part of Ireland is breathtakingly beautiful, so much to see up round this coast, but the best way to take it all in and 'miss nothing' is to get out there on the 'Causeway Coastal Route' Have fun! This part of Ireland is breathtakingly beautiful, so much to see up round this coast, but the best way to take it all in and ‘miss nothing’ is to get out there on the ‘Causeway Coastal Route’ Have fun!

]]> Comment on Ireland in a day by Ken http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/ireland-in-a-day/#comment-29 Ken Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:05:09 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=521#comment-29 First class photography and backing music to this video! Well done First class photography and backing music to this video! Well done

]]> Comment on Travelling to Northern Ireland by christine davies http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/10/travelling-to-northern-ireland/#comment-23 christine davies Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:52:24 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=1802#comment-23 being Welsh and living in Northern Ireland, i am still learning a lot about the history, really enjoyed this blog, Thank you being Welsh and living in Northern Ireland, i am still learning a lot about the history, really enjoyed this blog, Thank you

]]> Comment on Galgorm Resort and Spa by Stephen McCallister http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/09/galgorm-resort-and-spa/#comment-16 Stephen McCallister Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:15:24 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/09/galgorm-resort-and-spa/#comment-16 What can I say about Galgorm Manor that people don't already know. Booked a Spa weekend for the wife and I and enjoyed every second of it. Friendly staff, great surroundings, good food and the room, well it was amazing. Wifey is looking to go back again, but i'll need to save a few quid first. Would recommend the Spa weekend at Galgorm Manor. What can I say about Galgorm Manor that people don’t already know. Booked a Spa weekend for the wife and I and enjoyed every second of it. Friendly staff, great surroundings, good food and the room, well it was amazing. Wifey is looking to go back again, but i’ll need to save a few quid first. Would recommend the Spa weekend at Galgorm Manor.

]]> Comment on Welcome Chinese Restaurant by James http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/09/welcome-chinese-restaurant/#comment-15 James Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:08:32 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=1331#comment-15 Visited this chinese restaurant on 1st October 2011. Was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. The staff were friendly, service was nothing less than excellent. A little more expensive than some of the other chinese restaurants in around Belfast however I was happy to pay just that little bit more for the excellent, food and service. I would highly recommend the Welcome Chinese on the Stramillis Road and I for one will certainly be returning very soon. Visited this chinese restaurant on 1st October 2011. Was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. The staff were friendly, service was nothing less than excellent. A little more expensive than some of the other chinese restaurants in around Belfast however I was happy to pay just that little bit more for the excellent, food and service. I would highly recommend the Welcome Chinese on the Stramillis Road and I for one will certainly be returning very soon.

]]> Comment on Ulster Folk and Transport Museum by Marco Polo http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/ulster-folk-and-transport-museum-3/#comment-14 Marco Polo Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:40:30 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/ulster-folk-and-transport-museum-3/#comment-14 Just love the folk and transport museum, I still visit there regularly, probably 4 times per year. Lovely walk through the fold museum, kids love it too, plenty of animals around, pigs, geese, lambs, horses, etc. A relatively inexpensive way of spending the day in lovely surroundings and the old houses give you an idea as to how we use to live, " don't know what people are complaining about these days :-)" The Museum is well set out and takes a few hours to walk around, although in the summer months they have an old bus that can take you around from the main square beside the print shop. I never get bored of this place. Just love the folk and transport museum, I still visit there regularly, probably 4 times per year. Lovely walk through the fold museum, kids love it too, plenty of animals around, pigs, geese, lambs, horses, etc. A relatively inexpensive way of spending the day in lovely surroundings and the old houses give you an idea as to how we use to live, ” don’t know what people are complaining about these days :-) ”
The Museum is well set out and takes a few hours to walk around, although in the summer months they have an old bus that can take you around from the main square beside the print shop. I never get bored of this place.

]]> Comment on Middle South Woodburn by Marco Polo http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/09/middle-south-woodburn/#comment-13 Marco Polo Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:34:06 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/09/middle-south-woodburn/#comment-13 Remember fishing here as a kid and catching brown and rainbow trout. it's a little distance from the Car park, therefore disabled people may need assistance to get to the reservoir. Great views over Carrickfergus, a nice day out. Remember fishing here as a kid and catching brown and rainbow trout. it’s a little distance from the Car park, therefore disabled people may need assistance to get to the reservoir. Great views over Carrickfergus, a nice day out.

]]> Comment on Giants Causeway by Marco Polo http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/giants-causeway/#comment-12 Marco Polo Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:29:37 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/?p=110#comment-12 The Giant’s Causeway was formed around 65 million years ago by the eruption of large volumes of lava that when cooled formed these hexagonal rocks. The ‘discovery’ of the causeway was announced in a paper to the Royal Society in 1693. At that time, there was furious debate over whether the causeway had been created by men with picks and chisels, by nature, or by the efforts of a giant called Finn McCool. I think i'll go with the scientific version that the causeway was formed by lava. Giants causeway is indeed something to be witnessed and the surroundings are breathtakingly wonderful. Although the Causeway is quite a walk away from the car park at the the visitors centre, there is a bus which runs from the centre to the causeway every ten minutes or so, therefore is accessable for those who cannot make the journey without being aided. The Giants Causeway is one of my favourite attractions in Northern Ireland and is a must see if visiting the province. The Giant’s Causeway was formed around 65 million years ago by the eruption of large volumes of lava that when cooled formed these hexagonal rocks. The ‘discovery’ of the causeway was announced in a paper to the Royal Society in 1693. At that time, there was furious debate over whether the causeway had been created by men with picks and chisels, by nature, or by the efforts of a giant called Finn McCool. I think i’ll go with the scientific version that the causeway was formed by lava. Giants causeway is indeed something to be witnessed and the surroundings are breathtakingly wonderful. Although the Causeway is quite a walk away from the car park at the the visitors centre, there is a bus which runs from the centre to the causeway every ten minutes or so, therefore is accessable for those who cannot make the journey without being aided. The Giants Causeway is one of my favourite attractions in Northern Ireland and is a must see if visiting the province.

]]> Comment on Unlimited Paintball Experience by pete http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/unlimited-paintball-experience/#comment-3 pete Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:32:08 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/2011/08/unlimited-paintball-experience/#comment-3 Was out for mates birthday, best paint-balling games I ever done. Got a bit trigger happy but thankfully extra paint was not to expensive but well worth it. Will definitely be back soon Was out for mates birthday, best paint-balling games I ever done. Got a bit trigger happy but thankfully extra paint was not to expensive but well worth it. Will definitely be back soon

]]> Comment on Its A Jungle Out There by Hugh http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/events/its-a-jungle-out-there/#comment-2 Hugh Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:15:42 +0000 http://www.nigrapevine.co.uk:/home/events/its-a-jungle-out-there/#comment-2 I am taking part :) cant wait for the food trails !!! and all for a good cause I am taking part :) cant wait for the food trails !!! and all for a good cause

]]>