Business

Bill Wolsey shakes up 'sleepy four-star' offering with new Bullitt Hotel in Belfast

Belfast's Bullitt hotel opens this weekend 
Belfast's Bullitt hotel opens this weekend  Belfast's Bullitt hotel opens this weekend 

THE doors of the north's newest hotel The Bullitt open this weekend 'so they do' - complete with the only lifts in Ireland to welcome guests in distinctly Belfast style.

Guests ascending to one of the 43 'dinky', 'comfy' or 'roomy' rooms will be greeted by the voice of music critic and broadcaster Joe Lindsay, telling them, 'This is the second floor, so it is', before adding, 'doors are opening, so they are...'

It is the latest little detail to amuse owner Bill Wolsey, who persuaded the lift company involved in their installation to dispense with customary English tones of 'lift-speak' to add to the unique offering of his £7 million re-development of Lagan House in Belfast's Ann Street.

Rooms have already been extensively pre-booked - a number have been taken by cast members from Game of Thrones - and the final polishings and run-throughs were taking place this week ahead of Saturday's opening of phase one.

The second phase is already in planning and will see the hotel upping its capacity to 80 bedrooms and four apartments, in addition to a new roof garden - to be named 'Babel' - which is set to be "biggest in Ireland" and scheduled to open in May next year.

An exciting new venture for Beannchor Group founder and managing director, Mr Wolsey, he said he set out to shake up "the sleepy world" of four-star hotels, targeting the 25-to-45 year-old market which he believes is not being adequately catered for within Belfast's burgeoning hospitality sector.

"The Bullitt will punch well above its weight, offering excellent food - traceable meats, home-made cookies and fare cooked in an amazing Asador spit grill - with a good night's sleep in 'the best beds you can buy', but without the added luxuries of five-star facilities," he said.

"I wanted another hotel in Belfast, but there was no room for another five-star, so I looked at re-working the tired four-star formulae. I decided to enter the world of the man who wears slacks with pink jumper (tied around his neck) and loafers.

"They are a vanishing species but the younger, vibrant market was being ignored; people who want air conditioning, power-shower and mini bar in a modern, attractive room, alongside a lively ground floor operation."

And, with the right atmosphere a vital ingredient in keeping customers coming back for more, he has kept the focus on a "vibrant ground floor" with three bars - one designed like a ski lodge with skis decorating part of the ceiling - coffee shop and main restaurant.

Alongside 17th century doors salvaged from a holiday home in Spain and eye-catching whiskey barrel sculpture in the courtyard, Mr Wolsey - whose extensive portfolio includes the luxurious five-star Merchant Hotel, The Dirty Onion, Yard Bird, The National and Little Wing pizzeria - is content it all makes for a unique offering in the city centre.

"This will be the first of many Bullitt hotels as I hope to open others in Dublin and Manchester in the near future," he added.

"They may not have a bullet hole in one of the windows like this one, but they too will pay homage to 1960s icon, Steven McQueen, and his film, 'The Bullitt'.

"But I might have to change the voice in the lift."