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Belfast sausage grill with Virgin Mary statue is re-named

Above, the Christmas market stall's original name, below, its new name, and right, the Virgin Mary statue placed atop the stall
Above, the Christmas market stall's original name, below, its new name, and right, the Virgin Mary statue placed atop the stall Above, the Christmas market stall's original name, below, its new name, and right, the Virgin Mary statue placed atop the stall

A CHRISTMAS market stall branded as a 'bar' that had a Virgin Mary statue placed above it in Belfast city centre has been re-named.

The statue of Our Lady and several other religious figures raised eyebrows among some city shoppers last week after being placed above a stall named the 'Black Forest Bar'.

It has been constructed at Castle Place as part of efforts to draw more shoppers into the city centre in the aftermath of the Primark fire.

The 'Black Forest Bar' sign has since been changed to 'Black Forest BBQ'.

Before it opened to the public, Belfast City Council clarified that the stall was "not a bar" but instead a "German bratwurst sausage grill".

Read more:Virgin Mary statue placed above German sausage grill in Belfast

It said that a "check will be made to ensure all signage is relevant to customers in Belfast".

"No alcohol is being served at the grill and the sign referencing a bar will be removed prior to it opening," a spokesman said.

Asked about the name change, a spokeswoman for the organisers yesterday said: "The grill is from Germany where it was serving bratwurst and beer.

"In Belfast its use is only as a bratwurst sausage grill and so the word 'bar' was removed."

The statue of Our Lady above the Christmas market stall in Belfast city centre. Picture by Hugh Russell
The statue of Our Lady above the Christmas market stall in Belfast city centre. Picture by Hugh Russell The statue of Our Lady above the Christmas market stall in Belfast city centre. Picture by Hugh Russell

The stall is among numerous additional attractions placed in areas impacted by a safety cordon around the old Primark building.

They include extra Christmas market stalls, amusements, live music and street theatre.

The council hopes the attractions will "help drive footfall in the run-up to Christmas and beyond, to assist traders affected by the Bank Buildings fire".

Read more:Virgin Mary statue placed above German sausage grill in Belfast

The Black Forest BBQ when it was still the Black Forest Bar at Castle Place in Belfast city centre. Picture by Hugh Russell
The Black Forest BBQ when it was still the Black Forest Bar at Castle Place in Belfast city centre. Picture by Hugh Russell The Black Forest BBQ when it was still the Black Forest Bar at Castle Place in Belfast city centre. Picture by Hugh Russell