14, Church Lane, Belfast

The premises at number 14, Church Lane, Belfast have been home to public houses for many decades. In 1974 the street directory lists "McKenna & McGinley, Publicans" at 14; then it became known as the Boreen which, at a mere seven feet wide, was said to have been the smallest bar in the city. Can anyone recall its business prior to 1974?

More recently, it changed its name several more times as the Glass Jar, Nicholls; and today it has successfully found its niche as Muriel's Café-Bar. The well-known painter, Andrew Nicholl, lived in this street and his father was a boot-maker.

The White Hart Inn, one of the city's most popular watering-holes c1800, was located in Church Lane.

The terrace at numbers 12-14 dates from 1840. Further along the street, towards High Street, the terraces are even older; and a well-known tobacconist's shop dates from 1780.

This street was originally called School-house Lane after the school-house which was built behind the Corporation Church (now St George's). By 1788 it was known as Church Lane.