Et In Arcadia Ego

I cycled into town on the trusty two-wheeler this morning.

Having parked the bike at Donegall Place, I ambled over to Bedford Street in order to have a look at Windsor House.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the scenario, Windsor House is the tallest building (with the Obel Tower) in Northern Ireland.

Its main entrance is in Bedford Street and it is bounded by James Street South and Franklin Street.

Thence I made a beeline for the splendid Linenhall Library in Donegall Square North, where I unearthed a 1960s street directory.

Windsor House seems to have been named after the Windsor Building Company, which had its offices at the corner of Franklin Street.

A street directory of 1860, however, lists John Workman & Son.

Interestingly, Bedford Street ran from Howard Street to "Old Lisburn Road" in those days.

Mr Workman's residence was Edgcumbe House, Strandtown. 

En route to the two-wheeler, I made my stately (!) way along Queen's Arcade, where my attention was drawn to the brand new Good Food & Wine Company, which has a charming food hall, tea-house and brew bar.

The tea-room is upstairs, directly overlooking Lunn's jewellery shop.

I gather that the directors of the Good Food & Wine Company ~ Nicholas Lestas and Michelle McNicholl-Lestas ~ have been in business for over fourteen years.

Much of this work has involved the development of the Food Sector in Northern Ireland.

The Good Food & Wine Company was established in January, 2012.

Michelle McNicholl-Lestas, Bsc (Hons), MBA, AMCIPS, MIMC, is a company director for both The Good Food & Wine Company and Lestas Consulting. Michelle is a successful entrepreneur and business owner, having successfully grown her business from scratch.

She is currently a member of the NI Council for The Prince's Trust and author of a number of published articles on current affairs in Northern Ireland for established business journals and newspapers, and is also an appointed Mentor, non-executive director and Interim Manager with InvestNI.

Nicholas Lestas, (BSc (Hon), MBA, Diploma in Marketing is also a company director for both The Good Food & Wine Company and Lestas Consulting.

He has a strong business ethos, spanning over 30 years, and a keen interest in local food development.

In 2004, the President of Cyprus bestowed the position of Honorary Commissioner for Cyprus in Northern Ireland to Nicholas, a permanent position geared to facilitating stronger economic and political links between the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Ireland.