Holohan's & QFT

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The drive to University Square was, thank goodness, uneventful last night, unlike Christmas Eve, when somebody slammed into the back of my car as I was en route to the annual carol service at Belfast Cathedral.

I managed to find a space about half-way along the Square, the finest mid-Victorian terrace in the city of Belfast.

A number of surgeons and physicians had their consulting-rooms here about fifty years ago.

University Square now belongs to Queen's University, and the Queen's Film Theatre (QFT) is located at number 20.

As it transpires, it was quite prudent to purchase a ticket for The Lighthouse online, because a notice-board stated that they were sold out.

Holohan's Pantry, February, 2020

Having parked, I walked towards University Road, crossed to the other side, and made a bee-line for Holohan's Pantry restaurant at number 43.

I'm wondering if Holohan's is developing this entire terrace, which dates from ca 1870.

It was known as Prospect Terrace.

This was my first visit to Holohan's, so I was looking forward to it.

I wasn't disappointed.

This is a small restaurant, quite narrow in width, though it stretches back a fair distance.

I was early, so it was still quiet when I arrived.

Calvin Holohan greeted me himself and showed me to a little table tucked away nicely at the back.

It formed part of the banquette seating which surrounds two of the walls.

My first impression of it all is good: comfortable seating, abundant cushions, some wooden panelling, distinctive paintings and so on.

The menu is clear, straightforward and concise, too.

It's not too large, to its credit, and has a balanced menu comprising the best of local produce.

I imagine that, if there is a signature dish, it has to be the Boxty, a traditional potato pancake.

Before I ordered Calvin told me a bit about his career and times in Dublin and County Mayo; and his schooldays at Kylemore Abbey.

The first course arrived, I suppose, within five to ten minutes.

This was the Portavogie prawns with coleslaw and and alioli.

The little prawns were lightly battered in, perhaps a sort of tempura manner, sitting on top of the salad.

Everything was light and delicious.

The alioli was lightly flavoured with garlic.

Not long afterwards the main course arrived: the Holohan's Pan Boxty, which was filled with large chunks of succulent smoked haddock and salmon in a rich sauce.

It came with seasonal vegetables, one of which looked like curly parsley.

Was it kale?

Seafood Boxty

Nevertheless, it was all delicious and I cleaned my plate, as it were.

The Boxty, by the way, is reminiscent of a crêpe, except that it's made of potato.

If you like potato bread or farls, you'll enjoy it.

Unfortunately I hadn't enough room for a full pudding, so decided to settle up and leave.

I'll certainly be back to Holohan's, as I told Calvin, a great and worthy host, and the charming staff.

*****

THE QFT is a mere hop, skip and jump from Holohan's, though I had a bit of time to kill so I ventured into the main bar of Duke's Hotel, called The Practitioner.

The Lighthouse began at ten past eight, so, having had a coffee, I found a seat and made myself comfortable.

The Lighthouse is not a conventional film.

For a start, it's made in black-and-white, and in the old 'box' style as opposed to wide-screen.

The first impression was that it could have been made in another era, though of course the sound and picture quality, and special effects were state-of-the-art.

This movie has been described as a psychological horror film.

It's brutal, and the characters (a cast of two) are coarse and vulgar, particularly the head keeper, the self-righteous Thomas Wake, who farts, bombasts, and bullies his subordinate (Ephraim Winslow).

These were powerful performances by Robert Pattinson (Ephraim) and Willem Dafoe (Thomas).

The theme is essentially about the relationship between the two, and the circumstances which led to their madness and destruction.

Much has already been written about the film, so I shan't elaborate any further.

I enjoyed it, though wouldn't advise Auntie Nellie to go, as it were.

It's definitely not for those of a sensitive or nervous disposition.

The Favourite Night

Strand Cinema, Holywood Road, ca 1936

When I was a lad in short trousers I was taken to the cinema quite often.

The Astoria and The Strand were both owned by the same company in the 1970s, ABC Cinemas, and there were matinees and a cinema club for schoolchildren.

They even gave us little metal enamel badges.

The Astoria was at Ballyhackamore, though it was demolished in 1974 to make way for a new telephone exchange.

The Strand Cinema, built in 1935, survives.

Strandtown House, the residence of Gustavus Heyn (1803-75), owner of the Belfast Steamship Company, used to stand here.

Strandtown House: Gate Lodge

Strandtown House and its grounds comprised two acres.

I had the customary coffee and bun with my aunt yesterday morning in Bell's and declared my intention to go and see The Favourite, a historical period drama about the rivalry between to female courtiers in the service of Queen Anne.

Timothy Belmont invariably adheres to his word. Ask any of his chums.

Accordingly, I left Belmont GHQ and made a beeline for Strandtown, viz. Belmont Road, close to the Strand cinema and Bennett's bistro, my venues.

It's quite a long time since I've darkened Bennett's threshold.

The staff showed me to a small table, where I made my self comfortable and perused the menu.

The Belfast Fish Pie caught the old eye, so I ordered that with a pot of tea.

They have a long list of desserts written in chalk on a blackboard, so I swivelled round, inwardly digested the list, and fancied the apple crumble.

Comfort food!

the grub was all tip-top, with a home-made appearance and taste.

The fish pie was rich, cheesy, creamy, with abundant and various chunks of fish, accompanied by a small sort of ramekin of mixed vegetables.

Plentiful big pieces of apple proliferated the buttery, golden crumble.

Full marks.

Crossing the road at Gelston's Corner, I entered the Strand cinema.

I don't think it has changed massively since I was last there, either, so I purchased a ticket and waited until the film began at eight-thirty.

The relatively recent business park beside the cinema used to be its car-park.

The Favourite is doubtless a good and authentic historical film, with all those period costumes, palatial country houses (Hatfield House was used, as was Hampton Court Palace).

Queen Anne, Abigail, Lady Masham, and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough

Perhaps I am being somewhat pedantic, though Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough was constantly referred to as "Lady Marlborough".

Sarah was Countess of Marlborough, however, until 1702, when her husband was advanced to a dukedom.

Non-royal duchesses are, to my knowledge, styled "Your Grace" or simply "Duchess".

I suppose we cannot be too critical that merely one split infinitive was used, though whether educated noble families split their infinitives three centuries ago is debatable.

All in all a very good film, amusing at times.

It's unfair to compare it with The Green Book, a movie I saw recently, though I enjoyed the latter more.

The Green Book

There was something happening yesterday morning at a local sports club of mine, CIYMS, or "CI" as we call it.

There were cars lining the road, some with Irish registration numbers.

The time was about ten twenty-five.

I was meeting my aunt for coffee and a Chelsea bun at S D Bell's Leaf & Berry tea-room.

I don't think Bell's has changed very much in its traditional character for - shall we say - fifty years.

Indeed it has tripled in size, with a few flat-screen televisions, a shop, and so on, though essentially it remains a thriving, popular place.

In the afternoon I swam the customary eighty lengths of my health club (Bannatyne's), wallowing in the hot tub adjacent to the pool thereafter.

Self at Campbell

The club has undergone major renovation recently, though the swimming-pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam-room and changing-rooms haven't been refurbished at all.

Now I have to admit that I do enjoy a good Chinese meal, particularly the sweet-and-sour prawns or chicken.

I've been making my own for about a year, and this was one of my better decisions.

I buy battered chicken pieces and those handy pouches of egg-fried rice.

The sauce is easy and quick to make: wine vinegar, stevia brown sugar, pineapple juice, tomato ketchup, cornflour paste to thicken; onion chunks, garlic, pineapple chunks, finely-sliced red pepper or carrot.

Of course the quantity of these ingredients and the method matters.

I consider the quality, viscosity and taste of the sauce to be essential, so I have it precisely to my liking, and judge restaurant sweet-and-sour sauces by my own.

I've more or less stopped drinking now, unless you count the odd half-glass of wine.

My aunt had recommended a film when we were at S D Bell's, The Green Book.

The intention had been to go and see The Favourite, though my aunt's thumb's-up to The Green Book was so good that I climbed into the jalopy and made a bee-line for Queen's Quay in Belfast, viz. the Odyssey Pavilion, where there's a cinema.

This pavilion, as they call it, is a ghost-town these days, because all the restaurants have closed, apart from about two.

There is one bar at the front entrance, the W5 science museum, and the multi-screen cinema.

The splendid IMAX theatre was closed down many years ago and appears to be in moth-balls.

What a shame!

Still, I did enjoy The Green Book, a really lovely film about Dr Don Shirley, an eccentric black-American concert pianist and his journey to various American venues in the Deep South with his bodyguard/driver, Tony Lip, a gruff, no-nonsense Italian-American bloke.

Remarkably I counted a mere six couples in Screen Seven, a number that certainly doesn't reflect the excellence of the film.

If you get a chance, do and see it.

The King's Speech

Well I finally went to see the film, The King's Speech, this evening; and very well done it was, too, I thought. Curiously enough, I actually found parts of the film quite poignant. Colin Firth played the role well and generated a fair degree of sympathy for the King's innate affliction, a form of shyness.

I do agree, having viewed the film, that His late Majesty King GEORGE VI bore the heavy burden of kingship with immense fortitude; not forgetting the equally great support of Queen Elizabeth.

I think I spotted the sky-blue ribbon of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick on the King's uniform, which would be historically correct, since His late Majesty was a Royal Knight - probably the last.

Avatar Revisited

I booked a ticket for the movie, Avatar Special Edition, online with Moviehouse Cinemas in Belfast. One adult costs £5.50.

I'm keen to try Wolfe's burger restaurant at the new complex in Dundonald and, cognizant that the Eire cinema chain, Omniplex.ie, is there, I checked their prices: one adult - £8.30, including a booking fee! Could this be the Irish Republic's euro factor!

Wolfie can wait.

Clash of the Titans

Most of the viewing on television was drivel last night; and I had already booked a ticket for the 2010 re-make of Clash Of The Titans; I'd enjoyed a tasty lunch at the Bay Tree in Holywood earlier; so I motored into Belfast to collect my ticket at the Moviehouse Cinema on Dublin Road.

Those ATM-type machines which issue pre-booked tickets work well: This one was just at the top of the steps as you walk into the cinema, immediately to the left at the wall. It scans your plastic card; and out pops your ticket with a receipt, too.

I am, so far, underwhelmed by 3D technology, no matter how state-of-the-art it is marketed as being. I have viewed Avatar and, last night, Titans; and I could take it or leave it. Personally I'd prefer more emphasis on high definition and picture clarity than 3D. I shan't be rushing out to buy one of those 3D tellies!

The movie wasn't brilliant. Yes, the special effects were good; though there was such lightning-fast mayhem during the battles that the action became confused. Blink and you missed it! If you enjoyed the 1981 version, I should think you would not find the latest re-make any more pleasurable. In a way I preferred the older version; though, then again, perhaps there is an "age factor".

Liam Neeson's Ulster accent still came through a bit, as the mighty god Zeus by the way!

Titanic Clash

Timothy Belmont finds it hard to resist a good fantasy movie; so, cognizant of this, I have reserved a seat this Saturday evening for the latest version of Clash Of The Titans.

I seem to recall viewing the 1981 version of the movie at the little cinema in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Is the cinema still there?

The 2010 version is in 3D and I have heard gossip that it might be part of a trilogy.

Intriguingly, some of the filming has taken place at Teide National Park in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Shutter Island Movie

It was a full house last night for the psychological mystery thriller, Shutter Island. I invariably look for a central seat, about two-thirds of the way back and in the middle of the row. And I usually get it, as I did last night at the Movie House Cinema on the Dublin Road, Belfast.

I had my little Nintendo player with me and had begun a new Soduko game, when a couple came and sat right beside me; then another couple came from my right-hand side and did likewise! Most unusual, since I normally have space free to myself. The place was full.

Shutter Island is not a film I'd care to view again. That's not to say I considered it a bad movie; I simply found it too clever and ingenious. Too clever by half; too taxing on my brain. The synopsis can be read here. The viewers are left wondering who the protagonists really were, in real life. Was Teddy Daniels really Andrew Laeddis? Was the woman in the cave really there? Or a figment of Teddy's psychotic imagination? Having said that, the movie generally gets the "thumbs up" and the consensus is 67% positive from Rotten Tomatoes.

It was very well done indeed; acting tip-top. Confusing for Timothy Belmont, though.

The Lupine Affliction

I fancied a spot of good, old-fashioned horror last night. I always loved to watch those old horror films on television, viz. the Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein and anything which featured Vincent Price.

When I heard about the latest version of the Wolfman, I could not resist; so, having devoured an undoubtedly insalubrious Doner Kebab stuffed with salad and garlic mayonnaise earlier, I motored into Town and parked at the usual place in Marcus Ward Street.

The seating at the Moviehouse Cinema is comfortable and even reclines like a kind of rocking-chair, though it is quite narrow (as on cattle-class in an aircraft). Still, if one can spread out with the elbows on each arm of the seat, it's fine.

Lycanthropy is, indeed, a terrible affliction. Ask Sir Anthony Hopkins, CBE - or Sir John Talbot - the senior werewolf, as he was in the movie. He "infected" his son, Lawrence, with the condition; so this was the theme of the film, along with a modicum of romance for good measure, in the form of the tasty Emily Blunt.

The special effects, with all the blood and guts - not to say an abundance of mutilations - were tip-top and state-of-the-art; transformation from human to werewolf clearly evident for we, the voyeurs watching the proceedings. It was reasonably atmospheric, particularly Sir John's ancestral pile, Talbot Manor. Incidentally, the Manor was really Chatsworth House in Derbyshire!

The Late Ian Dury

I've never been a "fan" of the late musician-cum-entertainer, Ian Dury; though I have enjoyed one or two of his hits. So, having read a generally favourable review of Sex, Drugs And Rock And Roll, a so-called "biopic" about his life, I decided to go and watch it.

I found it strangely fascinating. Dury was a remarkably strong character, given his physical handicap with polio, thus necessitating having to wear a leg caliper. His father seemed to be self-made and wealthy, since we saw him driving a white Rolls-Royce or Bentley Silver Cloud. And Young Dury was taught to look after and fend for himself, especially given his disability. Dury hated being thought of - or treated as - a "cripple".

All in all, I was glad I went to view it. Catch it if you can.

The Definitive Holmes?

It's a wonder I don't own the Sherlock Holmes box-set collection. I do have about three videos; no DVDs, though.

I suppose whomsoever one considers to be the definitive Sherlock Holmes actor is entirely subjective, as is the case with the James Bond characters.

For me, the ultimate Sherlock Holmes portrayal has been - and will probably remain - the late Jeremy Brett.

Jeremy Brett (3 November 1933 – 12 September 1995), was born Peter Jeremy William Huggins.

Brett was born at Berkswell Grange in Berkswell on 3 November 1933; son of a Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire and an heir of the Cadbury Chocolate family. He was educated at Eton.

Perhaps I am biased, for I've seen photographs of the latest version of our great detective played by Robert Downey. How does Downey portray Sherlock Holmes? Should I even bother going to see the movie?

Lacklustre Horror Movie

Following some deliberation last night we opted to have a fish supper from the best emporium in our vicinity, John Dory's. I motored over there and ordered two cods and one portion of chips.

In my experience, it's always the case that the size and quality of the cod in chip shops can vary occasionally. Presumably this is due to seasonal availability. Tonight, however, it was excellent - even better than the battered fish I consumed at the Mourne Seafood Bar in Dundrum several months ago. The cod was fairly generous in size; the batter just so; but the fish itself was so succulent and delicate, pure white and flaky - always a very good sign.

As I've always said before, consistency is vitally important: the quality of the fish, batter, length of cooking - so many variables in fact. To my mind Dory's is hard to beat; in our locality, at least.

The movie experience was poor, tonight. I paid £5.80 for a ticket at Storm Cinemas in the Odyssey Pavilion, Belfast. I usually enjoy the horror genre; not tonight, sadly. I watched The Last House On The Left and found the action so gratuitous with a particularly weak finale, where the murderer's head was cooked in a microwave oven "what are ya doin', doc?"

I spotted several patrons timing it to arrive exactly ten minutes after the start time of 8:55, which I deemed a good idea since most of the banal advertisements can be avoided. I took exception to two of the adverts in particular, for Discover Ireland and Club Orange drinks; however, suffice it to say that I'll leave it at that, without divulging the details. I might go to the Odeon Cinema the next time instead. Incidentally, Screen 12 at Storm Cinemas seemed, initially at least, to be out of focus last night. Had there been a staff member about, I might have queried this.

Long Live Victoria

By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.

Thus Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria was officially styled. Born at Kensington Palace in 1819, Victoria succeeded her uncle, King William IV, in 1838; married her most beloved husband Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, in 1840.

Queen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in 1901; and is still our longest serving Monarch. To date.

As it may have been gathered, I went to the local cinema last night to see The Young Victoria. I was not disappointed, either. I tend to choose the films I watch quite carefully these days, so I had an idea it would be good, anyway.

This movie is an accomplished historical period piece, sumptuous and splendid in its settings and costumes; most sympathetic and realistically true to the characters portrayed. I'd say it is not unlike The Duchess in its nature. Those of us who enjoyed The Duchess shall, most probably, be predisposed to The Young Victoria.

Emily Blunt played the Sovereign's role magnificently, as did the rest of the cast. Handel's moving Coronation Anthem, Zadok The Priest, featured constantly throughout the film.

Meal & Movie At Victoria Square, Belfast

Victoria Street, in Belfast, is like another phoenix rising from the ashes. For decades, it was lined with rotting, decaying, neglected buildings; some were so dilapidated that they seemed ruinous! Times have, however, changed. Now, there are large, concrete office-blocks in the process of construction.

I parked, for the second time in a day, at Gloucester Street and walked a short distance to Belfast's greatest shopping Mecca, Victoria Square; the purpose of my visit being a meal and a movie!

I had intended to try a place called Frankie and Benny's Restaurant; however, it seemed busy and they told me that a table would not be available for half an hour. I didn't bother waiting. Instead, I strode over to another eating-place, TGI Friday's. It was quite busy too, but they took me to a table within five minutes.

This was the very first time that I've been to a branch of TGI Friday, so I was not in a position to make comparisons with other branches; nor the service, menu etc. The service was slow. I'm sure the meal must have taken nearly forty minutes to appear, or it felt like that; it's not a place to eat at if you are in a rush!

I thought the service and the food were OK. The cheeseburger was quite substantial and succulent, though the cheese was tasteless, bland if you prefer. The meal consisted, basically, of cheeseburger and chips. There was no side-salad, nor coleslaw, so it looked a bit bare. In fairness, there were salad vegetables piled on the burger. The chips - fries - were standard McDonald's issue, I felt. I drank an apple-juice with it all and the bill came to about £13 including stringy onion rings at about £2.20. Pricey for what it was, I thought! It's yet another of those brash, noisy hamburger places which are one step up from Burger King, but twice the price. My local restaurant, Gourmet Burger Bank, could run rings round the lot of 'em!

I couldn't help noticing several people at TGI Friday's making lengthy complaints. It was noisy, so I couldn't hear what they were saying to the duty manager; but I knew by their expressions that they weren't passing compliments! One lady, paying her bill at the till, asserted that this was the very first restaurant where she hadn't left her loose change. What was all that about, I wonder? At any rate, I'll not be back: there was nothing particularly special about it.

Having left them a tip, I strolled over to the new branch of Pizza Express. Incidentally, we think their shop-bought pizzas are the best, so the ones in their restaurants ought to be good too. Gourmet Burger Kitchen was quiet again: seven people dining at seven-thirty!

The main purpose of my visit had been to see the new James Bond film, Quantom of Solace. It was shorter, at 105 minutes, than Casino Royale; though the adverts made up for this shortfall. The commercial advertisements in Quantom were particularly conspicuous. It was a car show-room for Ford Motor Company ( the only non-Ford car I spotted was a 60s Beetle); Bond drank Gordon's gin ( minimal dilution required there, at 37.5% proof), courtesy of the drinks monster, Diageo; and he played with his Sony phone.

I was disappointed in Quantom of Solace. Casino was the better movie, by far. I found the characters in Quantom uninteresting; the story-line negligible; and the ending quite feeble. There was certainly plenty of action; no complaints there. Still, it was all uninspiring. The theme song at the beginning was ghastly to the extent that I have no idea who the singer was, let alone being able to hum the tune again!

I can only hope that the next bond movie does better...

Evening Spent With The Duchess

The weather had cleared up, thank goodness, by the time I drove into Belfast for a meal and a movie. Parking at the new, Victoria Square shopping complex is difficult, unless you park at their underground car-park and pay for that privilege. Since I don't like paying to park my car anywhere I circled Victoria Street, Oxford Street and Chichester Street until I found a space in Gloucester Street, a stone's throw from Ross's auction-house.

I'd made a conscious decision to dine at Gourmet Burger Kitchen which is on Level Two, adjacent to the Odeon cinema; so I headed across the mall to purchase my ticket for two hours'-worth of The Duchess. The fun was to start at eight o'clock.

I've never darkened the door of any Gourmet Burger Kitchen diner before, so this was to be a new experience. The Belfast branch seems fairly compact. Initial impressions were of somewhere akin to a high-street burger chain. Its decor seemed a bit spartan: plain, shiny, wooden floor; plain, hard seats and tables bedecked with salt, pepper and ketchup; bare walls. Think minimal and characterless. I know that sounds somewhat harsh but it's true, from my perspective. There's no luxury here, it's utilitarian and casual.

The two waitresses I encountered were very friendly and welcoming. I was greeted immediately and shown to a square table near the wall. Service is very prompt indeed; possibly, this evening, because there only appeared to be about a dozen other diners. Despite being a small restaurant, many of the tables were vacant at 6.30pm.

I opted for a blue cheese burger with fries. I enquired about coleslaw and it wasn't available; nor were onion rings. However, when my meal arrived about five minutes later, I was not disappointed: the fully-dressed burger was delicious, flavoursome and came heaped with lettuce, tomato slices, blue cheese and a few slivers of raw onion. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The chips were medium size, crisp and dry; they were served in a white bowl. By the way, I thought the white dinner-plate  was rather small for the size of the meal. I washed it all down with a half-pint beer-glassful of Earl Grey tea - appropriate given that Grey was Georgiana's lover! The meal cost £11.60 and I left a generous tip for the good service.

The new Odeon was not, at all, busy. Despite the tickets - £6.20 -  being numbered, you could really have sat anywhere; in fact I moved to another seat when the movie started. The Duchess, which refers to Lady Georgiana Spencer who married the 5th Duke of Devonshire, was not, for me, a particularly uplifting film. It was well done, the costumes, props and settings were undoubtedly sumptuous; the Georgian grandeur magnificent. Still, I found it all quite poignant and sad. Their Graces formed an unhappy partnership. It was, nevertheless, an interesting tale and remarkable to watch His Grace living in the splendour of his ducal residences along with his Duchess, Georgiana, and their close friend Lady Elizabeth - ultimately to become the Duke's second wife.

Intriguingly, Lady Elizabeth was the daughter of the Earl-Bishop of Derry, one of whose residences was Downhill Castle in County Londonderry.

My rating for the The Duchess is a solid three stars. The acting was competent enough and Keira Knightly was ravishing, as usual.