David Mitchell

Way back in 2014, in one of the first posts here, I pointed out the great potential of Belfast’s long riverfront for hosting outdoor cafés, and becoming a place where people wanted to be.

It had decent enough walkways and linked up with the also-underperforming Titanic Quarter. But it was dead – deadened by the derelict Sirocco works, the soulless office buildings that stifle the Waterfront concert hall, and the traffic of the simply dead Bridgend. 

All these years later, it’s barely changed. Titanic Belfast, however, has meant that we at least now have humans: people walking the newly branded ‘Maritime Mile’ from the Big Fish, over the nice footbridge, and along the water towards Titanic and HMS Caroline.

This is all preamble to explaining that I lost my head with excitement when I discovered a new coffee kiosk close to the Odyssey end of the footbridge, opened just before Christmas.

The Queen’s Quay Kiosk has a cool industrial design, tables and chairs, and some artsy touches. The fellow told me the plans had been intended for the city centre but were then taken on by the Maritime Belfast Trust. It’s operated by Native. Top notch food and coffee. The river in front of you, trains passing by above you. I’m sold.

But really, they had me at ‘kiosk’. Any such thing, I think, is a novelty. People round here probably associate kiosks with European holidays. Even the word is terrific (of Turkish origin, as you know). I used to enjoy the kiosk in front of HMV on Castle Place, but it never returned after the Primark fire. (Now that area is known for this tragi-comic tale about a safety barrier along a useless cycle lane in an intersection which is begging to be pedestrianised.)

The Queen’s Quay Kiosk people are obviously trying to create a bit of community as well as their hip fare, with books left out to read, a run organised on a Sunday morning, and other pop-up sellers. I wish them the best.