The summer season brings the symbiotic relationship between the hospitality and arts sectors into focus every year, with festivals, gigs, and other events drawing crowds into our town and city centres that then disperse into our restaurants and pubs.
Of course, a large part of what has made our pub offering world famous is the amount of live music on offer within our pubs themselves throughout the year.
What is striking about the cultural offering that has become a cornerstone of how Northern Ireland markets itself to tourists is how widespread it is, both in terms of what’s on offer and where the offer takes place.
A recent survey of Hospitality Ulster members found that 91% had some form of entertainment regularly in their venues’ public areas. The members who responded to the survey were spread across urban areas (46%), city centre (38%), and rural areas (16%).
As you might expect, live music from one-to-two-piece artists was the most popular form of entertainment, with 93% of those who had entertainment stating that they had this type in their premises.
The most popular forms following a one/two-piece act were: quiz nights, Irish traditional music, and DJ/disco/club nights.
The full list of responses portrays the diversity on offer within Northern Ireland’s hospitality venues: live music from full bands, karaoke, comedy, spoken word and poetry readings, and theatre performances were all on offer.
When given the opportunity to further comment on cultural activities offered, members also testified to hosting ‘paint and sips’, musical bingo, paranormal evenings, children’s arts and crafts, table scraping, flower arranging classes, silent book clubs, neighbourhood meetings, open mic nights, candle making, and pool and darts nights.
It is also important to note that financial barriers to entry are also rare for these types of entertainment and cultural offerings, with only 2% charging admission.
Our operators invest in this offering, again making the symbiotic nature between hospitality and the arts clear.
Some 62% of those who offer entertainment spend up to £1,000 a week on it, meaning that 38% spend over £1,000, with 13% spending over £2,000 a week.
We do this because we know the arts play a crucial role in attracting people to Northern Ireland in the first place and into its hospitality businesses.
That Belfast has been chosen as the host city of the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann despite the economic challenge both sectors face is testament to the people within them.
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster (Brian Lawless/PA)
Of course, this relationship works vice versa as well, with our pubs and restaurants adding to the allure of a night out at a gig.
This vibrant cultural landscape, woven seamlessly into our hospitality venues, is more than just a source of entertainment; it’s a vital economic and social engine.
Together, these sectors don’t just attract visitors, they create the heartbeat of our communities.
- Colin Neill is chief executive of Hospitality Ulster