LQ In the News: Jan – Mar 2025

As part of our ongoing urban regeneration efforts, LQ BID were honoured to co-fund a recent statue to the legendary blues guitarist Rory Gallagher at The Ulster Hall which a tribute to Rory’s life, music, and deep connection to Belfast city.

In January a segment shot last summer appeared on BBC The One Show, showcasing our Pétanque Piste and how we are using the game to drive regeneration of Blackstaff Square and support employee well-being.

Following the success of the inaugural event in 2024, LQ BID was proud to sponsor the return of the Belfast Summit in January 2025, which focused exclusively on Belfast and how we can make it the best small city in Europe to live, work and visit.

The program, which promises a range of exciting events and initiatives for employees of the Linen Quarter to enjoy throughout 2025, was launched alongside a new Charity of the Year initiative with a Chinese New Year Celebration at Zen Restaurant, Adelaide Street.

The accreditation, awarded by the Association of Town and City Management demonstrates the city’s commitment to providing a vibrant night-time economy. The city’s multi-agency Purple Flag steering group, which includes the city’s three Business Improvement Districts – LQ BID, Belfast One and Destination CQ – led the process.

SOS NI announced that LQ BID became the founding member of The Compass Alliance – a corporate initiative dedicated to making Belfast City Centre a safer, more compassionate place.

LQ BID continued our long-standing relationship with the Imagine Festival, sponsoring 10 events taking place in the district under this year’s theme – “helping you make sense of a crazy world.”

The initiative developed by Belfast City Council shares good practice to help create a better, more inclusive city. Over 50 organisations have now become members and LQ BID is one of the first to reach the Ambassador tier.

Despite this, LQ BID is setting a leading example for Northern Ireland. We hope we can transform the Linen Quarter into Northern Ireland’s first Real Living Wage District and have pledged to fund first year accreditation fees for businesses in the Linen Quarter with up to 500 employees.

Once a month, each month in 2025, LQ BID will host an event, or offer concessions on existing activities taking place across the Linen Quarter, delivering a lively mix of events that encourage professionals to spend more time at the city’s hotspots after work.

Running From March 1 to April 30, the Big Spring Clean mobilises thousands of volunteers across the region to tackle litter and revitalise communities. Last year, over 30 volunteers from leading businesses in the Linen Quarter, including Arup, Openfolde, CME, Exergy, and Andras House, collected more than 16 bin bags of litter – equivalent to 1,000 litres (15 kg) of waste.

We want Belfast to be a diverse and enjoyable city, and street activities and entertainment have a role as part of that mix. However, amplified equipment needs to be regulated, as excessive noise pollution from preachers or performers, can cast a shadow over Belfast’s image as a safe and welcoming city.

We urged representatives via the Irish News to take forward the proposed solution as soon as possible. Effective placemaking requires not only a collaborative approach, but timely action on city issues, so we can protect our growing global reputation as a place that is great to live, to visit, to work, and to invest in.