CastleCourt, Northern Ireland

Castlecourt is the largest indoor shopping mall in Belfast's city centre, with the main entrance in Royal Avenue(the main shopping high street). There is also a side entrance to the centre and an entrance at the far end of the complex from the car park.

A plus point to the complex is that it has its own multi storey car park. However, it is quite expensive compared ith other car parks in the city centre such as City Car Parks. It encourages ...
...this day. The store is open from 1 o'clock to six on a Sunday and from 9 o'clock to 7pm weekdays with late nights to 9pm on Thursdays. Extended opening times are evident in the run up to Christmas, with it being open late evry night!

Now the nitty gritty, whats shops are actually in here? A big draw is a huge Debenhams store. To name some more popular shops are Miss Selfridge, New Look, Gap, Baby Gap, Claires Accessories, Lifestyle ... more

Castlecourt is the largest indoor shopping mall in Belfast's city centre, with the main entrance in Royal Avenue(the main shopping high street). There is also a side entrance to the centre and an entrance at the far end of the complex from the car park.

A plus point to the complex is that it has its own multi storey car park. However, it is quite expensive compared ith other car parks in the city centre such as City Car Parks. It encourages Sunday shopping however by offering a reduced pricing poilicy on this day. The store is open from 1 o'clock to six on a Sunday and from 9 o'clock to 7pm weekdays with late nights to 9pm on Thursdays. Extended opening times are evident in the run up to Christmas, with it being open late evry night!

Now the nitty gritty, whats shops are actually in here? A big draw is a huge Debenhams store. To name some more popular shops are Miss Selfridge, New Look, Gap, Baby Gap, Claires Accessories, Lifestyle Sports, Boots, La Senza, Clintons, Car Phone Warehouse, Argos, Bargain Books, Laura Ashley, Quicksilver - the list of shops really is exhaustive. If you wish to find out even more shops there are available check out the following link:

http://www.westfield.com/castlecourt/ourstores/index.html

When feeling tired from investigating all the many shops, you can recharge the batteries with some food/and or drink. There is a juice bar on the ground floor, and a coffee shop on the first floor. The main food court is also located on the first floor. Here you can find Subway, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Spud you like outlets and ample seating available to rest your weary legs, although as expected it does get very busy around the lunch time rush hour!

The shops are well distributed across both the ground and first floor, and with bright lighting inside there is a very spacious feel to the centre although at the same time everything is quite compact so one does not feel daunted by the prospect of a walk from one end to the other, the Trafford Centre it isn't!

What isn't well distributed however are the public toilets. Both are situated on the first floor, one set beside the foodcourt and the other approximately half way along the mall. Baby changing facilities are available at the latter. If you are daunted by the thought of climbing stairs don't be, there are escalators to the front and rear, and one in the Debenhams store as well as a lift available to get prams easily up and down. Handy little childrens carts which double up as a small trolly are also available for hire at customer services downstairs, which takes the load of parents and keeps the children amused!

There are two Northern Bank ATMs located in store as well as a Halifax branch with ATM outside if you do need to withdraw some extra cash whilst here.

Inside there are also two travel agents which update their window offers daily and a hairdressing salon so it isn't just a typical shopping mall.

If your looking for something different other than the usual high street shops there are a number of stalls located along the ground floor. These range from beauty treatments, jewellery stalls, accessories stalls to kids sweets and toys stalls. Be warned though there are also a number of stalls set up which always try to sign you up to a bank, or a credit card or sky television. This is okay if you visit infrequently but when you do daily it can become very annoying!

That is one of the few qualms I have with this place along with the expensive car parking prices. Also as each individual has their own specific tastes there are going to be some shops that aren't located here that you will have to venture down the strret to such as River Island in my case!This is not a problem due to the nearness of the shops to Castlecourt.

All in all whether you are simply visiting and wish to browse the shops or are a frequent user of the centre, it offers a surprisingly calm shopping experience in the middle of Northern Ireland's capital city!

 

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