For many years Bishops was somewhat of a landmark in Belfast known for providing some of the best fish and chips in town.
Offering a little something for everyone, with a dine-in restaurant where they would provide an “old school” meal, along with a popular takeaway that would stay open late for those looking a chippy before bed.
While some felt the decor was a little dated in later years before it closed, it had been designed to create an authentic traditional fish and chip restaurant atmosphere.
It quickly developed a popularity with people of all ages, at all times of the day, sometimes providing breakfast to those who had been there the night before after a few drinks in one of the nearby pubs.
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The restaurant was also conveniently located and reasonably priced, providing parents with an easy option to take their children too for a bite to eat after spending the day at the Ulster Museum or Dublin Road cinema.
Mum of three Susan from Belfast said that the fish and chip restaurant would have been a regularly favourite of her family growing up and that it had been sad to see it sit empty for a number of years after it closed.
She said: “I can still remember the first time that I took my kids into Bishops many years ago. They just fell in love with the place, the way that it looked like a traditional fish and chip restaurant that would give you an old school meal, with bread and butter on the side that was always quickly eaten and some tea afterwards.
“When they were young they wouldn’t believe that it hadn’t been around decades because of the way that it looked and wouldn’t believe you when you said it wasn’t that old.
“If we were ever taking them out to the cinema or museum for the day and wanted to get a bite to eat, we would always stop off there because we knew that the boys would love the food and it wasn’t going to be a ridiculous price.
“When you go down Bradbury Place now it feels strange not seeing it there anymore, there is just a big hole, but it was also sad to see the restaurant sitting empty like that with nothing being done about it.”
Following the demolition of Bishops, people from Belfast took to social media to share their memories of the restaurant.
One person said: “I remember working in my dad’s newsagents round the corner and going for a fish supper for my lunch ever Saturday. It was the Best fish in the city.”
Another saw it as a bonus when their parents went out saying: “Used to love when my mum and dad went out on a Saturday and brought us home a bishops for a wee treat. Loved it there.”
While one person simply said: “Loved going into Bishops after a night out sitting in with fish and chips, it’s sad that it’s gone.”
The restaurant had been one of the stops along belfast’s former “Golden Mile” which used to be the hub of nightlife in the town.
While the area is still very popular, a number of the once notable businesses have since closed their doors leading to local councillors to call for investment in the area, feeling that it is being ignored for other parts of the city.
Investment firm Elkstone Partners has bought the Bishops site on Bradbury Place and plans for a six floor and 156 bed student accommodation and retail development that could be ready in a couple of years.
Belfast City Council has already approved plans for a 100 cluster and 56 studio beds over six floors on the site.
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