Demolition work is underway at one of Belfast’s most popular nightlife venues ahead of the construction of a new student apartment block just weeks after its closure.
The Dublin Road venue closed for the final time on New Year’s Eve to make way for more than 200 student apartments.
On Thursday morning, workmen moved in to raze most of Filthy McNasty’s and its sister cocktail lounge Liquor XXX to the ground.
Last August members of the Planning Committee on Belfast City Council agreed to an application for the erection of a 201-bed purpose-built managed student accommodation scheme and retail unit, at 41-49 Dublin Road and 3-5 Ventry Street in Belfast city centre, the site of Filthy McNasty’s pub and club.
The developer, FMN Properties Limited, of Upper Newtownards Road in Belfast also applied to build a replacement pub on Ventry Street.
Prior to the opening of Filthy McNasty’s back in 2009, the venue had been known as Dempseys before it closed in September 2007 after being badly damaged in a fire.
More student blocks are planned for the Dublin Road area, with Queen’s University having successfully applied for a new accommodation building at the old Movie House cinema site on Dublin Road. There is further student accommodation at the nearby Bradbury Place.
See the demolition work underway in our photo gallery below.