Lisburn

Lisburn is a city 13km from Belfast that takes its name from the merging of the Irish Lois, meaning ringfort and the Scots Burn, meaning stream.

It was settled by English and Welsh settlers in the 17th Century and was originally called Lisnagarvey up until the 1660s with speculation the name was changed as a result of it being burned in the 1641 Irish Rebellion or even due to another major fire in 1707. However this is unlikely as the name Lisburn was is use before both events.

The City is best known for it's connections to the linen industry in the 19th century, while it was also the main centre for French Huguenot resettlement in Ulster in the 18th century.

Lisburn spans the county boundary between Antrim and Down. The River Lagan, which runs through the town acts as the county boundary.

The manor house, which once dominated Lisburn was destroyed in the fire in 1707, but its outer wall remains as the oldest structure in the town, sitting in Castle Gardens.

Olympic Champion, Mary Peters ran a health club in Lisburn for many years and still lives in the City.

Distillery Football Club moved to the city in 1980, eight years after losing their Belfast home. They share their stadium with a Greyhound Racing Company and added Lisburn to their name in 1999 but lost their ever present top Division status in 2013. They've been in the third tier since 2016.

Speckled Hen {Milltown}

47 Derriaghy Road, Lisburn, BT28 3SH

Tel: 028 9202 7055.....EMail

Facebook

Getting here from Belfast

15k - A 15 minute M1 drive from Belfast to Junction 3, take the A512 {Lisburn} onto A513 {Lisburn} then right for Milltown.

By Bus: Milltown is served from Lisburn by the 325 city service every couple of hours and the Belfast-Lisburn 530 service at weekends. The Milltown bus stop is a 1 minute walk from the Speckled Hen.

By Train: Derriaghy train station is a 1 mile walk from the Speckled Hen and operates regular services 'til late at weekends to Belfast, Lisburn and Portadown. The station was re-sited about 50 metres in 2024 from it's original 1907 location and has been in operation since 1958, having previously closed in 1953.

Cycling: The Speckled Hen is just over 3k from the National Cycle Route 9 {Belfast to Lisburn Lagan Towpath} Leave the towpath at Ballyskeagh when you see the pedestrian river crossing. Take the bridge and follow the Lagan path until it ends at River Road. Cross and continue on River Grove for a few metres before entering Conway path to the left, which brings you to Derriaghy Train Station. Join the main road, going underneath the railway bridge. Turn right at the lights for The Cutts. At the junction [currently being redeveloped] cross to enter Milltown. Continue past the Church.

Checklist

Parking: Has its own private car park with room for around 20 cars

Establishment type: Gastro pub with links back to 1661, making it arguably the oldest pub in County Antrim. Dan O'Connell stopped at the pub in the early 1800s and Wills Cigarettes featured it in a card collection in 1939. It's been variously known as the Village Inn and Traveller's Rest down the years.

Situation: Garden at front and side is laid to astroturf with a collection of beach huts and picnic tables, including one adapted for wheelchair use and a love seat.

Features: Music, Dog friendly, Specified Smoking and non smoking areas, Wheelchair considerate, Food served {Scores 5 on the door} - {There seems to be a higher than average issue with wasps, probably due to Hebes planted around it. Staff advise not eating outside} {No TV outside}

Ambience: Bordered by the bar, the exit to the car park, a high fence onto residential area and fenced from the road beside it.

Sunshine: Picnic tables and love seat get the sun most of the day, which shines into the beach huts at certain times too.

and Shade: Beach huts stay cool and mostly shaded while offering outdoor enjoyment on a warm drizzly day.

Heating: Heaters and evening lights inside the beach huts

Designated Driver: No 0% lager on tap, only 330ml bottles, 0% Guinness also, Alcohol free bottled Koppaberg Cider. Barista service

Entertainment: Big screen TV sport shown inside

Specials: None noticed

Pub Quiz: None advertised

Open: Thursday-Sunday from 12:30pm. Food served all day

Info date: 2nd August 2025

Please let us know if we've got anything wrong, out of date or missing. Let us know in the feedback form at the bottom of the page.

Get out and about: Milltown is a small residential area for the most part, with no parks, gardens or attractions within walking distance. If on a bike, follow any of the country lanes away from Derriaghy or Lisburn to find yourself in the heart of the countryside in a minute or two.

Favourites:

Favourites: Vote for Speckled Hen using the form at the bottom of the page

Lark

4 Lisburn Square, Lisburn, BT28 1TS

Tel: 028 9244 0554.....EMail

Website

Getting here from Belfast

15k - A 20 minute drive from Belfast to Junction 6

By Bus: Lisburn is served by it's own bus station, just a 2 minute walk from the Lark and offers weekend services to Belfast up until around 8pm. There's also weekend routes to Aghalee, Antrim, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Crumlin, Dromara and Portadown as well as a series of local City services which operate on Saturdays until early evening.

By Train: Lisburn train station opened in 1839 and has a regular service to Belfast, Portadown and Newry until late weekends. Its not a regular stop on the Dublin express service, with just one train going to Dundalk on a Sunday morning.

Cycling: The Lark is 500m from the National cycling route 9 {Belfast-Lisburn Lagan Towpath] Leave the path at Sloan Street upon entering Lisburn, cross roundabouts at the bridge and head up Linenhall Street towards Lisburn Square.

Checklist

Parking: Sits above an underground car park [charged]. The Lark is inside the city centre one way system, which has free designated roadside parking on most of its circuit.

Establishment type: Sports Bar {No longer a restaurant but does lunch soups and sandwiches}

Situation: Picnic benches and bar stools at barrels

Features: Soup and sarnies, Music, Dog friendly, External food allowed.

Ambience: An open plan shared pedestrian space surrounded by shops and restaurants

Sunshine: Most of the area is open plan on the pedestrain plaza so gets the sun most of the time.

and Shade: No permanent shaded areas but has a retractable cover.

Heating: None visible

Designated Driver: No 0% lager on tap, only 330ml bottles, 0% Guinness also, Alcohol free bottled Koppaberg Cider. No barista visible.

Entertainment: Live music Thursday to Sunday evenings

Specials: Brunch Club £39pp 1-3pm

Pub Quiz: Wednesday 8pm {Free entry}

Open: Wednesday-Sunday noon-til late [Later licence for sports on occasion]

Info date: 26th July 2025

Please let us know if we've got anything wrong, out of date or missing. Let us know in the feedback form at the bottom of the page.

Get out and about: The square you're sitting in offers shops to wander around

Favourites:

Favourites: Vote for Lark using the form at the bottom of the page

Haslem Hotel

15 Lisburn Square, Lisburn, BT28 1TS

Tel: 028 9244 4940.....EMail

Website

Getting here from Belfast

15k - A 20 minute drive from Belfast to Junction 6

By Bus: Lisburn is served by it's own bus station, just a 2 minute walk from the hotel and offers weekend services to Belfast up until around 8pm. There's also weekend routes to Aghalee, Antrim, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Crumlin, Dromara and Portadown as well as a series of local City services which operate on Saturdays until early evening.

Cycling: The Haslem is 600m from the National cycling route 9 {Belfast-Lisburn Lagan Towpath] Leave the path at Sloan Street upon entering Lisburn, cross roundabouts at the bridge and head up Linenhall Street towards Lisburn Square.

Checklist

Parking: Sits above an underground car park [charged] but has its own lift into the hotel. The Hotel is inside the city centre one way system, which has free designated roadside parking on most of its circuit.

Establishment type: Hotel, Restaurant and Bar

Situation: Part of a pedestrian plaza/square, garden tables and chairs.

Features: Outdoor food {5 on score on the doors}, Dog friendly.

Ambience: An open plan shared pedestrian space surrounded by shops and restaurants

Sunshine: Most of the area is open plan on the pedestrian plaza so gets the sun most of the time.

and Shade: There is one table nestled in a nook beside the Hotel entrance that provides shelter from the sun and rain.

Heating: None visible

Designated Driver: No 0% lager on tap, only 330ml bottles, 0% Guinness also, Alcohol free bottled Koppaberg Cider. Full café service

Entertainment: Live guitarists inside at the weekend, not played outside

Specials: High tea £29.95

Pub Quiz: None advertised

Open: Hotel & Self Catering Accommodation 24 hours.

Info date: 26th July 2025

Please let us know if we've got anything wrong, out of date or missing. Let us know in the feedback form at the bottom of the page.

Get out and about: The square you're sitting in offers shops to wander around

Favourites:

Favourites: Vote for Haslem using the form at the bottom of the page

Crafty Hound

101 Queensway, Lisburn, BT27 4QS

Tel: 028 92663 994.....EMail

Website

Getting here from Belfast

11k - A 15 minute drive from Belfast southbound M1 to Junction 3, then take the A512 Lisburn and then Lisburn {Centre}, Then take A1 Lisburn and the pub is on the right.

By Bus: St Colman's Primary School Bus stop is immediately outside with buses til late at the weekend to Belfast. across the road At Bell's Lane the bus serves Lisburn, Crumlin, Banbridge, Portadown, Craigavon and Newry.

By Train: Lambeg train station is just over 200 metres away and operates trains to Belfast and Lisburn with onward connections right up to 11.45pm at weekends.

Cycling: The Lagan towpath from Belfast to Lisburn passes just 800 metres from The Crafty Hound. When the path meets Tullynacross Road cross the bridge, right onto Lambeg Road, Left onto Bell's Lane, Left onto Queensway. Crafty Hound is 70 metres on the right.

Checklist

Parking: Has its own free patrons car park with space for about 40-50 cars

Establishment type: Gastro & Grog - Opened in 1972 and known for a long time as the Sportsman's. Was a hotspot in the heyday of the disco, nighclub era of the 70s-90s. Today is a bar and restaurant with event space.

Situation: Garden sits at front and rear of the pub in the open space beside the car park. Laid to astroturf with picnic tables, garden tables and chairs, a beer barrel table

Features: Outdoor food {5 on score on the doors}, Dog friendly [there's a kennel in the garden]. bike rack, lighting

Ambience: Open plan at entrance to pub fenced off by low picket fence from car park. Looks out over car park and the road beyond.

Sunshine: Gets a little sunshine during the day

and Shade: The position of the pub and trees means the garden is mostly in shade most of the day. There are two large umbrella tables when the garden is in sun. There's no permanent rain cover.

Heating: None visible

Designated Driver: No 0% lager on tap, Has 330ml bottles and 0% Guinness also, Alcohol free bottled Cider. Full café service with speciality coffees.

Entertainment: Regular comedy nights £16, Family friendly, caters for events.

Specials: Coffees, Cocktails and Milkshakes

Pub Quiz: None advertised

Open: Thursday noon-11:30pm, Friday & Saturday 1am, Sunday midnight [Food service latest 9pm]

Info date: 30th August 2025

{Note - On our visit it was an absolutely filthy day with heavy rain and high winds. Using the garden wasn't an option, even though incredibly somebody did sit out and eat under one of the large umbrellas. Some facilities the garden offers may not have been on show in such weather}

Please let us know if we've got anything wrong, out of date or missing. Let us know in the feedback form at the bottom of the page.

Get out and about: Access to the Lagan Towpath is just an 11 minute 800 metre walk down Bell's Lane. You can be there in less than 5 minutes on a bike.

Favourites:

Favourites: Vote for Crafty Hound using the form at the bottom of the page {photos below include borrowed from site to show the garden on a good day. }

Lisburn

Speckled Hen {Milltown}

Lark

Haslem Hotel

Crafty Hound

Contact