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Bullhouse East: A Taproom Bringing East Belfast Together

Introduction

Bullhouse East has been crowned Northern Ireland's Community Support Hero at the PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards 2026, presented at a House of Commons reception on 8 September. Since opening in 2022, the Bullhouse Brew Co taproom has set out to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome.

What they did

Bullhouse East hosts at least one community event every week: chess and book clubs, movie nights, beer tastings, cheese pairings and live music, designed to appeal to every age and background.

Each year the taproom chooses a local charity partner. Last year it supported Larder East, which provides affordable, high-quality food through a dignified membership model. This year it is supporting Newforge Taggers RFC, a disability sports charity that set up Ireland’s first tag rugby team for people with learning disabilities, through charity quizzes and its Bullapalooza street festival.

In 2023, Bullhouse East became Northern Ireland’s first Living Wage-accredited licensed premises.

The community reaction

The taproom welcomes everyone from lifelong East Belfast residents to newcomers and students. In 2026, The Sunday Times named BT4 one of the coolest places to live in the UK, highlighting Bullhouse East’s role in the area’s cultural life.

Impact

Regular events have created lasting friendships, charity partnerships have raised awareness and support for local organisations, and the team’s familiar faces are a big part of the welcome.

Summary

Bullhouse East shows how independent hospitality can strengthen a whole neighbourhood.

About

Bullhouse East i

Bullhouse East is the taproom of Bullhouse Brew Co, an independent Belfast brewery, on the Newtownards Road in East Belfast.
442-446 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1HJ
Go to pub website

Local Constituency

Belfast East

Local MP

Gavin Robinson
Go to local MP website
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