The Potthouse Bar & Grill
63 Reviews
Opened in Christmas 2004/2005 The Potthouse is a 3 storey complex comprising of The Potthouse Bar Grill, Sugar Room Nightclub & Soap Bar Guest Room.
The Potthouse serves food daily from 12-9pm, is a busy pre club bar at the weekends
So whether it's lunch, dinner, clubbing, christmas parties or just a casual drink the Potthouse can cater for it all.
The Potthouse is yet another addition to the Cathedral Quater that ensures this area of Belfast has become as busy as the south of the city.
Information and Contact Details
| Web Site | http://www.potthouse.co.uk/ | |
| Category | Bar | |
| Address | The Potthouse Bar and Grill | |
| 1 Hill Street | ||
| Belfast | ||
| BT1 2LB | ||
| Phone Number | 028 90244044 | |
| Fax Number | 028 90244111 | |
| Distance from Belfast City Hall | 0.8 | |
| Disabled Facilities | Spread over 3 floors, but a lift is available for use. |
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Customer Comments and Reviews of The Potthouse Bar & Grill (Add a Review)
There now follows 63 other reviews of The Potthouse Bar & Grill
FILTHY
Submitted by neil on 03/10/2008
Went to this place when it first opened for a meal and a few drinks, not too bad at all tho' at that time upstairs and toilets wer'nt yet finished. Was there again on Sat. nite...what a dump!! The bouncers are Nazi-party regects on a BIG power trip, they patrol the bar space like kommondants at Belson, very hard to relax. Three years on the toilets still are'nt finished...why? Do you think thats cool...broken locks and cheap plywood..ffs.Top function room is too small, no atmosphere, Suger Club is like a barn, no atmosphere, lower bar is like an assault course with the outdated concrete furniture, you guessed it..no atmosphere.
The 'music' is bland eurotrash played by an escaped monkey from Bellvue, the crowd was gangs of desperate blokes with new Primark shirts trying to get a return for their money and the women were all close relatives of the DJ wearing garish mini-skirts showing off their hairy legs...what type of door policy is this? The floors and walls were dirty, the famous glass floors were cracked with neaderthals standing dumbly looking through them..yeah, thats what l really go out on a Sat. nite for!!
The bar staff l encountered were sound and trying they're best but it must be soul destroying working in a dump like this. The place is tired, dirty and old hat.More life in my trainers.
ln short, stay away, dont give them your hard-earned cash, there are way loads of better places than this black-hole.lt should be turned back into a pot-house, it would be more productive.
Cringeworthy.
Submitted by Mike on 17/08/2008
Completely crap, dont waste a nightout in this place..
Submitted on 01/08/2008
the door policy is very strict, but from working in similar kinds of bars i know not to argue with that.
my problem with the place is its complete lack of character. pub downstairs is fine, but so is any bar when you have a good crowd. don't bother upstairs though. i haven't had any problem getting in but friends have. they were lucky. music - ok, drink price - ok, but the people this place attracts - run for the hills. never encountered such a humourless self important bunch of posers in my life. where the hell do they think they are?! its only the friggin pothouse.
avoid like the plague - go ANYWHERE else.
Submitted on 25/06/2008
We welcome all opinions whether positive or negative, and hope to take account of all opinions of our patrons in improving service.
With regard to door policy, the Potthouse prides itself on being one of the safest clubs in belfasts. our levels of violent incidents run at under 0.5% on proportion to nights open for business. We operate a dress code at the weekends as many clubs do and welcome people to perhaps visit a little earlier on the busy weekend nights to ensure entry, and if they have any problems with gainning entry to seek a member of managment who will attempt to accomodate them.
As with all bars, we experience a significantly higher volume of patrons at the weekend. We understand the wait times at the bar are proprtionate with the city's most popular venues and we ask patience and courteousy befiting of mature adults. Our bar staff are extremely hard working and at times suffer extreme verbal abuse from aggravated patrons. In order to remedy some of these problems we have made it possible for example to purchase a bottle of spirits for your table, which with wich you will recieve complimentary mixers. We also urge patrons to understand that long wait times are a necessary evil of weekend socialising, moreso on saturday nights and we urge them to understand that our staff at all times are doing there very utmost to clear the customer backlog.
We take this opportunity to thank our customers and look forward to seeing you all at our exciting program of summer events.
Submitted by Potthouse Senior staff member response on 10/04/2008
Was in this place last summer with my mate. What a dump!
Have to say, we got in no problem but couldn't wait to get out again. Full of those horrible pretentious people that every normal person hates. Never seen one good lookin girl in the place and the ones on the glass dance floor didn't even have the decency to wear skirts!
And i agree, worst service I have ever seen. place was half empty when we went in and still waited 20 minutes for a drink which the dour dummy behind the bar managed to spill half of!
Avoid this place at all costs!
Submitted by Graham on 02/04/2008
Dead on apart from the toilets, guys downstairs are smaller than my dog's kennel!
Submitted by Big Mac on 26/03/2008
I have to agree with most of these comments. You want a night out there forget it unless you 'know someone'. Pretensious is definately the best word. Avoid it if you can.
Submitted on 20/03/2008
Was there once and wont return, full of ppl who try 2 act snoby when clearly they r not, i like all kinds of music but that nite , CRAP full of old people. get it sorted or close it
Submitted by Dani on 20/03/2008
The last time I was in the VIP room was last summer! Talk about pretensious, I ended up in there because (well I dont know why) but they were all looking at each other- Losers!! I hate that kinda crowd- you find it in the Krem some nights!!
Submitted by Ryan on 03/03/2008
Do you all want to hear a secret? Well apparently the only way you can gain entry to the Sugar Room (nightclub) on a Saturday night is to have your name on the guestlist, and to get your name on the list you have to be a friend of the Manager. Must be a real popular guy!
I went to Ollies instead and had a brilliant hassle free night.
Submitted on 04/02/2008
I've been here just the once but I probably wouldn't go back. It takes ages to get served and when you do you can have anything you want as long as its Vodka. The place is pretentious hidden under a thin layer of trying to be exclusive. But when you see the customers it is anything but exclusive. Mutton dressed as Mutton. Give it a miss.
Submitted by AJ on 08/01/2008
Had our Christmas party on 14/12/07. Food was excellent and the service was very good. Men's toilets were broken and urinal overflowing not very pleasant. Tried to go up to the Nightclub and after we checked that it was ok the bouncers turned us away as "our faces didn't fit and they were only letting regulars" How can you become a regular if you can't get past the front door. If that is their attitude I don't want to become a regular!! After spending several hundred pounds on a christmas dinner and drinks (also I would frequent the pothouse during the year for food and drink) I am considering stopping my custom there completely.
Submitted by Disgruntled customer on 20/12/2007
had xmas dinner last nite at potthouse !! tables dirty, staff unhelpful n food terrible.. worst ive had in years. loos had broken locks n no loo paper n that was at 8 when we arrived !!!
Submitted on 16/12/2007
The barman didn't know what a tequilla slammer was.
Submitted by Louise on 18/11/2007
this has got to be one of the most pretentious places in belfast without reason to be so!! the bouncers are on a complete power trip, the decor is disgusting and the bar staff are incompetent. would never recommend it!
Submitted on 09/11/2007
I don't care if its boring you should be able to make your own criac, however the layout is terrible with big concrete blocks everywhere so you have to push and get psuhed alot even when its empty, the toilets are stinkin, the staff rude and the bar service is crap you'll stand for ages, otherwise okay
Submitted by Dorian on 29/10/2007
It's is the worst place in Belfast the staff simply can't cope with large parties. Went with around 10 friends the bar was empty but they said there was no room. I will never ever go back now. As this was the second time they had done this!!!
Submitted by WJ on 19/10/2007
I think the Potthouse is thee best place to go for a meal in Belfast - the atmosphere, price and service are spot on!! We are going with all our staff for Christmas dinner - recommend it
Submitted by martin on 02/10/2007
i thought the club itself was gud!! the drink was a little pricey but not overly expensive!! the head bouncer however was obnoxious and spoke down to customers as if they were dirt!! think we have the last laugh when hes a security guard thats been given some authority and the clientelle r classier than him!!! loser!! the club has lost alot of custom thanks to him
Submitted by Young Professional on 30/08/2007
WORST bar in belfast, dont need to say anymore
Submitted on 02/08/2007
Worst Lunch I ever had in Belfast - Dont go near it!
Submitted on 09/07/2007
Went to this pretentious hole last night for a quick drink...it was anything but. Was standing at the bar for ages waiting on getting served, ended up leaving after standing there for about 15 mins being ignored. Service very poor and next to no atmosphere in the place. Save yourself the time and energy and avoid this dive at all costs, will definitely NOT be back.
Submitted by a.m.murphy on 07/07/2007
This place is awful.The door staff are dozy and unprofessional.Took ages to get served(even thogh there wasnt many there).Dont waste your time folks.Go to Cafe Vaudeville.Now thats a great night out.
Submitted by S Millar on 23/05/2007
tried a sat nite regulars only, told 2 try a fri and told the same from some1else.explained myself and he said am i on the guestlist which i wasnt. He said "to many ppl on it". so i dont know wat ppl are talking about wat u wear, nothin 2 do with that.
Submitted by chris on 19/05/2007
i was in it once with friends we walked in and walked back out don't think it was a very inviting place to be unless u are a regular and when do u become a regalur do u have to show your bank account details to become one i was thinking of taking my girl friends there for the eveing but after reading all those comments on your web i think that i might stick to else were thanks to the the people who have took time writting these comments
Submitted by asha on 23/04/2007
yes folks you guessed it - DOOR 'staff' turned my brother and I - out for a great night out, away with the now infamous "regulras only"...has antone checked to see if they are robots?, but thanks god we didn't get in from what i read and hear about the place - for lonely, insecure poseurs! - we headed across the street to Spanaird and the tiny oasis accepted us onto her shores and it was a bloody fantastic night - great and fine looking women, staff, service, criac. Hi Ho!
Submitted by joe on 16/04/2007
just another one of the 'attack of the clone' bars ..takes ages to get served cos the bar staff.. like all belfast bar staff ..are unhappy little muppets who know they have a crap job and thus the only way they can assert some authority or feeling of importance in their sad little lives is to ignore you and serve some hamburger munchin munter..you then have to contend with the universally rubbish rnb music ..strictly invented for stupid little girls to stand in front of the mirror with hair brushes to and work on their diva complex.. only reason a bloke would go there is in the hope of getting some self obsessed muppet back home for sex. but thats only possible if he can get himself drunk enough to stay and endure the music and fight his way through the hundreds of other blokes desperately trying to be 'interesting' to said muppets (some even try dancin to the crap music ha ha)and then he has to be able to maintain the facade of pretending to give a damn about the drunk fool.. so he comes off with some pseudo witty repartee that he hopes will clinch the deal and not make it a complete waste of several hours of his life.. all too much like hard work zzzz
Submitted by belfast child on 25/03/2007
Emailed them ever so politely to ask about a hen party and was told bluntly they dont accommodate them. Ladies stay clear, obviously not a place where you are allowed to have fun!!!!!!
Submitted by Disgusted Hen on 20/03/2007
The Pothouse is sooooooooo boring the crowd go just to look one another up and down really funny to watch, a truly horrible place to waste any good fri or sat night.I suggest if your looking for a more upmarket type of establishment try Ollies lovely crowd and not full of kids like the Pothouse. Avoid at all costs
Submitted by Lucy on 04/03/2007
Walked up towards the entrance on sat night when a posh and becks lookalike got there before us. They were turned away so I thought what chance have we got???? so walked on past - wouldnt even try to get in. Round the block into the Duke of York and a great wee night had!!! Dont think I will ever get the chance to see inside......but hey from what I hear dont think I am missing much!
Submitted by Phil on 18/02/2007
To all the people who were refused entry...count yourselves lucky!!
I've been to funerals that were better craic!!
The place had about as much atmosphere as the moon!!
Submitted on 11/02/2007
I visited The Potthouse with group of approximately eight friends (all in our early 30s) for a meal and then onwards to the nightclub. Our meal was delicious, however, I was appalled by the surly manner of the insignificant and cheeky doorman when I enquired if we had to pay the full entry fee as we had spent just over ?200 on food in the restaurant. His 'smart' response was to ask me if we "didn't get enough chips, love?". What a prick! I work on a nightclub door myself in a much larger venue and his attitude stank. I don't think I would be in a mad rush back.
Submitted on 22/01/2007
I have been to the Pothouse on a number of occasions, however on Fri nite my friend and I went to go upstairs only to be told that "regulars only" to my horror a group behind me who were no more than 17 years old walked on in. so i decided to take myself to one of the more established night spot in Belfast Ollies excellent
Submitted by Julie on 06/01/2007
Potthouse a great night out you''ll only get turned away if you don't look right perhaps you should try the Mclub. Doorstaff lovely!!!
Submitted on 05/01/2007
went on a friday night on spur of the moment was actually impressed and hada great night didnt find the doormen ignorant actually was chatting away to middle aged guy on the door on the top dance floor who was genuinley friendly im only 22 so i wasnt out for the pull in all grand place!
Submitted by Marie on 12/12/2006
Belfast- Tourist Haven- Apparently not at the Potthouse!!!!
Just thought I would advise you that having met friends on Saturday night (four Couples in thirties) in your downstairs bar and then attempting to go up into the nightclub at approx 10.00 hrs only to be told "Sorry folks you don't make it, regulars only".
One of the couples out with us were American? How does this gel with Vibrant Cosmopolitan Cathedral Quarter?
I had also organised a fortieth birthday bash in your top floor approx 6 weeks ago with three of the couples out with us on Saturday night in attendance, how often do you have to go to become one of your regulars?
Submitted by Stephen Kane on 27/11/2006
Reading the other reviews about this venue I was shocked at what I read. Having been out for the night here many times I have always thoroughly enjoyed myself. I found the doorstaff to be friendly.
They obviously have a strict door policy, but I think this is worthwhile as, as someone has already pointed out, I have never seen a fight in the Potthouse. I was also upset to read the poor reviews given about the bar staff. I, like most people, have worked behind bars when I was younger and know that it can be very stressful, though the bar in potthouse always seems to be busy I never had any trouble with any of the staff, who lets face it must be under a lot of pressure!
When last out for a meal I was served by a lovely young man who was superb at his job, we never waited long before being approached about needing more drinks or desert menus, and when we went to the bar ourselves a friendly and helpful girl suggested cocktails I might enjoy and made them much quicker than I have experienced in other cocktail bars such as the apartment or the whig. Her basil grand was delicious and certainly worth a wait at the bar.
The bar is always busy, yes, but in saying this the serving is quicker with cocktails than might be expected, and the staff try their best to acknowledge u and let you know you will be served next which I finds always helps! An excellent venue, in my opinion, with friendly, helpful and competent staff to say the least. If after cocktails see the girl with dramatic hair on the ground floor for a basil grande!"
Submitted by Katie on 27/11/2006
Tried to go to the potthouse on Thur nite for my birthday. Checked the web site on Thurs and it said that Thur was R&B. Group of friends headed down and the club wasn't open. What a joke of a nite club. Seems they can't even keep their web site up to date. Loosers!!
Not be going there again. Think the Potthouse has missed its chance to impress!
Submitted by Cat on 24/11/2006
"Why still in belfast when someone gets knocked back from a club they go totally mad, start shouting the odds, logging on to web sites like this and start bitching??? I've got a easy way of sorting this problem out!!! GO AND START DRESSING YOURSELVES A BIT BETTER!!!!
Oh my God get the picture its not the club thats rough, it's YOU thats why they dont let you in!!! Hope thats sorted out a few problems!!! "
Submitted by James on 24/11/2006
Absolute pit. Bouncers and staff try to outdo each other as to who can be the most ignorant.One particular member of staff was obviously more interested in taking drink rather than serving it.Food bad and overpriced. AVOID
Submitted on 23/11/2006
dull, dull, dull and sort out the toilets please.
Submitted by gmc on 26/10/2006
Visited Sugar room on a Friday night on a weekend away from Edinburgh. Door staff were humourless and neanderthal but did see them rightly turn away drunks and tramps. Sugar Room had a fantastic R'n'B set and the DJ was brill. Loved the mash up's drawing in some less often heard tracks from yesteryear.
Was in Potthouse next night and trying to get a drink was practically impossible. Found the bar staff to be particularly unhelpfull and refused to serve punters in turn.
Submitted by Davie & Jen on 15/10/2006
Shock!!! Regulars only- didnt get in.
Get a grip pothouse.
Submitted on 04/10/2006
finish the toilets - i'm sure i've paid for them on my own by now. don't be cheap. and sort out the knuckle-trailers at the door; what about making them all wear canary yellow sarongs? would that make them lighten up? it'd certainly lighten the mood of the rest of us who have to make their way past this troop of mandrils every weekend. not sure if the potthouse isn't in contravention of the trades description act as a 'bar.' to my mind a 'bar' is somewhere you can actually get a drink! potthouse barstaff seem to spend an inordinate amount of time making cocktails for pseudo-riche vicky pollards, leaving the pint-seeking customer empty-handed. think turnover!!! it's also one of the most atmosphericless bars in the world. club is kack and the vip bit (further) upstairs full of even more poseurs.
Submitted by hugh cee on 04/10/2006
Nice decor, great for the curry club or pub grub before 8pm (if you get a cool booth and NOT the horrid communal tables in the middle). Too pretentious for night out though and the sound is pretty bad in the club. Many better clubs and bars in Belfast.
Submitted by Andy on 29/09/2006
Best night spot in town with out a doubt, people always slag it off cause they cant get in, that kind of gets sad and boring after a while. If you the door staff wont let you in then stop moaning and go else where. I love the place the musics always first class and the men are hot hot hot.
Submitted by Jenny on 21/09/2006
How is this abr in the top 10??? Went last weekend and found most of the reviews here to be very true.. Barstaff look cheesed off and annoyed if you *dare* order drinks... Doorstaff are a hark back to the (bad) old days - I can understand them needing to be strict, but "regulars only" execpt if they think you are attractive/wearing mini-skirt... that sucks!! I will spend my money elsewhere and tell everyone I meet to avoid this vomitorium. Try ANY other bar before you visit this place if you have any doubts!!
Submitted by Bobby MacF on 15/09/2006
Really love this place, totally innovative, the music and crowd are first class!! My mates and I always have a brill time here, would highly recommend this venue to anyone!!
Submitted by Ben on 14/09/2006
Potthouse gets alot of stick about its door policy, I think fair play there's few places in Belfast brave enough to have such a stict door. I go to the Potthouse often and the only people I see getting turned away are either drunk or are total mill bags! Its a good job i ve never seen a fight in the place it's nice to get out on a saturday night and not have to worry about getting your head punched in just because your looking at someone!!
Submitted by Jonny on 12/09/2006
i went to the potthouse last saturday night and didn't get in the bouncers said that it was regulars only i was really disappointed as they were very rude. how are they supposed to make it a better friendly place to go to.
Submitted on 28/08/2006
I would have rated the potthouse as the place to go a few months ago but since then i have found the whole place to go down hill. The staff can be really rude and it takes a life time to be served. After one very boring night i left early totally unimpressed and noticed a large queue across the road. Curious i fentured over to find a real gem called Ollies Night club. Now this is a night club which brings belfast up to another level and able to compete with the likes of london. Definately worth a visit i have been here every week since and every time has been unbelievable. Sorry to the potthouse but there is no way you can compete with this night club. 10 out of 10 for Ollies and 0 out of 10 for the potthouse
Submitted by bev on 21/07/2006
Have never had a worst night in my life with my friends. Management & Staff have no idea how to treat customers! Would never cross its door again... Save your money and go to Tesco's it's better fun...
Submitted on 29/06/2006
The pothouse is brilliant on a Friday night the music is so good and it is so much more relaxed than on a Saturday night. The door staff are horrible they really think they are something, I mean you dont have to be a brain surgeon to stand guarding a door all night do you? Get over yourself! Them toilets could do with being finished off. Im sure they have made enough money now to finish decorating.
Submitted by Allison on 22/06/2006
I went to the Pothouse last night with a group of friends for dinner (8 of us). The food was not very impressive - cold, not at all tasty and one girl didnt even get her dinner until after the rest of us had finished. The service was awful with drinks orders sitting on the bar not being delivered and one waitress in particular could do with personality transplant.
I would not recommend this bar for an evening meal.
Submitted on 09/06/2006
went to the pothouse on sat night, had a few drinks in the bar. then left to go to the nightclub and were refused entry because we were not regulars, (doorstaff didnt like the look of us so refused us entry crap}.do not waste your time and energy going here as it is TRIPE.
Submitted by J.C on 21/05/2006
I WENT TO THE POTTHOUSE ON SAT NITE, HAD A FEW DRINKS IN THE BAR THEN DECIDED TO GO UPSTAIRS, DOORMAN WULDNT LET ME IN SAID REGULARS ONLY, I SAID HOW DO U WORK THAT OUT , HOW DO U NO IF IM A REGULAR. I WULDNT GO AGAIN.AWFUL
Submitted by Angry MOFO on 15/05/2006
It's a case of the emperors new clothes with the potthouse. Lets see if we can open a bar thats competely unfinished and see if people are gullible enough to say its nice. Bare breexeblock walls and cheap plywood toilets. Ooh feel the glamour. A wee skim of plaster would go down a treat.
Submitted by RC on 30/04/2006
Very cold and uninviting atmosphere, I won't be going again.
Submitted on 25/04/2006
a lot of my friends recommended the Pothouse and so I went to see what it was like. The doorstaff were quite unfriendly and appeared to be looking down at you. the ambience was of a lot of people trying to be important. not relaxing or chilled out at all. lots of very glamorous looking people who didn't seem to be talking much, just looking around.
on saying that the bar is well done up, the beer was grand. i guess it depends on what you're into. if you're very good looking, rich and successful, like to wear designer clothes and hang around with beautiful people and pose a lot then you may love the pothouse. i didn't.
Submitted by Adrian Mc Elholm on 15/04/2006
Ive been a few times to the Potthouse; and everytime ive had a brilliant night. Staff are friendly, so are the door staff and the music is great. I'll definately be returning!!
Submitted on 08/12/2005
Terrible! Didnt enjoy myself at all. Found it very hard to relax and had alot of trouble getting in, mainly because i wasnt wearing ?1000 worth of designer clothes! Door staff need to sort it out. Pants.
Submitted on 28/09/2005
Utterly terrible. Some of the most unfriendly door staff I have ever encountered. They certainly know how to treat you like dirt. Don't go here. Go to The Apartment. It's much nicer, better music, friendlier and doesn't cost ?10 to get in. The Potthouse is a club that thinks it's something special when it clearly isn't.
Submitted on 03/08/2005
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