The Maverick

Bar and club · Belfast Queer Quarter

Bar downstairs, club upstairs: The Maverick on the corner of Union Street and Donegall Street sees itself as a radical alternative in the heart of Belfast’s Queer Quarter, with DJs, karaoke and drag.

• ★ 3.6 on Google (246)
• Drag and karaoke
• Club upstairs
• mostly young, 20–40

Address

1 Union Street
Belfast BT1 2JF

Opening hours

Mon–Fri 5 pm–1 am
Sat 2 pm–1 am
Sun 2 pm–midnight

Crowd

mixed, rather young, 20–40

Flirt factor

medium to high

Getting there

approx. 10 minutes’ walk from City Hall, near St Anne’s Cathedral

What makes The Maverick special

There has been a pub on this corner since 1872, formerly known as McElhatton’s and later as The Front Page. The McElhatton family has owned the building since the 1970s, and in November 2013 it reopened as The Maverick. In 2021 the small bar The Reporter was added next door, and in 2024 a roof terrace was approved.

Downstairs is a bar, upstairs a club with a dance floor. It is open seven days a week until late.

Atmosphere and crowd

There are DJ sets, karaoke, cabaret and drag shows, which are often praised in the reviews. Many guests experience The Maverick as a relaxed place with a sense of community. The crowd is mixed and rather young, mostly between 20 and 40.

Contact

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: official The Maverick website, The Irish News (July 2024), GayOut, Google reviews (3.6 stars, 246 reviews). Opening hours, prices and programme may change, please check before visiting.