A very boujee getaway
I have had a strange month to say the least. Between auditions, work, travelling back and forth from home and some family drama, I was thankful that Jake’s family took me in for a few days so I could breathe, eat, go on walks and see cows.
Never having visited Northern Ireland before, I was very intrigued to see the city and countryside that my boyfriend talked about so lovingly, I was also extremely excited to get out of London. Don’t get me wrong, I have a massive love for London, but it is an absolute luxury going to bed without hearing sirens.
I flew over from Manchester since I was home, the flight was about as long as an episode of friends, after we took off we were almost landing immediately after. Half the journey was walking to the gate. I was picked up, given a squeeze and then was driven in to the countryside. The views on the way to the house were dramatic and misty. I was shown the places Jake and his mum knew in the way of anecdotes and memories, and also the spots that were used for filming in Game of Thrones. When we got back and were settled with a glass of wine, we sat down to a homemade chicken and tarragon pie, mash and vegetables that Jake’s dad made. I was stuffed. This became a theme.
The next couple of days I was shown around the countryside, visiting the Clandeboye Estate where Jake was performing a poetry reading with a string trio, seeing Holywood (I made it mum!), going on a walk where we made some cow friends, seeing a play at the Lyric, and spending time with a few friends on the Lisburn road.
We then ventured in to the city for the last couple of days as Jake was working and staying there. We stayed at the Grand Central Hotel, which was lovely. As soon as we got to the room and dropped our bags, we got changed and headed up to the observtory, which is a piano bar on the top floor. I had a glass of champagne and Jake had an orange blossom mocktail because he’s far too sensible. For dinner, Jake recommended the Mourne Seafood Bar. Let me tell you… I will 100% do a review of this place. It was the most enjoyable meal I have had from a restaurant in a long time. I stupidly forgot about the fresh fish possibilities in Belfast, but oh my lord its another level. Jake and I have a system where one of us always “wins” a meal. Its when one of us clearly makes better food choices than the other, this time, I clearly won.
The day after I was left to my own devices, I walked to Queens Uni, the Cathedral quarter, did some shopping in the centre and treated myself to a lunch in the Merchant Hotel. When we both met back in the hotel, Jake informed me that our presence was wanted in the Europa for cocktails with his work friends, this was a great start to a tipsy night. We had a few drinks and chatted in the luxe marble bar before skipping over to James St Grill. This was another Jake recommendation and it was a good one, even though he did “win” this time. I started with caviar and cured salmon, whilst he opted for the chilli and crab linguine. Then I followed it with a sirloin which was very very good, but Jake smacked it out the park with his duck breast, barbecued Hispi cabbage and enoki mushrooms.
It was a very fun last night. But the morning was bittersweet as Jake took me for a coffee and showed me parts of Belfast that I may have missed. We said goodbye and I left for my flight. God, next time he’ll be staying with my parents.
