City centre move linked to £14m hotel and restaurant development
Northern Irish pizza chain Little Wing has confirmed it will relocate its flagship store on Ann Street in central Belfast to the neighbouring unit as part of a wider city centre regeneration scheme. The change forms one element of a proposed £14 million transformation of former retail and restaurant units into a hotel, bar and restaurant complex.
Little Wing opened its first Ann Street outlet in 2009 and has since expanded to a network of 12 restaurants, including a slice shop at the Odyssey complex. Planning documents lodged with Belfast City Council indicate the chain will move into the space formerly occupied by Spoon Street, which faces onto a new courtyard area within the development.
"relocating next door soon" — "more space, more tables and more pizza"
The relocation was first signposted by a notice placed on the existing Ann Street premises stating the store was "relocating next door soon" and promising "more space, more tables and more pizza". According to the submitted plans, the original Ann Street unit will be repurposed as a new bar and will be linked internally to the incoming hotel facility.
Developer and scheme details
The project is being taken forward by Beannchor, the hospitality group that owns the Merchant Hotel. The proposals show a 41‑bedroom hotel alongside associated bar and restaurant spaces, designed to make better use of a cluster of adjacent units on the busy city street.
Planning documents indicate the scheme will create a mix of hospitality and retail uses when complete. Promoters say the development will result in job creation in the local economy. Officials estimate that, once operational, the project will support around 95 full‑time positions across hospitality and retail roles.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Little Wing sites (total) | 12 |
| Hotel bedrooms proposed | 41 |
| Estimated full‑time jobs | 95 |
Implications for the city centre and hospitality sector
The relocation keeps the long‑standing Little Wing presence in the heart of Belfast, expanding seating and service capacity while tying the outlet into a larger leisure and accommodation offer. For customers who use the Ann Street premises for quick lunches and informal dining, the close proximity of the new unit should preserve convenience, while offering a refreshed environment.
For the wider city centre, the project represents another example of private investment aimed at repurposing retail frontage into mixed hospitality uses as consumer habits and visitor demand evolve. The involvement of an established local operator and a recognised city hotel owner suggests continuity of experience for visitors, with potential knock‑on benefits for footfall in surrounding streets.
- Little Wing will remain on Ann Street, relocating next door into the former Spoon Street unit.
- The overall scheme by Beannchor would add a 41‑bedroom hotel with associated food and drink outlets.
- Developers estimate about 95 full‑time jobs will be created when the project is operational.
At this stage, no further detail has been released about the precise formats of the new bar and restaurant tenants that will join Little Wing within the complex. Plans are subject to the usual planning consideration and any adjustments arising from council review. Local residents and city centre workers will be watching how the proposals progress through the planning process and what the development means for footfall, evening economy activity and job opportunities in the immediate area.
