
Quick info
About The Cloth Ear
The Cloth Ear is a pub in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast, set inside a hotel at 16 Skipper St. The bar has a fireplace, and the menu follows a pub format with braised lamb as a main and fish and chips served with tartar sauce, mushy peas and curry sauce. Sunday roast is on the menu too. Wheaten bread comes on the side with meals and with the soup of the day. Cocktails are on offer, along with a strawberry and basil lemonade made with gin. A snug can be booked for a party, which suits groups planning a get-together. Window seating also gives larger parties a place to sit together.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Usually difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention braised lamb, fish and chips, sunday roast and strawberry basil gin lemonade.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention braised lamb, fish and chips, sunday roast and strawberry basil gin lemonade.
Customer Review Summary
Braised lamb is the dish reviewers raise most, described as delicious and falling apart without needing to be cut, though one diner found it tender but nothing special. Close behind are the fish and chips, praised for flaky fish and a very good tartar sauce, and a Sunday roast and burger that reviewers call delicious and extremely good. A strawberry and basil lemonade with gin gets a mention too, along with well-made cocktails and a tended fireplace. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and welcoming, and one party was set up in the snug for a family celebration. The recurring complaints are cost and pace. Several find prices high or portions small, with one reviewer describing a Caesar salad whose chicken breast was extremely small. Others report slow service, including a wait to be seated, a long wait for drinks with only one bartender on, and delays bringing the check. One reviewer found the chips underdone and lacking crispiness, and another got slightly burnt bread with the soup of the day. A reviewer who tried the wheaten bread on the side said it made the meal enough.
Customer Review Summary
Braised lamb is the dish reviewers raise most, described as delicious and falling apart without needing to be cut, though one diner found it tender but nothing special. Close behind are the fish and chips, praised for flaky fish and a very good tartar sauce, and a Sunday roast and burger that reviewers call delicious and extremely good. A strawberry and basil lemonade with gin gets a mention too, along with well-made cocktails and a tended fireplace. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and welcoming, and one party was set up in the snug for a family celebration. The recurring complaints are cost and pace. Several find prices high or portions small, with one reviewer describing a Caesar salad whose chicken breast was extremely small. Others report slow service, including a wait to be seated, a long wait for drinks with only one bartender on, and delays bringing the check. One reviewer found the chips underdone and lacking crispiness, and another got slightly burnt bread with the soup of the day. A reviewer who tried the wheaten bread on the side said it made the meal enough.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“I had the fish and chips, and they were really exceptional! The fish just fell apart without needing to be cut, and the tartar sauce was also VERY good. It came with some nice curry sauce as well which was fun to try! The mushy peas and chips weren't my absolute favorite: chips weren't cooked as much as I would have liked and lacked outer crispiness, and I just personally prefer less chunky mushy peas. Someone else I was with got the braised lamb which was very good as well, and also fell apart without needing to be cut. The strawberry and basil lemonade (with gin) was also worth mentioning; very delicious and refreshing! While I wouldn't recommend the chips, everything else was great and worthy of a 5-star review :)”
- Google user
“Visited The Cloth Ear at lunchtime and overall it was an average experience. The food itself was ok, but definitely overpriced for what we received. I ordered the Caesar salad, and the chicken breast was extremely small, more like something from a chick than a full portion, which was disappointing for the price. There was only one bartender on, so despite it not being overly busy, we had quite a wait to be served drinks at the bar. That said, I can’t fault the service from the staff at all, everyone we dealt with was absolutely spot on, friendly, and professional. The outside seating area could be improved. It’s clearly set up with smokers in mind (none of us were), but it would benefit from being more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable for all customers. Overall, decent service but the food quality, pricing, and outdoor space let it down.”
- Google user
“Braised lamb was delicious, friendly staff, prices a bit on the high side. Waited a while to be seated and food to be served. Would recommend a visit.”
- Google user
“Great place. Welcoming staff, good beer and fabulous food. Definitely recommend calling here. Only round the corner from the Duke also for those wanting a photo of the umbrellas.”
- Google user
“Had the most delicious Sunday roast, cooked to perfection on Sunday at the Cloth Ear. We were a party of 9 and out experience from start to finish was amazing, they also went the extra mile for a special birthday. One of our party had the red pepper risotto which again was delicious. Deserts were to die for!! Service from every one particularly Ewan and Olivia was exceptional and they are a credit to your team. Highly recommended for anyone looking for food and amazing cocktails whilst in Belfast City xx”
Highlights
“Classy pub-style menu in a buzzy bar with quirky decor, situated in an upscale hotel.”
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Food at bar
Show more amenities
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Live music
- Solo dining
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Highlights· 4
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Live performances
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 3
- Casual
- Trendy
- Upscale
- Parking· 1
- Usually difficult to find a space
Location
Bars near The Cloth Ear
- Harp Bar4.53,4020.1 mi£10–40Wheelchair accessible
live music, separate red hall, beautiful decor
- McHughs Bar & Restaurant4.43,1600.1 mi£15–30
traditional Irish stew, live Irish music, Guinness
- 0.1 mi£15–30
rump steak on skillet, tomahawk steak, beef and guinness pie
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cloth EarReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.31,714 | — | £20–50 | braised lamb, fish and chips, sunday roast |
| Harp BarWheelchair accessible | 4.53,402 | 0.1 mi | £10–40 | live music, separate red hall, beautiful decor |
| McHughs Bar & Restaurant | 4.43,160 | 0.1 mi | £15–30 | traditional Irish stew, live Irish music, Guinness |
| The Morning Star Bar & Restaurant | 4.23,888 | 0.1 mi | £15–30 | rump steak on skillet, tomahawk steak, beef and guinness pie |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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