For years, it stood quietly beside Belfast City Hall. Familiar, imposing, and full of unanswered questions. Now, one of the city centre’s most recognisable buildings has come back to life after an 18-month refurbishment.
The Grade B1 listed Scottish Mutual Building, a Scottish Baronial-style property dating back to 1904 has been transformed into an 82-bedroom hotel.
The Bedford Hotel Belfast has officially started taking bookings from May 2026, marking a new chapter for the historic stone-fronted building on Donegall Square South. Once a constant in the daily rhythm of the city, the landmark is stepping back into public life after decades of uncertainty.
First opened in 1904 as the Scottish Mutual Building, the structure was built during a time when Belfast was growing fast and thinking big. Its architecture reflected that confidence, solid and unapologetic, overlooking the civic heart of the city. For generations, it was simply part of Belfast. Something you passed every day without questioning.
Then, slowly, it fell silent.
Like many historic buildings in the city centre, the Bedford spent years largely unused. Plans came and went. Locals walked past, aware of its presence but unsure what its future might be.
That pause has now ended.
Following a careful redevelopment, the building has been restored and reimagined as a boutique hotel, one that respects its architectural heritage while introducing modern comfort and warmth. Original features have been preserved, while new interiors give the space a sense of ease and welcome.
The Bedford Hotel will offer 82 bedrooms, alongside a restaurant and café bar designed not just for visitors, but for people who live and work in Belfast. Its reopening will create more than 100 hospitality jobs, adding to the ongoing revival of the city centre.
With its front door opening directly onto Donegall Square South, the hotel sits at the centre of everything. Guests step straight into the life of the city, within walking distance of theatres, galleries, shops and bars. Locals gain a new place to meet, eat and linger, right beside City Hall.
This is more than a hotel opening. It feels like the return of something Belfast had been missing. A familiar building, brought back with care, ready once again to take its place in the everyday life of the city.
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