Having walked past Academy restaurant in Belfast 's York Street on numerous occasions, I always thought it looked like an interesting dining spot. There's no hint that it is anything other than a smart city centre restaurant, with lovely decor and convivial atmosphere. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
It is, in fact, a training restaurant where Ulster University students aspiring for a career in the hospitality, tourism and events industry put their classroom skills into practice. Described by the university as 'a safe space for experiential learning', it provides an immersive learning experience created for students completing their (Bachelor honours) International Hospitality Management or Culinary Art Management degrees. There certainly is no better way for students to learn than by working in a real restaurant environment - proven by the many highly successful UU graduates who are now marking their mark both in the local hospitality industry and internationally.
As the Academy is open to the public for lunch and dinner we thought we'd give it a try on a recent weekday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement A warm and friendly welcome greeted us on arrival and our table was a perfect spot overlooking St Anne's Cathedral. Other couples were enjoying their meals as was a larger group, so we certainly weren't the only diners, but our attentive young .
