The Botanic Inn in Belfast

Got turned away with a real government issue passport, that is a photo of me, and showed my banking app and card to PROVE the person on the id was me. Absolutely horrid service, got shouted at by a man pushing 50, I believe he was the manager. Said I had a big nose, insanely rude to everyone else. Paranoid little guy.

bouncers are terrible,cheeky,rude and completly disrespectful and disgusting towards customers

All good dont do food but your alloud food to bring in. 😛

It used to be a great bar back in the day staff are very friendly and helpful. No food served but they will let you bring food in which is amazing. Nice wing place 😋 👌 😍 beside the bar 🍸. Nice place for a quiet drink during the day. Nice place for everyone and also a bit of history 👍 and it displays it around the walls within the bar. If your visiting Belfast call and have a wee look 😀 😉

A big bar popular with sport enthusiasts and students. There is a wing place next door and you can take your pint with you when you order/eat your wings.

Really like the Bot and go each time I'm in Belfast. Staff lovely.

On 14 July, 'manager' Darryn Burton was aggressive, rude, and caused my family great distress. As first-time visitors, we will NEVER return due to his behaviour. He spoke to us as though we were less than human. One of our party has a disability making standing painful, hence why we had prebooked a table via email with Burton himself. Upon arrival, his manner and body language was hostile, he then stated that our reserved table had been taken due to a "cut-off" time, despite us being there 43 minutes before the football was due to begin his tone and body language was dismissive and verging on unstable. Two empty reserved tables were visible, but he stated, "You won't be sitting there, I'm keeping those tables for MY FRIENDS, why..? Because I said so, that's why!'. (This unspoken rule was not communicated via the emails nor displayed on the Botanic Inn Facebook page). When a family member began recording the incident for our safety, Burton became irate, lunging at him before forcibly grabbing his phone. In a threatening manner, he said it would NOT be returned until the footage of (his behaviour) was deleted. He then placed the phone in his back pocket as he continued to chastise us in full view of everyone. (CCTV footage will clarify this). His behaviour was shocking, especially towards a disabled customer. We will be pursuing this matter with the relevant authorities, including the owners of the Botanic Inn, the Mooney Group. One of our family was left in tears and visibly shaken by the whole experience and after reading the reviews, its clear to see that this is not the first incident involving this staff member and paying customers. Please avoid!

Booked for the Scotland game as we were over for a stag do. Gave us our own little area with a big screen which was great. Decent drinks selection and prices. Staff helpfull. Nothing really to complain about. Decent little sports bar. Try the chicken wings. Unreal.

Good music , bit flat as far as atmosphere but over all nice bar

Walked in for the Clubland after party, went to the bar and turned and wrnt straight back out again. Between people dressed in tracksuits and shorts to adidas tracksuit tops and the smell of dope was stinking. Biggest waste of money i have ever spent in my life was getting to the place and the ticket in, to getting out of the place again.

A friend had an awful experience with a bouncer that left her shaken up, I understand the frustration he may have felt working, however I think it was horrible to scream at a young woman for trying to have a civil conversation with him, left her extremely shaken up and in tears.

Great spot to watch the match. lovely pint. food from Wing It at the front door.

The worst service in Belfast by a mile. Staff are more concerned with their phones and eating behind the bar and chatting instead of serving. Took me 10 mins to order 2 pints and I was the only one at the bar. Even the better staff are too worried about cleaning, tidying behind the bar etc than serving customers

terrible, rude and unpleasant bouncers. wouldn’t accept my citizen card even though it’s a PASS accepted government approved id. despite the fact that it had my age on it and is literally government approved id, they said that only passport and driving licence are acceptable id. yet i saw plenty of kids who were clearly underage getting in with ids that clearly didn’t belong to them. the bouncers were also just rude and unhelpful in general and looked like they didn’t want to be there. don’t come to this place until they sort their useless door staff out.

Went to club a group of us was that dirty in it had to have a detol bath ehen i came home so many fights in it seemed to be age 13 an up no toilet roll water runing dw the toilet walls glass smashed every were an jz left there dirty hole ive ever been in my life feel so ill thinking of it never again

The toilets next to pool room are worst I've ever experienced

Nice place to relax and wait for the better half to go shopping.

This place is huge inside. Met friends there in the daytime. Plenty of seating, an open fire. Friendly locals. Good value drinks.

Great for sports plenty of big screens (commentary could be a bit louder). pool tables available. Lovely pints of Guinness. And large beer garden with outside screens brilliant especially on nice sunny day 👍

More atmosphere in a Pharaoh's tomb

Botanic Inn bouncer at a pre-formal took lots of ID of the young ones and wouldn't give it back!! He was standing squealing at and physically pushing ones crying and begging for their ID back for their formals next week to go away and he was being very aggressive towards them. I would suggest people avoid this place as this mistreatment of young ladies is just not acceptable and it was indeed a pre-formal! Where even young people from school running it were abused and turned away. Such a cruel individual to do and a blatant abuse of power, refuse entry yes but give them back their IDs, some were actually the real deal and now they're stranded also. Such a bully!! Spend your money in a friendlier establishment where people actually want and appreciate your custom.

BEST PLACE EVAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awful service, I recently went to enjoy the rugby with a group of friends, immediately on entry we were greeted by extremely rude bouncers upon entering the bar we seen hundreds of clearly underage children and to top it off we were left waiting for nearly an hour trying to purchase a drink. I won’t be returning.

Aggressive door staff not for the first time ,seen them threatening young girls - not acceptable at all

Had my first sip of guinness here while on a short trip in Belfast. Was busy due to the rugby.

Netter Abend dort, es war aber wenig los und Self Service.

My wife and I had walked back from Belfast City center on the way to our Hotel,we dropped into the Botanic Inn,it was a quite period with one large group in good humor and one other couple.Lots of Television screens about obviously a sports pub,clean and tidy surrounds.Barman very helpful and we had two rounds over an hour before we journeyed on.

The Botanic inn: Barmaid was very pleasant with multi screens for all the sports and a nice spot for a few pints.

Quick pint of Guinness and a game of pool, huge sports bar. Good value drinks

Lovely staff and a good atmosphere

I used to spend hours and indeed many pounds in this bar under the previous management. It has gone badly downhill and in every respect is no longer the bar I called my local along with many others who went to watch football here in particular. It is certainly no longer a sports bar, and even to get sport on the right television seems to be an issue. It is very sad to see the demise of what was a seminal establishment in the university area of Belfast. Sad, but something that didn't have to happen as some of the very best staff who embraced the demand for a real sports bar and also the demand for friendly and excellent customer service are gone to be replaced with people who really don't care about customer service never mind deliver it. The days of not being able to move in a packed front bar with numerous players from local football and hockey teams and those in for the football results on a Saturday evening are gone for sure. The bar I called my local as I said is gone for sure. Not just sad, but very sad.

the management needs to decide what type of bar they want to be remain a student and old man bar or become a smick fest also the bouncers are not that friendly.

Great pub, especially for sports

Traditional pub in the front. Large student/sports bar round the back, and weird "kiddy rave" going on upstairs. £11 for a skanky G&T is pure rip off. I can't see why you'd want to go here unless you just want to shoot some pool with mates.

Used to drink there years ago and it was an excellent spot. Called in about 12 months ago before dinner with some friends. Teenage girl bar staff stood talking to eachother and scrolling through their phones. Place was empty but they were actually nasty when I politely tried to order drinks. Like it was a big hassle. Served me possibly the worst pint of Guinness I've ever had along with a look like they were going to knife me. I guess somethings you shouldn't revisit

I use to love this bar in the past was a regular customer and often held company events there on a previous night when drinking I got told I had not paid for my drink and that i had snuck in vodka (which was never found) as i tried to bring out my phone to show them a receipt my phone was snatched from my hand by a rude bouncer I was then escorted towards the door where another bouncer apologised saying the manager didn't like the look of me shocking way to treat customers explains why this bar has gone so downhill in recent years

Good pub for six nations, nice old pub on the front with bigger more modern outside of there. Could do with more inside seating in modern bit probably

Front bar nice, everywhere else seems very run down. Could do with some TLC

I have always frequented the Bot when I lived in the city for the sports. Haven't been for a good while since I moved, but been going the last year or so because of Wing It beside it. Everything about the bar is great, with the exception of the staff. The bar staff are the most uncharsmic, unfriendly and all round clueless in the city. Between not wanting to know you when you stand at the bar, or too busy talking amongst themselves, take your pick. It's been a while since I've had a pint poured as poorly as I did on my last visit

A group of seven of us spent three hours in the pup, where I was blatantly and unapologetically overcharged at the bar. I wasn’t given a receipt, had to ask twice before I was eventually and grudgingly given a receipt. I was charged for three pints instead of 2 pints a sparkling water.. a senior bar man was still playing dumb as if he didn’t know what he had done.. eventually he threw £5:20 back at me, no apology.. no ‘sorry about that’. Very bad form, I wouldn’t go back..

Nice sound system and the lightening and ambience.Great place for parties with family and friends.

Lovely bar. Great staff. Epic for sports. If you want a traditional pub with a friendly atmosphere look no further.

Nice atmosphere. Lots of options of beers with OK price. Good for watching sporting events. Some poor quality pool tables and cues tho. Overall good experience

Good Place to have beers and pool

Used to drink here a long time ago. Popped in for nostalgia's sake and to warm up by the fire. The recommended Belfast Endeavour was a great pint. Warm, friendly bar staff. A good experience, pit stop.

Great venue will definitely be back again

I will never be back. I never leave reviews but I am so shocked at the staff and how my friends and I were treated. The staff are so rude, twisted and aggressive - the manager in particular. I don’t know how they have any customers left.

Used to love it here, but the bouncers have ruined my experience lately. They are on a serious power trip and almost didn’t let me in with my electoral card. I was confused and said it was a legal way of proving age. They told me they decide what to accept and that I needed to get a different ID next time. They are rude and a lot of people are scared to be around them because of the aggressiveness and hostility of them. The staff and manager are also not great either, a girl wanted to put her coat and bag in the cloak room and when she was putting her coat in the bag the guy working behind the countertops told her she had to pay double. Then the manager began to be rude to her as well. She told them it was a joke and was grabbed by the female bouncer and thrown out without her friends. I’ve never seen a place work like this and it would have so much potential if people weren’t singled out or looked down upon by the staff and security.

It was the best food I had in a long time. I highly recommend this place to everyone

Pool tables are playable, great spot to watch the football

Nice environment to have quiet pint

This has never been a nice bar by any means but the way they have it now seems to be designed for the sole purpose of making it easy to clean up student vomit.

Lovely bar, nice staff and the nightclub improvements are very impressive!

Several venues in this bar. With nightclub and private room for fundraising functions etc. Sports room screens and pool tables. Everything under one business great night's had here

Loved the regulars who we chatted with plus Cara the bartender.

Love this place always great vibe about it especially at the trance events

Terrible, door staff are awful, manager is completely entitled P.O.S. Feel bad for the bar staff as they are clearly kids exploited for cheap labor. Don't even get me started on the state of the toilets. Looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. Flies everywhere and dried crusty residue stuck to the sides.

Terrible, door staff are awful, manager is entitled p.o.s. Feel bad for the bar staff as they are clearly kids exploited for cheap labor. Toilets are a health and safety issue, looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. Flies everywhere and crusty residue on the sides. Absolutely leapin.

Mostly fir students and the young folk

It's a pub. It does the job. Plenty of pool tables tho so that's much appreciated.

My first time here and won't be back. Staff were rude, more towards the end (must not like working sundays) and just purely provocative. There was no need for staff behaviour and it seems they need a class in customer service. I'm genuinely shocked and appalled at how we were treated. I'm not one to complain, coming from a retail background, but honestly horrible and would never treat my own customers the same.

Not a bad spot. Expanded now to cater for more students etc with a larger pool table area; and it's 3ssentialky just merged into the Wel Pk Hotel; but some will take comfort that the "oul fellas" bar is still out the front...

I had a pint and a hamburger there last week. Everything was great, a place not to miss when you are in Belfast.

Staff perhaps not well trained, bar boy/man tried to charge me £5.50 for a half pint until I queried it, price was actually £2.50.... have no idea what that was about. Bar has several pool tables which is super, but for some reason in the same area pool tables are located there is an arcade punchbag challenge machine. There are numerous reasons this is not a great idea... In fairness, poor government, covid & financial crisis has crippled many bars & business's. I'd hate to see the bot go under as I've had many good night's in there. A few tweaks here & there, investment in a bar manager to ensure staff are performing adequately & a touch of good fortune are required. Definitely, that punchbag machine has no place in an alcohol fueled environment, particularly not around pool tables. I suspect financial constraints have led to one staff cutback too many. Which would explain the uncharacteristic issues in a pretty excellent bar.

Couldn't give less than 1. Wanted to give zero. Went in recently and was naturally ignored by the staff at the bar. It was early on a Friday evening and the bar was not busy (maybe 30 people) . The staff done everything to avoid eye contact while we stood at the beer pumps, chat to each other, pretent to tidy, play on their phones and even just walk away. When my date asked for a drink we got told "I'm not gonna serve you". My query was, "Is it because we're gay or because he's Asian" I was met with and eye roll and being ignored for another 3 minutes. Seemed more occupied serving kids and not checking ID than being hospitable. Would I go back..... NO Would I recommend....... NO Am I embarrassed they're (UNOFFICIAL) affiliate with the GAA.... YES

Went here a year ago for Scotland v England in the Euros football, won’t be back ever again! Visiting Belfast for the first time in years with my brother-in-law from London who has autism so has to be minded at all times. We both had England football shirts and got something to eat and arrived early. We wanted to walk around and see all the new changes since lockdown, beer garden/big screens etc. Everywhere we went though we were followed by big burly security bouncers, never felt more intimidated in all my entire life. Went to the toilets at one stage and one of them (reddish haired chap) even cheekily said “where are yous two going to now?” Throughout the whole match there always two of them within 25/30 feet watching our every move…..me with a disabled fella sipping orange juice - we was hardly gonna start a riot. Meanwhile dozens of young intoxicated kids were climbing over tables, screaming, downing shots, spilling drinks……but they didn’t matter - just the two with England taps on! I honestly thought Belfast/Northern Ireland had moved on, but I guess they’re still stuck in the past of sectarian bigoted mindsets……avoid at all costs!

Terrible, staff have no idea. Don't even think about going to the toilet, flooded, bare wires hanging from light fittings and the disabled is used as an overflow cleaning store. "Cleaning? " as if that actually happens.

Great bar to watch football in, especially the Belfast Kop events

Terrible. Over crowed. Waiting in the line for 1hr 30 minute's for a drink and still didn't get served. Won't be back. If I could rate no stars I would.

Never come here to watch a big match the set up is good but an hour to get a drink at best is no good avoid like the plague absolutely terrible

Decent bar with a large beer garden. Tends to aim for the student age demographic. Quality of pints are pretty mediocre but at an adequate price.

Superb bar for sports, friendly staff, great service, very welcoming.

DEFINITELY will not be back here and will be telling people about how poorly run it is starting with the fact that the staff members are very rude and aggressive Absolutely dead in side BAD craic Worst place in Belfast to go I would say

Stopped in for a quick drink. The bar is a comfy place to spend a while with friends.

Front area is very nice Nice and cosy. It preserved it spirit and Irish vibe. However the rest of the establishment became a "soulless" money-maker student bar. With not so cheap drink and a big drop in service quality.

I don't know how to use the beer pong tables in here but I'll learn eventually

One of the best nights out for young people

The bouncer in the botanic inn are extremely aggressive ,rude and horrible people. Will not be back anytime soon .

Been a few times recently, pretty quiet, bouncers dead on, staff not the friendliest

Best park in the world just get the ficken toilets sorted please

Great bar for a day of watching sports with a few beers

Nice place to watch a game and the lads behind the bar are A1. Nice bunch! Great experience. Highly recommended

Table service but very quick and wrll spaced out. Good age mix of punters. Friendly staff and clean spot also.

Music not as good as expected but a great night all in all

bouncers are awful so rude and rough got kicked out for no reason, they need knocked down a peg to be 100% honest.

Great bar, good beer garden, friendly staff had a good night

Has been a great pub in the past but now just a student bar.

Big Monty was such a GEM last night. We really appreciated him letting us go up to the club for my sisters birthday, even though we were late to arrive. The BEST bouncer in Belfast 👌😄

The Bot is great but best part is Wing It just outside... Beaut wings with lots of flavours and dips

Absolutely ridiculous I bought an early bird ticket and came early and was denied excess to to the party I was told I had to stay down stairs when my group was upstairs they had a DJ lights smoke the whole works up stairs that I payed for and was denied entrance too also when questioning this the workers where very rude I’d understand if people paid more to be upstairs but I paid the same yet they got all the works and I sat down stairs in a half empty place listening to radio music absolut rubbish we all left at 10:30

Nicest bouncers in Belfast. Always so helpful anytime my friends and I visit The Bot. Very professional and approachable. Big shout out to Stevie. However, The Bot itself is mediocre.

My friends and I have been to the botanic inn multiple times, and could never complain once about the bouncers, as a group of girls, we sometimes struggle to feel safe, but the bouncers do their up most to make sure we feel safe and happy, they are easily the best most professional bouncers i have come across and make the experience so much better, 10/10 from my group and friends and I. However for the actual Botanic inn, the nights I have had in their are quite underwhelming.

Went to the freshers Halloween ball yesterday and had an awful experience with a bouncer. I was already inside and my friend who’d bought a ticket had arrived and the bouncer refused to let her in, we went inside and the bouncer came and kicked her out, i calmly explained she had a ticket and he full on yelled at me for no reason. Later I was going on home and waiting for an Uber in the entrance part and he yelled at me said I had to get back inside. I dont know this mans name but he was awful and aggressive for no reason whatsoever and I honestly dont want to go back because of him. I also got ripped off for 2 vodka and cokes, not worth it. Save your money and go somewhere else where you’ll actually be treated with respect and understanding

I was a virtual fly on the wall as a manager literally laid hands on a young chap who was querying where a meal had got to. As I understand it, he (the customer) was asking what the delay was. This appeared to be too much for the duty manager, who immediately started to make some very strange and aggressive accusations. He (the manager) was very hot-headed and I was left wondering if (a) this guy has some kind of temper control issue, or (b) has never been trained to speak properly to customers. In any event, I would caution anyone against using this place. I don’t know about the young fella, but neither me of my friends will be back. Horrific. I’ll be sticking to my local in future. I didn’t catch the name of the young fella, or the manager, but if the customer is reading this, I’m prepared to act as a witness. This kind of “customer service” has to be challenged and changed, or Belfast will be left a social wasteland.

Come here if you don’t want your drink to come. Unreal for that

For being a place mostly frequented by students, the price of a pint is ridiculous. A fiver pint, ye would think we live in London there Also they served Guinness in a plastic cup. Blasphemy

ordered 5 drinks, waited over 2 hours and they didn’t come. Said to 3 members of staff and the accused us of lying

absolutely awful. vodka black current tasted like absolute dirt. half pint glass was only just over half full?? drinks took ages to come when the bar was pretty empty. also portaloos in the outside area made me and my friends feel like we were drinking in a field..won’t be returning!

Absolutely disgusting that you are given trade but deny your customers the Basic Human Right of using your toilets. As of first thing in the morning I will be contacting Health and Safety, you should not have a licence.

The bot is the best place in Belfast!! Absolute best bouncers in town! Michael, Montey and bouncer at door deserve an MBE for being Legends. I hope the bot has many more happy years xo