As we arrive at George Best airport in Belfast, we are inundated with posters, stickers and signs reminding us the the city has just recovered from hosting the 2011 MTV EMA's. It seems everyone we talk to over the weekend has been hit with Bieber fever, and although we never quite work out where he actually stayed, we like to think that he'd have chosen the ultimate rock n roll hotel in Belfast, Malmaison.
Luckily the crowds of girsl who waited outside clutching ' I love Justin' posters are long gone by the time we check in - but its clear the EMAs set the city alight, and the community really pulled together to produce what sounded like an amazing week of music. We get a little insight into the musical legacy of the city with a tour of the music hot spots. The Belfast Music Tour sets off every Saturday from Katy Daley's pub, where we get to explore the Limelight and Spring & Airbrake, where acts old and new have played - including a legendary performance by Jeff Buckley, supported by Glen Hansard - a dream line up!
The tour takes us around the city, we see where Van Morrison was born, where Brad Pitt learnt his awful accent for The Devil's Own, where Led Zeppelin first played Stairway to Heaven - and where Snow Patrol recently played to 100s of thousands of people, on the steps of the city hall.
All in the name of research we gamely stopped off at Ulster Hall to see where Led Zeppelin played, but also to try out the Beer & Cider Festival - with their locally brewed amber nectars, which slipped down a little too easily!
St George's Market is another stop on out tour of the city - the UK's oldest covered market, where you can buy locally produced fayre, crafts and lots of delicious looking cakes and treats. We leave laden with bottles of cider, cards, honey and some very strong smelling coffee called 'Red Eye'.
Back at the hotel it was hard to tear myself away from my decadent room, complete with huge armchair and footrest, the perfect place to recover from the previous night's excesses at Malmaison Belfast's 7th birthday. However the rock n roll theme lived on, with a cocktail masterclass where we learnt to make a Cosmo with a twist- I can confirm they were delicious, but much like the cider ealier that day, far too easily to drink! They were swiftly followed with a seriously good Espresso Martini, one of Mal's specialities and my personal favourite and a definate pick me up!
Next Spring sees the anniversary of the Titanic's maiden voyage, and the city will come alive with amazing celebrations linked in with remembrance services. The multi million pound Titanic visitors centre is nearing completion - and the sides of the building represent the exact size of Titanic's hull- and makes you realise how huge the boat was, soaring above the skyline.
Susie Millar took us around the Drawing Offices, where Titanic was designed. This stunning old building has long been abandoned now, but as you walk along corridors paved in the same tiles as Titanic was, through doors there sing with history - you can just imagine the place as it was. With so much happening in Belfast in 2012, its the ideal time to visit, keep your eyes on our latest news for a Titanic package at Malmaison..
By Diana M
Susie Millar's tour are available to book online HERE - and is the only tour endorced by the Belfast Titanic Society.
The Belfast Music Tour leaves Katy Daley every Saturday at 2pm, information and booking is on their webiste HERE.
We flew with BMI, who fly from London Heathrow and Belfast Airport up to 6 times a day. With fares from £68 return including taxes and charges there has never been a better time to fly to Belfast with bmi. For more information and to book visit www.flybmi.com