Regency House opens its doors in Belfast’s landmark townhouse
A landmark Belfast townhouse has a new reason to visit. Regency House, the restaurant from acclaimed chef Chris McClurg and Alice Stewart, opened its doors on Friday within the city’s historic Regency House Hotel. Inspired by the timeless elegance of Parisian bistros and rooted firmly in Northern Irish hospitality, it is among the most anticipated openings on the island this year.
Words by Jamie McFadden
There is something particular about the kind of restaurant that feels like it has always been there. The kind where the room feels settled, the cooking confident and the welcome genuine. Regency House, the new venture from Chris McClurg and Alice Stewart, arrives with that rare quality already in place.
The couple, who met while working at Paul Ainsworth’s Michelin-starred No.6 in Cornwall, have spent the past year laying the groundwork for this moment. McClurg, a County Down native and former Great British Menu finalist, has forged close relationships with local farmers, growers, fishermen and artisan producers. Those connections form the backbone of a menu that draws on classic European influences while letting the produce speak for itself.
The confident menu reflects McClurg’s travels and culinary influences. Standout starters include his reinterpretation of potted shrimp, combining brined shrimp, raw red prawns and toasted mace with a sourdough pancake and pickled cucumber. A Conway Farm courgette flower, filled with scallop and lobster stuffing in tempura batter, nods to his time at No.6. Tomato à la merenda with pistou dressing and St Tola goat’s cheese pays tribute to a dish the couple discovered at La Merenda in Nice. His signature potato cake, a savoury twist on a Victoria sponge, features caramelised Lyonnaise onions between crispy potato rösti, topped with whipped fromage blanc – a nod to Stewart’s pastry background.
The same thoughtful approach continues through the main courses. Murley Mountain lamb comes with red garlic ketchup, mint and lovage. Seaview Farm chicken is served with morels and sauce suprême. Agnolotti arrives with girolles, crisp violet artichoke and vin jaune. Desserts include a whoopie pie with hazelnut gianduja, cacao and Frangelico, alongside a beef fat sticky toffee pudding with Medjool dates, peated whiskey and clotted cream.
Brunch runs from Thursday to Sunday, featuring McClurg’s buttermilk pancakes – which captured attention on social media last year when the couple took over the hotel – with toppings including Irish smoked bacon and maple syrup, or blueberry compote with lemon and vanilla cheesecake. The menu also includes a Coolatine cheddar and Lyonnaise onion omelette, and The Regency House Fry, featuring McClurg’s own recipe breakfast sausage, smoked streaky bacon, Clonakilty black and white pudding, mushrooms, tomato fondue, potato bread, soda farl and a fried egg.
The drinks offering is equally considered. Cocktails include the Park View Martini with Dolin Dry Vermouth, Green Chartreuse and Ford’s Gin, and the Irish Sour with Shortcross Poitin. The wine list brings together bottles from the world’s great wine regions alongside discoveries from smaller independent growers uncovered on the couple’s travels.
The restaurant seats 46 guests across the main dining room, an intimate courtyard and a private dining room, The Cellar. The interiors balance the grandeur of the building’s original architecture with contemporary warmth, all centred around an open kitchen. Throughout the hotel and restaurant, guests will find hospitality memorabilia collected by McClurg and Stewart over many years, adding a personal touch to the experience.
Regency House itself is one of Belfast’s most striking historic buildings. Completely renovated in 2022, it offers eight bedrooms and six suites, each individually designed to combine period character with contemporary comfort. In 2025, it became Northern Ireland’s first and only hotel to be awarded a Michelin Key.
The hotel is open seven days a week. The restaurant is open Thursday to Monday for dinner from 5pm to 8:30pm and for brunch Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 1:30pm. Explore Regency House Belfast, today.
