IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
King Street, BELFAST, BT1 1HU

I've seen a few of these "Virtual" shops of different types in various locations recently. The shop "interior" is actually photographic murals attached to the inside of the window and are quite realistic, even from close up. The idea is to make city and town centre streets look less rundown and derelict by disguising the fact that there are many boarded-up shops which have been forced to close down, victims of the economic downturn and also probably the easier - and free - parking to be had at out of town shopping malls. Ironically this one is located next door to a real cycle shop, McGarvey's in King Street, the last remaining cycle shop in the city centre.

Headquarters of the West Belfast Taxi Association, on King Street; providing fixed-rate shared taxi services to locations in West Belfast. http://taxitrax.com/about/

Many commercial buildings in the centre of Belfast (ie BT1 and 2) do not display their street numbers. This can make it difficult to identify particular premises in planning applications. 75-81 seems to be this block between Marquis Street (at the red shutter door) and King Street (at the bright green building – lower left). The following planning permission was given recently “Z/2007/1030/O 75-81 Castle Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT01 6GJ approval outline Demolition of building. Erection of 7 storey mixed development of retail, office and residential. (Amended Plans)”. If I have got the numbering and premises wrong please let me know.

Marquis Street in Belfast. The old red brick building - for sale - is the rear of the former Central Electricity Station which first generated power for the lights in the city on the 24th January 1885 (see https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=771239895038020&set=pb.100064560497289.-2207520000&type=3 ). It is currently used as a car park.

"Welcome TΩ Belfast" on an advertising hoarding at the junction of King and Castle streets in the city. At the time of writing I am unsure of the significance of the omega symbol.

Twin BT call boxes on King Street, Belfast. The one on the right has been damaged for some time - I've recently noticed that vandalised boxes are taking a long time to repair currently.

"Through our industry we can mend a city" on Marquis Street in Belfast.

Geometric hare by Annatomix https://www.instagram.com/annatomix/ on Marquis Street / Castle Street in Belfast.

Once a street of shops, King Street was badly affected by the bombing campaign. The fence on the left hides a building site. Otherwise it has seen much better times. The Castle Court Image car park is the red building in the background. Now very hard to place (or remember) where the Belfast Savings Bank and JC May’s used to be. Continue to Image

I was prompted to take a walk into this less cared for part of the city centre when it was announced on BBC Radio Ulster that a 26-storey hotel is planned for Castle Street (which Marquis Street runs north from). If the plan proceeds, this scene of dilapidation could become a thing of the past. The building in the distance is the Castle Court shopping centre, opened in 1989.