Prepare your business

Many roads and streets in Belfast city centre will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6am on Sunday 2 August to 5am on Sunday 9 August, creating a pedestrian zone.

You can use our Fleadh map to check if your business is inside or outside this zone.

If your business is inside the pedestrian zone, you can read about the specific arrangements during the event for: 

• business access
• deliveries, and  
• waste collections. 

Businesses outside the pedestrian zone should not need any changes to your usual access, delivery or waste collection arrangements.  

Your suppliers may need to allow extra time for journeys. 

How to prepare your business 

• Plan for more customers than normal. Think ahead about staffing, stock levels and payment systems. 
• Consider extending your opening hours where possible. 
• Tailor your offering to fit the event. This could include:  
  • themed menus 
  • window displays 
  • highlighting locally produced goods.  
• Follow guidance on licensing, hygiene and managing waste.
• Tell your staff and customers your location inside the pedestrian zone.
• Make sure staff and visitors are aware that:
  • the Fleadh may impact their usual travel, pick-up and car parking arrangements, 
  • they will need extra time to travel to work or attending appointments and bookings, 
  • they should use public transport where possible.  

Read our information on traffic and travel.

We are engaging with the hospitality and tourism sector to support businesses to have the right licences and arrangements to operate safely.  

If your hospitality and tourism business needs support with licences and safety arrangements, now is the time to email [email protected]. This includes help with pavement café and entertainment licensing.  

Our business toolkit (link opens in new window) can help you, particularly if you’re a tourism or hospitality outlet, with information on expected Fleadh visitors and footfall patterns, based on previous events.  

Promoting your business  

We have free Fleadh resources to help your premises welcome visitors and promote your offering. 

Download free window sticker, poster and bunting template (link opens in new window) to market Fleadh-friendly special offers and advertise space available for musicians travelling to Belfast for the event. 

Keeping your premises clean and tidy 

Help us to keep Belfast looking its best during the Fleadh - read our information on how to keep our city tidy.