The Rotterdam Bar, Belfast's premier live music venue has been saved from demolition

history Through the lands registration offices in Gt Victoria St, we can ascertain that the building, which stands now as the Rotterdam, was built circa 1797. It is likely that one Edward Glenfield, who also owned the Washington Coffee and Chop shop, close by at then Number 2 Pilot Street, also owned the bar. The numbering of the street was considerably different, and started from the actual point of disembarkation, at what we would now call Barrow Square. That was the landing stage for the Holland America Line, a company who still exist today. Beside the Rotterdam at this stage was the Ship Hotel and Tavern, owned by Captain James McKee As license laws did not come into enforcement for hostelries until 1820, we cannot tell the nature of the building, if it was pub, tavern or bordello. Any of these are likely for this juncture in history and the locality of the premises. In the 50 years of ensuing history, we know it is recorded as the detention centre for prisoners being sent off to Tasmania (the stocks were in situ up to as recently as a decade ago), so has a strong link with the descendants of those who were often unjustly sent to their penal colonies - hence we have had such a strong response from the Australians to the campaign. This is the only one piece of history they can be absolutely certain of, as to how their ancestors made it to Tasmania and Australia. It is also likely that around 1820 it would have been a stop off for the last ' slaver ships', coming in from Letterkenny, pausing before taking their trade to Liverpool. Slavery was still condoned in the US and Caribbean at this stage, and those returning to Britain on these heinous ships would have stopped at Clarendon Dock. This bar was already long established by the time of the Great famine- a period of history we make compulsory for our children to study at key stage one... primary 7 to be accurate. In 1870, John Crone named it The Rotterdam for certain. The first sign was erected in this date. It seems likely, because of the Netherlands/America line's close locale, that the bar/tavern was named after a famous ship then owned by the sailing company. That company had its headquarters in Rotterdam as well, hence its flag ship clippers name. The name was used yet again for one of their ships in 1959. You cant keep a good name down! The company still exists. The docks they did business out of, sadly are long gone. In 1892, we can make a pretty accurate guess, due to the fact that a lady, Mrs Alice Kelly owned the premises, that it was a brothel, for sailors coming in fresh off the ships from all over the world. This was, of course, the heyday of Harland and Wolff, and Mrs Kelly’s girls probably did a roaring trade. Women did not run taverns by the docksides at this time in history without the existence of a slight edge to the nature of the business! 1910 saw a new owner, John Crealy, who also ran the nearby 'American Hotel', on the corner of Dock St and Short Street (now also gone the way of much of Belfast). In 1929 Joseph Donnelly took it over- the sign in situ now dates fro this era. The Donnelly family ran it up until the late 70's. when Ernie Magenis and Chris Roddy purchased it for 5,000 pounds. The bar reopened on 23 November 1984, and became a cultural landmark, even being included in a TV comedy drama written by Martin Lynch. In 1966, after a serious drinking session, Bob Dylan found his way, with Martin Scorcese, who was with him on tour, to the Rotterdam. he ended up playing the stage there. It is believed it was in November 1966 this happened. But happen in certainly did. All living memory can suggest to the shocked regulars of the time was that he played Mr Tambourine Man as a starter, was very drunk and very wonderful indeed.. As they say in Belfast, ' it was in the dark nights it happened' Townes Van Zanndt, the man who gave the musical genre of ' Americana' its first naming, also played the Rotterdam, along with Van Morrison, Brooks Williams ( who wrote the song Rotterdam Bar- a staple blues number - recently even made popular in US bars and clubs by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and his previous band the Moondogs) The plethora of other acts to have played there include David Grey, Sabrejets, Hayseed Dixies, Stiff Little Fingers, Korn, Jamie Cullum.. as the song written for this ubiquitous music haven says ' anyone who's anyone has played that bar' Others who have played there include Lotion The Bush Turkeys Flange band Dan McGeown Ian Dury and the Blockheads (his last gig before he died) Kyle Suckling Robin Mccully Snakecharmers Bap Kennedy Brian Kennedy Julie Mack (USA) Katie Melua Duke Special The Dangerfields Freddie White Rainer Tatcheck A company of snakes (half Bad Company – half Whitesnake) The L.A. Doors Catfish Keith Moonflowers Chris Smither Ludwig O’Neill John Cooper Clark Alias Ron Kavanah The James Brown All Stars – (when James was in jail) Jackie Flavelle Sean Jones (USA) Bruce Cockburn (Canada) King Masco (Sierra Leone) Ben Reel Watercress National Snack (London) Jamie Cullum (jammed after a show at the Waterfront Hall) Oppenheimer Flook Laura Stevenson Sara Petite (USA) Chip Taylor Ritchie Anderson The Greeters Tom Kerswill Susan Enan Foy Vance Ken Haddock Van Morrison Iain Archer Henry McCullough Cava Rachel Austin Ben Glover Lu Cozma Rob Strong The Long Stay Mike Wilgar Oige David McCann David Grey John Martyn