Our Club started life in 1876 when the Lagan Amateur Boating Club and the Ulster Rowing club joined forces to become The Belfast Boat Club. Rowing was very much the ‘in’ sport at the time and the site at Stranmillis in Belfast was the perfect spot for the competition to begin.
Rowing colours were important so a uniform of white with blue bars and monogram were duly passed. Our Rowing section today has kept with that tradition and always looks smart as team Belfast Boat Club competitors.
A new club house was opened in 1898. It was built in the typical club house style of the day with room for 24 boats of different sizes on the ground floor. The first floor was reached via a double staircase to the veranda, committee rooms. amenities and a large room where dances were held right into the 1960’s.
There were eight grass tennis courts by 1907 and by 1913 the Club was sufficiently tennis orientated to apply for affiliation to the Irish Lawn Tennis Association.
Up until 1962 access to the Club house and grounds was via a punt. Players and visitors used the rope to pull themselves backwards and forwards in the oblong flat bottomed boat. That all changed when the causeway was built between Lockview Road and the Club as we now know it.
The bar was opened in 1961.
The first squash courts were built in 1967.
Sadly the original club house was blown up in a terrorist attack in 1972. However, that did not deter members from coming out on that evening when they quickly set up a bar in one of the squash courts!
At one stage rowing was no longer viable at the club but then in the 1970’s a few members got together to reinstate rowing and grow it to what it has become today, complete with state of the art Boat House.
The club house as we know it today was erected in 1976 to mark the 100th anniversary of the club.
In response to the growing demand for fitness as a lifestyle a gym and aerobic suite were added in the 1980’s
Now the club is responding once more to another fast growing sport, Padel tennis.
Ready to get involved and become part of our vibrant community? Join us today and start enjoying all that Belfast Boat Club has to offer!
Ready to reserve your spot? Non-members are welcome to book and experience all that Belfast Boat Club has to offer!
