Fleadh

The Fleadh Cheoil is one of the world’s biggest celebrations of Irish music and culture with trading volumes that mirror the entire Christmas trading period packed into just 7 days.

Belfast will host this year’s Fleadh Cheoil from Sunday, 2nd August to Sunday, 9th August.

The spike in visitors from the Fleadh will lead to an increase in footfall for businesses in the region as a whole both in the run up to and immediately after the Fleadh.

Place your order by 12pm (noon) for next day delivery.

Delivery is available between 4am - 8am in restricted zone. Contact BDM or telesales team for more information.

Be Fleadh ready

For pubs and bars, success during Fleadh week won't be about attracting customers. Demand will already be there.

The key is to maximise spend per head, and maintain service standards under sustained pressure.

Speed of service

Visitors will be moving between competitions, concerts, campsites, transport hubs and attractions. They will value:

• Fast service
• Simple ordering
• Convenient takeaway options
• Consistent food quality
• Short queue times

Review every part of your customer journey now and identify where bottlenecks are likely to occur.

RTDs speed up the bar

Ready-to-drink (RTD) products could play an important role during peak trading periods. Benefits include:

• Faster serve times
• Reduced demand on bar staff
• Consistent product quality
• Improved stock control
• Higher throughput during busy periods

Premium RTDs, can provide high-margin alternatives to labour-intensive serves during peak periods.

Consider a condensed Fleadh menu

During major events, a smaller menu often generates higher profits. A focused menu can:

• Increase kitchen output
• Reduce labour requirements
• Simplify stock management
• Reduce waste
• Increase table turnover

Customers will look for quality, speed and convenience. Focus on your serving your best-selling dishes well.

Promote local beverages

Many visitors will be experiencing Belfast for the first time. This creates a significant opportunity to showcase local products and increase spend per customer.

Consider highlighting:

• Local craft beers and ciders
• Local spirits and whiskeys
• Locally-produced soft drinks and mixers
• Regional food pairings

A well-curated "Taste of Belfast" menu can help increase average transaction values while supporting local producers.

Prepare for earlier trading

During the Fleadh, activity begins early.

Thousands of visitors will leave campsites and accommodation each morning looking for breakfast and coffees.

Venues that traditionally open later should assess whether earlier trading hours could create additional revenue opportunities.

Remember to update your operating hours on google and your social media.

Don't overlook takeaway demand

Customers travelling between venues often make multiple smaller purchases throughout the day rather than one large spend. Consider adding takeaway coffee stations and designated takeaway collection points.

An eight-day trading marathon

Fleadh Cheoil is not a single-event spike. It is eight consecutive days of elevated demand.

• Stock up early
• Stock upon glassware
• Increase speed of service
• Introduce ‘drinks only’ fast lanes
• Increase refuse points
• Increase payment points
• Simplify menus
• Recruit and staff early
• Promote RTD and quick-serve products
• Optimise trading hours
  

The question is not whether customers will arrive. The question is how many you can serve.