Since a lot of the interior scenes from The Game of Thrones series were filmed at the nearby Harland and Wolff shipyard, several of the cast and crew were known to have hung out at the Dark Horse between shooting schedules. That is why this coffee house was chosen to play host to the tenth, and last, of the Game of Thrones doors.
The area around the Dark Horse was once home to an old iron foundry and whiskey merchant buildings. In its heyday, the Cathedral Quarter was the center of Belfast’s trade and warehouse district and still contains some of the city’s oldest buildings (most relating to the shipbuilding and linen industries that made the city famous). Falling into decline during the last century, the area is now re-emerging as a cultural district because of the growth of arts and crafts organizations which have located here. Just a couple of blocks from the Dark Horse, Belfast’s Custom House, which sits on the edge of the Cathedral Quarter, was once a popular site for public speakers to promote their causes.
When we found the Dark Horse and began to explore its environs, we were treated very well by staff members, Kevin and Lindsey. They not only showed us the Game of Thrones door that is a centerpiece of their establishment, but also took time to show us the exquisitely painted back patio. Thank you both for your pleasant hospitality.