{{short description|Shopping complex in Belfast, Northern Ireland}} {{Advert|date=October 2017}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox shopping mall | name = Victoria Square | image = Victoria Square completed.jpg | image_width = 250px | caption = | location = [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland | address = | coordinates = {{coord|54.5983|-5.9253|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | opening_date = {{Start date and age|2008|03|06|df=yes}} | closing_date = | developer = Multi Development UK | manager = | owner = [[Commerzbank|Commerzbank AG]] | architect = | number_of_stores = 93 | number_of_anchors = 1 | floor_area = {{convert|75000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} | floors = 7 | parking = 1000 | website = {{URL|victoriasquare.com}} | footnotes = }}
'''Victoria Square''' is a shopping complex located in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]. The area includes over 55+ shops, 16 restaurants and an [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] cinema. Opened on 6 March 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Adrian |date=2016-03-29 |title=Victoria Square Belfast Shopping Centre - Shops |url=https://www.e-architect.com/ireland/victoria-square-belfast |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=e-architect |language=en-gb}}</ref> Victoria Square is a commercial, residential and leisure development that took 6 years to build.
Its anchor tenant is the largest [[House of Fraser]] (now Frasers) that the retailer has opened in the UK, at nearly {{Convert|200000|sqft|m2|abbr=}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://victoriasquare.com/our-history |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Victoria Square |language=en}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2023}}
== Design == Victoria Square was developed by Multi Development UK Ltd. The architects were [[Building Design Partnership]] and T+T Design, the in house architects of Multi Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|author=World Architecture |url=http://www.e-architect.co.uk/ireland/victoria_square_belfast.htm |title=Victoria Square Belfast : Building |publisher=E-architect.co.uk |access-date=4 March 2009}}</ref> At approximately {{Convert|800000|sqft|m2|abbr=}} and costing £400m, Victoria Square is the biggest and was one of the most expensive property developments ever undertaken in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corscadden |first=Jane |date=2021-08-28 |title=Old photos show site of Victoria Square before the shopping centre |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/history/gallery/how-victoria-square-belfast-looked-21399014 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=BelfastLive |language=en}}</ref>
[[Image:Victoria Square Atrium 2010.JPG|upright|thumb|Victoria Square Main Atrium 2010]] An element of the development is two covered, multi-level streets linked to the glass dome, which measures 37 m in diameter and 45 m in height. A public square covered entirely by the glass dome serves as the hub of the entire area. The Jaffe Fountain, constructed in the 1870s by former Lord Mayor [[Otto Jaffe]] in memory of his father, has been restored to its original location in Victoria Square.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaffe Memorial Fountain {{!}} Belfast, Northern Ireland {{!}} Attractions |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/northern-ireland/belfast/city-centre/attractions/jaffe-memorial-fountain/a/poi-sig/1620493/1342623 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}}</ref> There are pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegall Place, [[Royal Avenue, Belfast|Royal Avenue]] and Ann Street.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
A large section of the center's roof is covered in [[Sedum]] in an attempt to reduce the [[carbon footprint]] of Victoria Square.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} [[Image:Construction of Victoria Centre Belfast.jpg|upright|thumb|Construction of Victoria Square development August 2007]]
== Facilities == The development spans approximately 800,000 ft² (75,000m²) of retail over four floors.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} [[Q-Park]] provides 2 levels of basement parking with approx. 1,000 car spaces.<ref>{{cite web|author= Q Park |url=http://www.q-park.co.uk/tabid/1291/qparkParkingLocatorvw3377/parkingDetail/ParkingID/1687/language/en-US/Default.aspx |title= Belfast Victoria Square |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> The retail space includes 98 unit shops, with leisure units including an 8 screen [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]]. There are also restaurants, bars and cafés{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}. The development also included 106 apartments.<ref>{{cite web|author= Belfast Telegraph |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/victoria-square-apartments-sell-out-in-24-hours-13501836.html |title= Victoria Square apartments sell out |access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>
There is a stop for [[Translink (Northern Ireland)|Metro]] bus services 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 96 and 696 at the eastern entrance as well as nearby stops for [[Glider (Belfast)|Glider]] G1 and G2 and [[Translink (Northern Ireland)|Metro]] bus services 3, 4, 5, 6, 94, 600, 648, and 649 and [[Ulsterbus]] services 263, 563, 566 and 568.
Both Lanyon Place and Belfast Grand Central stations are within walking distance.
== Events == On 24 November 2013, a car bomb detonated outside a Victoria Square car park. There were no injuries.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2013-11-25 |title=Belfast: Explosion at Victoria Square Centre |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1173357/belfast-explosion-at-victoria-square-centre/ |access-date=2013-12-31 |location=Belfast, Northern Ireland |agency=Sky News}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Belfast (193), October 2009.JPG|Victoria Square, October 2009 Image:Belfast (206), October 2009.JPG|Information board, Victoria Square, October 2009 Image:Belfast (212), October 2009.JPG|Victoria Square, October 2009 Image:Belfast (241), October 2009.JPG|Viewing gallery, Victoria Square, October 2009 </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Shopping centres in Northern Ireland}}
[[Category:Shopping centres in Northern Ireland]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Belfast]] [[Category:Domes in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Belfast]] [[Category:Shopping malls established in 2008]] [[Category:2008 establishments in Northern Ireland]] [[Category:21st-century architecture in Northern Ireland]]