Alexander Avendaño Varela plunged into the water and nobody tried to help him.

A young partygoer has tragically drowned in a reservoir after being allegedly forced over the edge of a boat following a scuffle.

Alexander Avendaño Varela, 22, boarded a party boat at the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir in Guatapé, Colombia on May 24, but what should have been a fun trip sadly ended in disaster. Disturbing footage shows an altercation taking place on board, for reasons that remain unclear, among a large group of young revellers, reports the Mirror.

The group were pushing and shouting and at one point, Alexander appeared to be cornered at the edge of the deck and missing his trousers and trainers. A scuffle broke out between him and other partygoers but seconds later, the visibly frightened young man went over the railing and plunged into the water.

Struggling to swim he thrashed his arms around before sinking beneath the surf moments later. Nobody jumped in to try and rescue Alexander, and the boat continued on its route.

A large search operation was scrambled, involving at least 14 divers. But, deep water and poor visibility hampered efforts, and Alexander’s body was recovered several days later.

Since the clip emerged on social media, authorities have been working to determine whether anyone could face criminal charges over the incident. In the footage people could be heard warning that Alexander, originally from Medellín, did not know how to swim, while others shouted: “Drown him!”

None of those on board appeared to be wearing life jackets, despite mandatory safety requirements on tourist boats due to a history of drowning incidents in the area.

The Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, which covers more than 2262 hectares and reaches depths of up to 45m (148ft), is one of Colombia’s best-known tourist destinations. Around 50 people are believed to have drowned in the reservoir over the past decade, and swimming is banned.

Investigators continue to gather testimonies from those who attended the party.

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Two major cricket events are to take place in Belfast later this summer involving India and Afghanistan

Belfast Council is to write to the UK Home Office to criticise the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, and to warn that thousands of Indian cricket fans are being turned off from visiting Belfast for major international matches against Ireland.

Elected representatives at City Hall have unanimously agreed for council officials to state that the ETA is negatively affecting international sporting events in the city, especially cricket this year.

Two major cricket events are to take place in Belfast later this summer. The first is the Men’s International T20Is between Ireland and India, on June 26 and 28, at the Civil Service Cricket Club, also known as the Stormont Cricket Ground. Ireland against Afghanistan in the three games will take place there on August 10, 12, and 14.

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The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital permission required for non-visa nationals to travel to countries for short stays, a pass created as a result of Brexit. Depending on the destination, it serves as mandatory pre-travel screening, electronically linked to a passport. It costs £10, and British and Irish citizens are exempt.

It has caused controversy since its inception and introduction in Northern Ireland last year. Critics say the digital permit creates an invisible border for tourists traveling across the island.

Businesses argue that the cost, bureaucracy, and need to apply in advance deters spontaneous cross-border travel, and estimate anything between a quarter and three quarters of potential visitor spend coming to Northern Ireland from international countries could be at risk.

Ireland is often promoted as a single tourist destination, and critics add many international tourists don’t know they are crossing an international border when driving from the Republic into Northern Ireland

At the full meeting of Belfast City Council for June SDLP Councillor Donal Lyons said: “There are two international cricket games coming up in Belfast in the Stormont Pavillion against India.

“I was contacted by a couple of community groups in the Republic, and separately on the same issue by a tour operator in Belfast, pointing out that the 50 to 60,000 Indian citizens who live in the Republic of Ireland who are very keen on cricket are facing an economic barrier from attending this match. Which is less than two hours drive up the road from Dublin.

“It is the Electronic Travel Authorisation. Beyond the nonsense, overblown rhetoric and grandstanding (on this), we have overlooked what is the lived reality and economic impact. We are depriving ourselves of, let’s say, 50 percent of that, which is over 20,000 people interested in coming to our city for a sporting event which will have a television audience of 100 million.

“So we are depriving our city of that because of the short-sighted, needless Electronic Travel Authorisation. I have no interest in going back to the nonsense and the rhetoric-driven hatred from 10 years ago, but I will point out the tenth anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox.”

He said: “When this ETA was brought in in April 2025, the Home Office suggested they would give it a tourist season or two to see the impact. What I would like to propose here is we write to the Home office, pointing out that a major international sporting event in Belfast is already excluding and putting barriers up to a huge number of people who would come and spend money in our city”

The chamber unanimously agreed to the councillor’s proposal.

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Local DUP councillor Jordan Doran described being “left shocked and deeply concerned” by footage circulating online

A man is fighting for his life after shocking footage emerged showing him reportedly being stabbed in the head during a violent street attack.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed officers were dispatched to Kinnaird Avenue, Belfast, at around 10.30pm on Monday (June 8) as video of the brutal attack was uploaded to social media. The PSNI added that the victim was taken to hospital while another man was arrested in connection with the incident.

Members of the public have been commended for intervening and attempting to break up the violence, while detectives are expected to remain at the scene as investigations continue, Belfast live reports.

Belfast City Council’s Paul McCusker described the scenes as “horrific” while adding the “bravery of those residents was commendable”.

“Horrific scenes on the streets of North Belfast tonight, terrifying for anyone to witness or watch this on social media,” the councillor said.

“I have spoken to the police and the male who carried out the attack has been arrested and the victim is critical in hospital. I really hope he survives this attack and his family are getting support.

“The bravery of those residents was commendable. I will be liaising with police to get further update and if I can be of assistance to those who witnessed tonight please get in contact.”

Local DUP councillor Jordan Doran described being “left shocked and deeply concerned” by footage circulating online following the stabbing.

“Many residents have contacted me expressing concerns about community safety and seeking reassurance following this incident,” he added. Those concerns are entirely understandable. People deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities, regardless of where they live.”

He continued: “What is beyond dispute is that violence of this nature has no place in North Belfast. I will be engaging with the PSNI and relevant agencies as a matter of urgency to ensure residents receive the information and reassurance they deserve.”

DUP councillor Nicola Verner added: “Like many people, I have [woken] this morning to the video circulating and news of a man viciously attacked last night.

“I am horrified and deeply concerned by the incident in the Girdwood area and the scenes circulating have understandably caused fear and anxiety within our local communities. Violence of this nature has no place on our streets. Residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.

“There is a clear need for swift action and a to provide reassurance to the community and ensure residents are listened to and feel protected from attacks of this kind.”

A spokesperson for PSNI said: “Police in north Belfast are currently in attendance at Kinnaird Avenue following the report of a stabbing incident shortly after 10.30pm on Monday 8th June.

“A man has been arrested in relation to the incident and is in police custody while a second man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“Officers will remain in the area to conduct their enquiries and would ask anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Tennent Street on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1654 08/06/26.”

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Instead of returning to Manchester Airport from Mexico, the Tui flight landed in remote northern Canada

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A British family hoping to return home to Manchester instead found themselves stranded in Canada, after their Tui flight was grounded because of an unruly passenger.

The family were flying home from an all-inclusive holiday in Cancun when a man’s behaviour became “aggressive and alarming” aboard their TUI flight to Manchester Airport.

Their dad, Mr Stockford, said the man was sat directly behind his daughters and made several attempts to exit the plane mid-flight.

He then made ‘disturbing’ comments about a “man with a knife” that frightened other passengers, many of them being children.

Mr Stockford claims that staff managed to subdue the man with the help of a doctor.

However, as the plane approached the Pacific Ocean, he was deemed too much of a flight risk and the pilot decided to divert the plane to Canada where he could be removed by police.

According to Mr Stockford, the troublesome passenger’s wife later attributed his behaviour to diazepam he bought from a taxi driver in Mexico.

The Boeing 787-9 landed in Gander in the early hours of Friday morning – a small town in the north-eastern part of the island of Newfoundland, Canada, reports the M.E.N..

Speaking about the chaos on the plane, he said: “The plane landed quite firm, he tried to get up, TUI staff shouted ‘sit back down, now!’ and kids behind us were crying, thinking they were gonna’ die,”

“They were saying, ‘why do I feel like I’m dying, mummy? It was horrible.”

He added that as he and close to 400 passengers disembarked, the pilot said they would be “looked after”.

However, once off the plane, passengers claim they encountered several issues and very little communication from TUI.

“We entered a country at 3C having been in a 32C country. We had shorts on, t-shirts, babies weren’t wrapped up because of that,” he recalled.

They claimed the issues included slow transport to the hotels booked by TUI and, when the family arrived, they say they were told their room was only available for less than four hours.

The M.E.N. understands that hotels in the town were booked due to a large event taking place in the town.

“On the plane the captain they were gonna’ look after us and said they were going to provide us with transport to a hotel, a free hotel, food and drink.” he said.

“At that point we were thinking, ‘we’re not going to go home today, but at least we’ve got a hotel to rest in.’

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“We queued up for this transfer, the transfer was a 12-seater crooked old school bus. As you can imagine, 360 passengers, it was going to take time. The hotels were three or four across Gander.

“We tried to ring a taxi because we had young children. There was only three taxi companies in Gander, it’s a population of 12,000.

“The taxi came, and they couldn’t take us because they had no car seat and it was illegal to drive a baby without a car seat.

“We eventually got on the bus. We got to the hotel three hours later, everyone was tired, and the hotel staff told us we’ve only got the hotel for four hours.”

After returning to the airport on Friday, they were told that it would take another 14 hours before they could take off for home.

This meant that most of the passengers had to sleep on the floor of the Gander Airport, where they were left with very little food, drink, and clothing due to a majority of their luggage staying on the plane.

The dad of four, from Manchester, told the M.E.N. that news of their diversion had spread to the locals, who stepped in and helped Brits travel around the town to shop for essentials.

The incident is not the first to happen in the town of Gander, which has become known for supporting stranded travellers over the years – including on 9/11, a moment which became the focus of hit musical Come From Away.

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He said: “Loads of locals flooded in and helped everyone get back to the airport,

“We’ve got a lift back to the airport for free, which was lovely. Then we had to spend 14 hours with the rest of the 360 passengers on the floors of the airport.

“Children sleeping on the floors, families on the floors because there was not enough seats.

The flight was due to land at the Manchester Airport around 7:15am on Friday (June 5). However, the family didn’t get home until Saturday (June 6).

“14 hours on the airport floor, cold floors, hard floor, babies, young kids, families. Just not taken into consideration,” he said.

“We got given some vouchers, but I got a photo of the airport fridges, there was hardly anything left.”

A business owner, Mr Stockford says the incident has left his children traumatised and resulted in a loss of earnings for both he and his wife.

“My daughters are nervous now to fly again because of the situation,” he said. “TUI from the start of being diverted to the end, just completely failed us.”

TUI has been approached for comment.

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Victor Wembanyama delivered a commanding performance as the San Antonio Spurs halved the New York Knicks’ series lead in the NBA Finals, doing so with US president Donald Trump watching on.

The 115-111 result abruptly halted the Knicks’ impressive 13-game winning streak and denied them the chance to move within a game of their first championship since 1973.

Wembanyama, the seven-foot-four sensation, was instrumental for the Spurs, tallying 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, as he fuelled San Antonio’s ambition to achieve a historic NBA Finals comeback, a feat never before accomplished.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised his star player, stating: “I’m sure Victor has numerous sources of motivation. I don’t think any of us are surprised or expect anything different than a strong performance.”

The defeat marked the Knicks’ first loss in 46 days, snapping a remarkable run that included sweeping Philadelphia and Cleveland, and winning the opening two games against the Spurs.

This dominant streak had ignited a frenzy across New York, with fans paying exorbitant sums for tickets and “Knicks In Four” becoming a ubiquitous greeting.

However, Wembanyama and the Spurs ended the euphoria, spoiling the Knicks’ first home NBA Finals game since 1999.

Fans who endured long lines to get in with the extra security measures in place – with some who paid five-figure sums to be there – were treated to a back-and-forth game on the landmark occasion, but made sure to make their feelings of the attendance of Trump known by booing him loudly during the national anthem.

Reflecting on the atmosphere, Wembanyama noted the difference between home and away games: “At home, it really feels like playing six against five. Here, it feels like five against six. It really shows what teams are made of.”

Knicks coach Mike Brown, meanwhile, voiced concerns over the officiating, highlighting the Spurs’ 24-8 advantage in free throw attempts during the second half. Despite the setback,

Brown remained resolute: “I tell the guys, it’s a seven-game series for a reason. They are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It’s not going to be easy.”

Stephon Castle, who contributed 23 points, and De’Aaron Fox made crucial shots late in the game, ensuring the Spurs avoided a 3-0 deficit, a hole from which no NBA team has ever recovered.

San Antonio now have the opportunity to level the series on Wednesday night, with Game Five guaranteed for Saturday.

AI is changing how people bank, save, borrow and ask for help. It could make finance faster, cheaper – and even more personal. But if customers cannot understand decisions, challenge mistakes or reach a human when things go wrong, “smart” finance may simply become a more efficient way to frustrate people.

In the UK, a review by the Financial Conduct Authority pointed out that AI is not new to financial services. Banks have used it for years behind the scenes in algorithmic trading, underwriting, credit decisions and fraud detection. What has changed is visibility. Publicly available generative AI tools have brought AI into everyday consumer life, with millions of people now using them to navigate financial decisions.

The UK has an important advantage here. The government and regulators have committed to keeping the country at the forefront of open banking – a position that gives it a head start in digital finance and AI-driven services.

The UK was one of the pioneers in building open banking – where customers can share their bank account data with authorised providers, instead of leaving that data locked inside one bank. Research from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance describes the UK’s approach as regulation-driven, helping to standardise how banks share customer-permissioned data.

AI has long been discussed as a threat to jobs and livelihoods. But what’s the reality? In this series, we explore the impact it is already having on different occupations – and how people really feel about their AI assistants.

A 2025 consumer report highlighted that almost one in three UK adults uses AI on a weekly basis to manage their money. Starling Bank’s Spending Intelligence uses AI to find key words to help customers understand their spending habits. Lloyds Banking Group has reported rising use of AI tools for managing money. And NatWest says the generative AI version of its Cora+ assistant improved customer satisfaction, while reducing the need for a staff member to step in.

These examples matter because one of the biggest problems in retail finance is not simply lack of products, but lack of customer capacity to process complex choices. One of us (David) explained why many customers do not actively switch or search for better financial products – they often have limited time, attention and expertise. They may also find switching costly or inconvenient, compare only a small number of factors, and remain with poor-value options because alternatives feel too complex.

AI could help by translating jargon, comparing prices, flagging risks and making it easier to switch – or to ask the right questions.

But this is only half the story. The same benefits can quickly become risks when AI or automated banking systems make decisions without clear explanations. A 2024 survey by the Bank of England and FCA found that 46% of financial firms had only a “partial understanding” of the AI technologies they use. If banks themselves only partly understand these systems, customers are even less likely to know why a payment has been blocked, why an account application has been rejected or why a chatbot refuses to help.

In 2024, it emerged that Starling blocked a legitimate €15,000 (£13,000) transfer by a customer after suspecting it might be an AI-enabled scam. The bank then froze the customer’s account when he resisted handing over private correspondence and other evidence. Starling later accepted it had gone too far and apologised.

In January 2025, Virgin Money apologised after its chatbot appeared to take exception to the word “virgin” in a question about ISAs. When AI is clumsy, customers do not experience it as innovation. They experience it as bad service.

That is why the real test is accountability. An answer that arrives faster but is biased, opaque or impossible to challenge is not better service. This is also where the regulatory challenge begins.

The UK has chosen not to introduce AI-specific regulation for financial services. Instead, the FCA says its approach to AI is grounded in its principles-based and outcomes-focused regulatory framework, including the Consumer Duty and Senior Management Regime.

This means firms remain responsible for AI-related consumer harm. As such, senior managers are accountable where they fail to take reasonable steps to oversee AI risks within their area of responsibility.

This approach has clear strengths. It is flexible, it supports innovation and it avoids locking the sector into rigid rules too early. But it also leaves room for uncertainty. The more the system depends on broad principles rather than detailed rules, the more it relies on interpretation, supervisory judgement and firms doing the right thing in practice.

So will AI make UK financial services better for customers? Only if speed comes with fairness, clarity and accountability. When things go wrong, customers should not be trapped in an automated loop. They need a clear explanation, access to the right human team and a fair way to put things right.

The UK’s open banking system gives AI a strong foundation because these tools work better when they can use reliable, well-organised data to help people understand spending, compare options and manage money. Used well, AI could become a genuine public good. But if it delivers instant decisions without explanation, automated responses without human support, or efficiency without accountability, it will not make finance better. It will simply make poor service faster.

“What is beyond dispute is that violence of this nature has no place in North Belfast”

A man remains in a critical condition after he was injured in a violent attack in North Belfast.

The PSNI said officers were called to Kinnaird Avenue around 10.30pm on Monday and the injured man was taken to hospital. Another man was arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody, police confirmed.

Video footage shared online shows a man stabbing another man to the head before members of the public intervened. Officers are expected to remain in the area as enquiries continue.

Councillor Paul McCusker described the scenes as “horrific” and said “the bravery of those residents was commendable”.

“Horrific scenes on the streets of North Belfast tonight, terrifying for anyone to witness or watch this on social media,” he said.

“I have spoken to the police and the male who carried out the attack has been arrested and the victim is critical in hospital. I really hope he survives this attack and his family are getting support.

“The bravery of those residents was commendable. I will be liaising with police to get further update and if I can be of assistance to those who witnessed tonight please get in contact.”

Local DUP councillor Jordan Doran said he was “left shocked and deeply concerned” by footage circulating online following the stabbing.

“Many residents have contacted me expressing concerns about community safety and seeking reassurance following this incident,” he said.

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“Those concerns are entirely understandable. People deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities, regardless of where they live.”

He continued: “What is beyond dispute is that violence of this nature has no place in North Belfast. I will be engaging with the PSNI and relevant agencies as a matter of urgency to ensure residents receive the information and reassurance they deserve.”

DUP councillor Nicola Verner added: “Like many people, I have wakened this morning to the video circulating and news of a man viciously attacked last night.

“I am horrified and deeply concerned by the incident in the Girdwood area and the scenes circulating have understandably caused fear and anxiety within our local communities. Violence of this nature has no place on our streets. Residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.

“There is a clear need for swift action and a to provide reassurance to the community and ensure residents are listened to and feel protected from attacks of this kind.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Donald Trump was loudly booed during the US national anthem at Madison Square Garden last night.

Chants of ‘U-S-A! U-S-A!’ gave way to deafening jeers when the president was shown on the jumbo screens ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

 Trump was seen smiling while holding a salute amid the booing throughout the packed area.

Speaking to reporters as he prepared to depart from JFK airport in New York, he said: It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.’

The Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111 to cut New York’s series lead to 2-1.

It was the latest major sporting event Trump has attended during his time as president, and the security measures created major headaches for fans.

Some spent up to four hours queuing outside before the game.

Errol Ismail, a Brooklyn resident and owner of a fitness company, said: ‘I wish he wasn’t here. He’s not a real fan, and he’s just making things awful.

‘We’ve waited a lifetime for this, and he’s made it about himself, like everything else.’

During the afternoon before Trump’s arrival, the New York Police Department and the US Secret Service set up a large perimeter surrounding Madison Square Garden. 

Fans were required to provide a ticket or pass to get past various checkpoints, along with going through a Transportation Security Administration-style magnetometer.

Secret Service staff and police were positioned at every corner and in large numbers.

Daily commuters, tourists visiting Manhattan and fans were all bewildered at various times as they tried to navigate the large-scale security operation.

Federal law enforcement officials have been re-examining Trump’s security in light of three apparent assassination attempts in the past two years.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries were also at the game, as were Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning of the Giants.

It was already hard enough for Knicks fans to get inside Madison Square Garden because of astronomical ticket prices. 

The get-in price for a ticket is higher than the average cost of monthly rent in New York, surging over $5,000.

The best seats were listed for tens of thousands of dollars. Mamdani said he bought his ticket, which he said was standing-room-only, for about $1,000 directly from Madison Square Garden.

Queens-born Trump has a difficult relationship with the heavily Democratic-voting city he once called home and was a vocal critic of activism within the NBA, accusing the league of becoming a ‘political organisation’ as many players protested racial injustice in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.

He faced cheers and boos when he attended the US Open tennis men’s final in Flushing, Queens, last year.

Many ticket-holders missed the start of the match when security checks related to his attendance caused confusion and slowed entry. 

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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If the proposals progress and are approved, a Cambridgeshire village would see approximately 400 homes built alongside a local centre and a rural travel hub

Around 400 homes, a local centre, and a travel hub could be built in a Cambridgeshire village if plans are progressed. An application has requested an environmental impact assessment to for the potential development of land at Crows Nest Farm in Papworth Everard.

The application was made to South Cambridgeshire District Council on behalf of Mac Mic Strategic Land Limited, Christine Elizabeth Peck, and Sarah Lemond.

Papworth Everard lies 10 miles west of Cambridge and six miles south of Huntingdon. Although the proposed scheme is subject to change, the application proposes approximately 400 residential homes, a local centre, and a rural travel hub, as well as highways and drainage infrastructure.

An outline planning application will be sought but the scheme is currently progressing through pre-application discussions with Greater Cambridge Shared Planning. The Screening Opinion request seeks to assist the council in assessing the proposals for the site to determine whether the project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

The proposals would see a limit of two-storey homes to “respect the character of the area”. The applicants state: “The emerging masterplan presents a landscape-led approach with substantial green space with the site allowing for informal recreation and play. Additionally, land for a local centre and a rural travel hub will be provided.”

An application document adds: “Papworth Everard is a well-connected sustainable village which provides a strong local service offering, including a Primary School, healthcare provision, convenience retail, employment areas, community facilities and recreational spaces. The village also offers an established network of footpaths, cycle routes and green corridors, supporting active travel.”

The site is not within the Green Belt and is entirely located within flood zone one. It comprises 32-hectares of agricultural land although the site has a developable residential area of approximately 11.4-hectares.

The new Belfast coffee shop is expected to become a popular stop-off destination for city centre shoppers, coffee lovers, and those looking for a stylish place to relax during the day

Following a £280,000 investment and the creation of ten new jobs, Northern Ireland’s homegrown coffee brand, Ground Espresso Bars, has officially launched its latest Belfast venue.

The new branch has just opened inside Next on Donegall Place, delivering its distinctive handcrafted coffee, fresh food, and laid-back ambience to the city centre’s core.

Expanding its network of 30 outlets and employing more than 240 staff throughout Northern Ireland, this exciting launch represents another significant achievement for Ground. The locally-established brand continues its expansion across the UK and Ireland, developing contemporary social hubs where customers can take a break, refresh, and socialise while shopping in one of Belfast’s most frequented retail locations.

Situated within the recently renovated Next store on Donegall Place, the new Ground Espresso Bar provides a premium coffee shop experience, showcasing expertly-prepared coffees, speciality teas from Belfast’s own SUKI Tea, fresh traybakes, pastries, sandwiches, and light refreshments – all presented within Ground’s modern and inviting setting.

Discussing the opening, Darren Gardiner from Ground Espresso Bars said: “We’re incredibly excited to open our newest store in the heart of Belfast city centre. Next on Donegall Place is a fantastic retail destination, and this new store allows us to bring the full Ground experience to even more customers.

“This investment reflects our continued confidence in Belfast and our commitment to creating welcoming social spaces where people can enjoy exceptional coffee and food.”

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