Dirty windows, broken lights and no communication, life as Smithfield trader

Gilmore is not alone in his concerns, Alan Taylor owns Coffee & Heroes which has been in Smithfield for nearly a decade.

He opened the café and comic book shop as he had “happy memories” of the market as a child.

“In general, Smithfield has been good to us, but there’s definitely a sense of being slightly ignored, certainly when it comes to other markets in Belfast or other places.

“You look at the outside of the building, you look at some of the issues there, but you try make a place where people want to come to and you know go from there.”

Taylor said a “tiny bit of advertising, a tiny coat of paint” would improve the space.

He added that he believes the council has a responsibility that it is “not particularly” meeting.

“The last meeting we had was around two years ago and that was to let us know there were rent increases and there were three units went out of business within three months of that.

“As long as you pay your rent, you literally do not hear a word from the council”.