Select Image To Visit The Photo Gallery: Echoing Below By Holger Lönze

Photographed By William Murphy

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CITY QUAY GARDENS IN BELFAST

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Capturing this sculpture during a severe storm in December 2025 proved to be a significant challenge. The raw images were virtually unusable, requiring extensive post-processing to rescue them from the elements. Furthermore, because the installation was so new at the time, identifying the artist and the story behind the work took a fair amount of investigative effort.

• The Vision Behind the Work
  
  Installed in 2025 at the newly created City Quay Gardens, Echoing Below is a three-piece public installation by the German-born, West Cork-based sculptor Holger Lönze. The work is a tactile fusion of Irish history and industrial craftsmanship, featuring massive slabs of Valentia slate from County Kerry paired with intricate repoussé bronze elements.
  
  
• History Suspended in Time
  
  The bronze ship-like forms are not merely abstract; they are based on 19th-century paintings held in the Belfast Harbour Commissioners’ collection. Each of the three segments represents a distinct era of development for the harbour and the city. Lönze’s intent was to create the sensation of "walking on the seabed," presenting these vessels as if they are suspended in time and space.
  
  
• Poetry in Stone
  
  While the weather initially made the larger plaque difficult to read, it has since been identified as featuring a commissioned poem by Irish poet Paddy Bushe. His verses invite the observer to "Go below" and attune themselves to the ghost-sounds of the historic docks—the creaking of wooden planks and the tension of hemp rope—before "stepping ashore" to rejoin the modern city.

Select Image To Visit The Photo Gallery: The Octopus's Garden In Belfast

Photographed By William Murphy

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PHOTOGRAPHED IN 2019 AND AGAIN IN 2025

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I first photographed this shop back in march 2019 and then again in December 2025 and as you can see it appears to have ceased trading at Wellington Street

Located at 1A Wellington Street, just a stone's throw from Belfast City Hall, Octopus’s Garden was a beloved fixture of the city’s independent retail scene. Known for its eclectic blend of 1960s-inspired fashion and a vast collection of vinyl, it served as a cultural hub for students, music lovers, and vintage hunters for over a decade.

• History and Opening
  
  While the shop became a staple of the 2010s vintage boom, it established itself as a premier destination for "retro" culture around 2012–2013. Its name, directly inspired by the Ringo Starr-penned Beatles track from the Abbey Road album, perfectly reflected its "treasure trove" atmosphere—a place where one could find "shiny things" hidden away from the main high street
  
  

• The Cease of Trading
  
  The business appears to have ceased trading at its physical Wellington Street location in late 2024 or early 2025.
  
  Reason for Closure: Like many independent retailers in Belfast city centre, the business faced a "perfect storm" of rising commercial rents, the post-pandemic shift toward online shopping, and decreased footfall in the city’s traditional "side street" shopping districts.
  
  The Transition: In August 2025, a new entity, Octopus's Garden Belfast Ltd, was incorporated. This suggests that while the original physical shopfront has closed, the brand may be undergoing a restructuring or moving toward a purely online or "pop-up" model under new directorship.
  
  

• Interesting Stories
  
  Celebrity Spotting: The shop was a magnet for stars filming in Northern Ireland. Most notably, Jason Momoa (of Game of Thrones and Aquaman fame) was a known visitor, often spotted browsing the rails and records during his time filming in Belfast.
  
  A "Two-Floor" Experience: Unlike many smaller vintage nooks, Octopus's Garden utilised two floors. The ground floor was a riot of colour with 60s capes and 80s sportswear, while the basement/upper levels often housed a more curated selection of rare vinyl and CDs, overseen by staff who were often active DJs in the Belfast and Berlin club scenes.
  
  The "Broken Chair" Display: The shop was famous for its "energetic" and slightly chaotic visual merchandising, including a legendary broken chair display that became a popular talking point (and photo op) for local students.
  
  While the physical doors at 1A Wellington Street have closed, the spirit of Octopus’s Garden is far from gone. The business is currently in a "regeneration" phase, shifting from its long-term home to a more modern, digital-first presence.
  
  

• Current Status and New Directions
  
  

• The Digital Shopfront
  
  Octopus’s Garden has transitioned heavily into the online resale market. They currently maintain a presence on Depop (under the handle @octopussgardenbelfast), where they continue to list the vintage sportswear and retro "finds" they were famous for. Additionally, they have a dedicated website, theoctopusgardenvintage.com, though much of the current stock is listed as "sold out," indicating they may be between major "drops" or restructuring their inventory.
  
  

• Corporate Restructuring
  
  There is strong evidence of a fresh start for the brand. A new company, Octopus’s Garden Belfast Ltd, was officially incorporated in August 2025.
  
  Registered Office: The business has moved its official correspondence address from Wellington Street to 22-24 Lombard Street, Belfast, BT1 1RB.
  
  New Leadership: The new entity is headed by directors Michael Alexander Bates and Peter Jez, suggesting a change in ownership or a formalised partnership to take the brand into its next chapter.

• A Potential Move to Lombard Street?
  
  While 22-24 Lombard Street is currently listed as the registered office (which is often an accountancy or legal firm address), it is worth noting that Lombard Street is another key hub for independent retail in Belfast. It is possible the brand may resurface here as a physical "pop-up" or a smaller, curated boutique in the future.