UKI Annual & Emerging Leaders Conference 2024
Social Activities
Tuesday 5th November
Exclusive Whiskey Tasting at “The Friend at Hand” (additional cost – limited to 16 places)
Set on one of Belfast’s few remaining cobbled streets in the historic “Half-Bap” area, The Friend at Hand is a celebration of Irish Whiskey and a tribute to the city around us. The museum, with its unrivalled collection of Irish Whiskeys and memorabilia, and the guided tasting experience in the private tasting room, “The Friend”, showcases the best of Irish Whiskey in a unique, exclusive setting.
Early Arrivals Pre-Conference Dinner (additional cost)
Join us for an exclusive private dining experience at James St. Restaurant.
James St. restaurant is everyone’s favourite restaurant in Belfast, and for one night only – DFK members have exclusive access.
Since opening its doors, the restaurant has remained one of Belfast’s best places to dine, offering great tasting local produce. Ryan Stringer, the forward-thinking Executive Head Chef, has been at the helm since 2021 and has developed the menu, pushing the boundaries of taste, texture, and flavour, earning him and his team many plaudits from the 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland 2023 by the Sunday Times.
Ryan and his team focus on local, ethically sourced, sustainable produce enhanced by a wealth of international experience. We look forward to welcoming you for an unforgettable evening.
Wednesday 6th November
Welcome Gala
In a break from the traditional Farewell Gala, this year we will host a Welcome Gala at Titanic, Belfast.
Inspired by RMS Titanic’s opulent interiors, featuring a replica of the liner's Grand Staircase, with stunning views of the Slipways and Belfast Lough, where the world famous liner was designed, built and launched, The Titanic creates a breathtaking setting for our Welcome Gala.
Thursday 7th November
Choose from the below options for your social activity with DFK friends on Thursday afternoon
Best of Belfast Guided Walking Tour (afternoon)
The Best of Belfast tour is a great way to learn about and explore Belfast. We’ll take you through the quarters in the heart of the city, where our expert local guide will introduce you to hidden history, fantastic street art, beautiful architecture and fascinating stories of Belfast’s citizens from the past and present. Come with us to find out about Belfast’s radicals, rogues, reformers and more. This tour will show you the Best that Belfast has to offer, from pubs and restaurants to music, art, stories – and of course craic!
Sensorium (afternoon)
BELFAST'S UNEXPECTED DRINKS EXPERIENCE. 2 TALL DRINKS. 2 BESPOKE COCKTAILS/MOCKTAILS. SENSORY OVERLOAD GUARANTEED.
Drink and think. Find out why you like what you like through a series of sensory experiments and incredible cocktails.
Start off in the Sensorium room where you will do some taste experiments under the supervision of the Sensorium guide. You will find out what kind of taster you are, then you will climb the stairs to the Inhibitor Room where The Inhibitor will tell you all about your 32 senses and carry out some more flavour experiments using sound and imagery to affect your perception. Finally, in the Spirit of You Rooftop Garden, our mixologists will create a bespoke Emotional Serve Cocktail/Mocktail that your memory selects using smell alone and a bespoke Sensory Serve cocktail that has been matched to your sensory profile.
Farewell Gala
There is no better way to close out the social activities for this conference, than with an “Irish Night”, complete with Irish Dancers, Irish music, and an Irish Bar!
Location: The Dark Horse - Polished copper, mirrored walls and a Game of Thrones door
Protected by earth ramparts and the city walls, the area where the Dark Horse now stands was convenient to the old iron foundry, the pottery, the whiskey merchants and the Brown Linen Hall. Appreciate the superb décor and special atmosphere with beautiful antique mirrors, Belfast furniture and artefacts from some of the city’s most famous hotels and buildings from bygone times – providing a rather rare and unique glimpse of Belfast’s historical past.
Craic agus Ceol is guaranteed!