During the week I was at a fantastic gathering full of positivity and energy about the future of Belfast.   A bunged-full conference room in the Merchant Hotel (posh, nice) filled with business-owners, traders, tourism bods – everyone who has been seeing the knock-on effect of the recent troubles in loss of business and custom.  Right at the start of the meeting, someone stood up and told us that we weren’t there to wring our hands, debate the issues, solve the problem or point the finger: we were there to take positive action to bring life back to the city.

It was the launch of the ‘Backin Belfast’ campaign – a combination of word-of-mouth, social networking, TV advertising and media campaigning to bring back confidence in the simple pleasure of a good time out in Belfast City.

Restaurant, pubs and clubs across the city are putting on special offers (just hashtag ‘BackinBelfast’ on Twitter to find out what’s on offer at any given time), venues (including Titanic Belfast and the Dock & Pump House) are creating special events… in short, there have never been so many good reasons to go out and support local business.

For the last few weeks, many of us have felt helpless to act while Belfast has hit the headlines (helpless is a horrible feeling).  We’re helpless no longer: there’s something we can do, and it will make a difference, and it will be part of building a better future for the city.  It’s going out for a meal.  It’s going to a play at the Lyric, or going shopping in Victoria Square, or taking a tour of the Thompson Dock and Pump House, or having afternoon tea at Titanic Belfast, or….

So stand up and be counted, people of The Dock – we’re backin’ Belfast!