Its planning committee approved the application, which will also see part of the old prison’s ‘A’ wing transformed into a tourist centre, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

The development was originally granted approval by the council in April 2013 but work on the site ceased on July 2015. Belfast Distillery Company’s recent application came in the wake of meetings with planning officials in 2019.

The decommissioned Victorian prison is a grade A listed building and was designed by Charles Lanyon. It was built between 1840 and 1859 and closed its doors in 1996.

A report from Belfast City Council’s planners states: “The proposal will bring back into use a grade A-listed building which will secure the future use, maintenance and the protection of the building for the intrinsic interest of tourists.”