Sophie Clarke: A tale of two cities: Why Belfast can’t ignore Derry’s revival

One of the best subject lines you can see land in your inbox on a quiet day in the office often begins with two simple words: press trip.

It can mean anything. A week in Las Vegas, a spa retreat somewhere deep in the woods or a guided food tour in a city you haven’t visited recently.

On this occasion the it was the latter - a short trip to Derry to experience the city’s growing food and hospitality scene, including a stay at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel, a walking tour, a Derry By Fork foodie experience and dinner at the Walled City Brewery.

While I’ve written a full review of the trip, the upshot is that I came away genuinely impressed.

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I’ve always liked Derry but this visit gave me a fresh perspective on the place.

Read more: Sophie Clarke: my day as a Derry Girl with The Derry Girls Experience

What struck me most wasn’t just the food........

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