Out to Lunch Arts Festival

Defying the current downturn in ticket sales across Northern Ireland, the Out to Lunch Arts Festival, which begins this week and runs throughout the month of January (6th – 31st), has already started selling out a number of its shows. Tickets for comedians Kevin McAleer, Andrew Maxwell and writer Brian Keenan have all been snapped up with many more expected to sell out shortly.

Now celebrating its fifth year, Out to Lunch is a sister festival of the internationally acclaimed Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and organisers are delighted with the response to this year's line-up.

Festival Director Sean Kelly said: "People love a good bargain and at £5 for a show and lunch, we think the Out to Lunch Festival represents unbeatable value. Also January is a time for trying something new and people have embraced the spirit of the festival wholeheartedly. We've sold tickets to people from all over the UK and beyond in the last few weeks. Hopefully it's a sign of better times ahead for 2010!"

The Festival features comedy, theatre and music at lunchtimes and evenings throughout January and other headline acts this year include Edwyn Collins, The Low Anthem, Labour MP Chris Mullin, Brian Keenan and comedians Robin Ince, Karl Spain and Andrew Maxwell.

The Out to Lunch Arts Festival runs from 6th - 31st January. Information and tickets are available from www.cqaf.com or Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609.