Ben’s fond of the place after his ‘Sh*tty Break’ to Newry

Newry is one of 12 cities to feature in ‘Sh*tty Breaks’ alongside the likes of Preston, Newport and Milton Keynes.

But rather than be 274 pages of disparaging comments, ‘Sh*tty Breaks’ describes itself as ‘a celebration of unsung cities’ - and that comes across when you come to read the chapter on his visit to our part of the world.

“I've been bracing myself for a bit of backlash against that title because it's attention seeking, but I do feel that a title isn't necessarily a statement of fact, or even a declaration of opinion, it's just like a starting point, a piece of received wisdom from which the story unfolds and against which the story sort of argues,” Ben said.

“I don't think these places are in any way substandard or inferior. That's what I'm trying to get across in the book, but the subtitle sort of clarifies that it's a celebration of these cities.

“I did ask the publisher to change the title, but they just said ‘look, we'd rather engage 10 people and irritate one than engage three people and irritate none’.

“I went with them and I hope it comes across that this isn't a pisstake. I'm bound to put a few noses out of joint with the title but I'll survive, I'm sure.”

The inspiration for the book came from a league table which showed the most popular places to visit in the UK and Ireland. Ben flipped it upside down and so began a year-long journey voyage.

That included a stop-off in Newry, which Ben “loved”.

He added: “Newry was a favourite, because I had a pleasant time and I ate well.

“I stayed in the most amazing place, a balanced tree house in Forkhill.

“I spent the day in town, I went to the museum, I went to Pat's carryout. I went to Formula Karting, I had a pizza at the Canal Court Hotel and then I jumped on a bus, went down to Forkhill and kipped in this tree house. It was just something special.

“The lad that's put that together deserves a medal.

“It was quite special to be in the countryside there and to realise and climb Slieve Gullion the next morning and realise how lucky Newry is, that it’s got the Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion on its doorstep. I can't think of another city that's got such countryside on its doorstep.”

Ben called in to Newry and Mourne Museum and spent an afternoon with the former curator, Ken Abraham.

“I went up to Bessbrook, the model village - that was really fascinating. If that was attached to another city that had a that bigger reputation I think that it would be something that would be discussed and talked about a lot, whereas in Newry it’s just ‘Ah, that's just Bessbrook up there’, but it's actually historically quite interesting, and the viaduct as well - that was quite striking.

“I met some great people. There was a lad called Jimmy who was actually from Belfast. They still call him ‘Belfast’ even though he's lived in Newry for about 40 years now.

“I was eyeing up his cottage because it was a shrine to a certain football club. I was taking a picture and he came out, opened the door and I thought I was going to get a rollicking for being nosey.

“But he said ‘Get yourself inside for a cup of tea’, and we ended up having a chat for about an hour, watching some tennis. He was telling me about his life and gave me some life lessons.

“A couple of lads I met at Formula Karting, 17-year-olds Tommy and ‘Fridge’, were warm, sharp, quick-witted lads. I saw and heard a lot of that in Newry with the young ones.

“There was a DJ barista in Nine Squared, only in his early 20s - he was so welcoming and curious and full of recommendations.

“I think that's what happens when you travel to places that aren't overcrowded or overrun with tourists. People are actually quite pleased to see you.”

Ben also spoke fondly of his trips to Finegan & Son and Measured, where he had “some of the best coffee I've ever had”.

He loved the city’s architecture, including the “really tall and spiky” church spires.

“When the sun's shining - I don't know how often it does shine in Newry, but it was shining when I was there - and you climb up to the old gallows and you're looking down at the city with the canal and the spiers, it's really quite attractive.”

There was praise too for “the big yellow hotel”, the Canal Court, and the story of the McParland brothers.

“I had a pizza there… I think they actually cook it around the corner at La Dolce Vita. But it's a mad pizza - it's got a chicken kebab and chips and pizza. I couldn't believe what I was looking at and trying to get in my mouth. I thought structurally it was quite unsound because all the chips kept toppling off, but it was pretty tasty.”

Having become “fond of the place”, Ben is now telling all of his friends to add a trip to Newry onto a trip to Belfast.

“I just really enjoyed myself and the countryside walking up to Slieve Gullion. That tree house is an absolute stonker.

“One of the things the books is not saying is ‘don't go to Belfast, don't go to Dublin’. It’s saying if you are in Belfast, if you are in Dublin, if you are in Newcastle, think about just sniffing across to Newry, to Limerick, to Sunderland and adding it onto a city break.”

‘Sh*tty Breaks’ is available from May 8.