Cafe Nero, 48-50 Ann Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 4EG

Three-storey terraced commercial building erected c.1935 as a jeweller's shop designed by Blackwood & Jury, characterised by Art Deco stylistic influences with simple ornamentation in a stripped classical style. The building is of record interest only, representing one of relatively few Art Deco examples in Ireland, though it has been compromised by alterations involving loss of historic fabric and detailing.

The building is constructed in framed construction with white and grey composite stone cladding tiles, featuring a flat roof concealed behind a parapet that wraps around all elevations. The principal elevation, facing south, has a parapet with a shallow gradient rising to a central apex surmounted by a chevron motif and moulded detail. A heavily moulded projecting eaves course to the main façade carries decorative lead flashing. The upper floors are dominated by a recessed panel framing the central opening, with three pairs of squared metal-framed windows with reflective glass vertically arranged across the upper floors, separated horizontally by a bronze panel below the second floor level. Three projecting moulded piers rise from first floor cills through to the upper proportion of second floor windows. A continuous projecting cill course sits over the plain painted upper ground floor, which has a modern timber fascia and signage. The ground floor has been heavily modified with three expansive full-height glazed openings and a modern door positioned right-of-centre, with the far edges clad in polished red granite. The rear contains a plain three-storey return block of little architectural interest, rectangular on plan with a partially hipped slate roof and smooth rendered walls.

When constructed in 1935-6, the building was described by the valuer as the "best shop in the street" and had been completed by August 1936. It was valued the following year at £520. The original accommodation comprised a shop, office, sitting room and store on the ground floor; an "excellent" showroom and salesroom on the first floor with a staff room and store-mess room on the second floor. The ground floor originally featured an elaborate shopfront incorporating a circular showcase at the centre. The building was designed to occupy the site of former premises at number 48 Ann Street and the former Ann Street Post Office at number 50, both demolished in 1935. The original occupiers and owners in fee were Isaac Adlestone, Harry Adlestone and Maurice Adlestone, silversmiths, jewellers and watchmakers. Adlestone's remained in the building until the 1970s, when it was subsequently taken over as a fashion store. The building is currently in use as a café.

The building is located on the northern side of Ann Street in Belfast City centre, terminating an important vista from Victoria Square Shopping Centre to the south. A narrow alleyway known as Cole's Alley originates in Ann Street along the western elevation, extending north and then turning east along the rear of the premises, opening onto Church Lane. The west elevation is largely abutted by adjoining buildings but the ground floor contains the entrance to Cole's Alley, lined in modern brickwork. The north elevation is abutted by the rear rendered block with a single metal door at centre. The east elevation is abutted by adjoining modern red brick three-storey commercial terraces and a mid-twentieth-century red brick parapetted commercial building.