Cathy Chambers is the co-owner of Ma Nelson’s bar on the Lisburn Road and also a co-owner of Grotten Alternative Lifestyle store on Little Victoria Street along with her husband Matt. A trained chef and administrator, mother-of-four Cathy tells us about her desire to teach and love of a glam 80s rock band.
I was born in Richmond, Yorkshire
I grew up in England and the Lisburn Road
I now live on Lisburn Road
I was educated at – too many to remember
My earliest memory is my granda teaching me to ride a bike and of course falling off it again
When I was a child I wanted to be a teacher
I actually became chef, publican and retail shop owner
Worst job I’ve ever had - cleaner for Iceland
Best job I’ve ever had - working in the Chinese on the Lisburn Road in the 90s
The bravest thing I've ever done - stand up to robbers when I was the manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken
The stupidest thing I've ever done - same as above
The biggest thing I've yet to do - expand Ma’s bar and my alternative lifestyle shop
The person who inspired me most is my primary school teacher in England because she treated everybody the same no matter what and showed kindness to everyone
The most important thing in the world is my family and friends
I'm very bad at hiding what I really think
I'm very good at being brutally honest to people
I'm most proud of my husband and children
My best friend would say I am warm and kind-hearted but when you cross me you should emigrate
I like to relax by decorating my house, shopping, going to concerts and socialising with my friends
My favourite saying is ‘more metal than your ma’s kettle’
The last book I read was The Morganville Vampire series
My favourite movie is Labyrinth
The actor that would play me in a movie of my life would be Rosie O’Donnell
The song that makes me dance is anything by Guns n’ Roses except November Rain
The song I would have played at my funeral would be the Sid Vicious version of My Way
The best place I've ever been Slane 1992 with Guns n’ Roses headlining
The place I have to visit before I die is Athens
The last person I talked to on the phone was my mother
The last text message I received was from Jim who provided all our new chairs in the recent refurb of Ma’s
If I was a politician I would work to get a fairer system to assess what businesses should owe for rates and water rates because the current system is unfair and in many cases causing the downfall of many small businesses
If I won the lottery I would treat all my friends and family and invest in my businesses and maybe expand
If I could describe myself in five words they would be manic, fun, hard-working and determined
If I could invite five people (living or dead) to a dinner party they would be Axl Rose (Guns n’ Roses), Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Elvis Presley, Bill Lewis (LA Guns) and Mike Patton (Faith No More)
If I could change one thing about South Belfast it would be try to do more to regenerate the areas that are derelict and neglected
My favourite thing about South Belfast is Ma’s rock bar and my shop Grotten on the edge of South Belfast
