2 Royal Avenue
Description
Belfast City Council’s community and cultural hub at 2 Royal Avenue provides a free creative space in the heart of the city centre.
Delivering on many of the ambitions of the Belfast Agenda, Cultural Strategy and Bolder Vision, 2 Royal Avenue is an accessible and inclusive building designed to create a sense of calm and provide for people of all ages and abilities.
Surrounded with plant life and fitted with bespoke artworks, the space includes:
• Yallaa kiosk, with a selection of hot and cold artisan food
• the ‘Cosy’ - a fun playful space for children to explore
• Belfast-themed library with books for all ages
• sensory dome
• Belfast notice board
• variety of comfortable seating
• free WiFi
• baby changing areas
• study areas
• meeting tables
• pods
• a grand piano
The 2 Royal Avenue building is also dog-friendly.
For more information about what’s coming up at 2 Royal Avenue click here.
Top Reasons To Visit
- This unique venue is an oasis of calm and wonder in the heart of the city offering stunning existing architectural features.
- There is a focus on music gigs and performances, including regular music on the grand piano by some of Belfast’s finest pianists
- Enjoy an array of wellbeing events for all ages such as yoga and mindfulness to balance your body and mind.
- Offers a family-friendly vibe through a specially curated programme of workshops, art exhibitions, local food and craft markets.
- The perfect place to grab refreshments with a coffee shop offering Fairtrade hot drinks and locally sourced sweet treats.
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Yallaa kiosk at 2 Royal Avenue
You can get refreshments and sweet treats at the Yallaa kiosk, operated by Yallaa Kitchen.
Yallaa offers a range of contemporary Mediterranean and Arabic dishes with a local twist. All food and drinks are prepared locally and sourced sustainably.
Date Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm Sunday 12 noon to 5pm -
2 Royal Avenue History
The 2 Royal Avenue building was designed by WJ Barre between 1864 and 1869. Originally the building was the head office of the Provincial Bank of Ireland.
Barre was a prolific Irish architect who built many well-known buildings in Ireland in a Gothic Revival style. His best-known works include the Albert Memorial Clock and Ulster Hall. When Barre died following a short illness in 1867, at the age of 37, the architecture firm Turner and Williamson completed the building.
The impressive seven-bay façade is missing an elaborate sculpture that was intended for the pediment. A key feature is the beautiful, circular dome over an octagonal arcade. It is supported by corbelled columns that lead up to a Gothic gallery.
In the 1990s, the building was converted into a Tesco Metro store, with architects from the firm WDR and RT Taggart carrying out the restoration.
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Venue Usage
The 2 Royal Avenue venue is being operated by the welcoming team at MayWe.
It is available to book for community and cultural events and on occasion for commercial hire. To ask about booking the venue, please email 2RoyalAve@maywe.co.uk for an expression of interest (EOI) form.
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Getting to 2 Royal Avenue
The central city centre location is accessible via Metro and Glider routes.
Bus and train stations serving the wider Northern Ireland area are a short walk away. Visit the Translink website for bus and train timetables.
Accessible parking spaces are available on Castle Place and Donegall Place.
There is a bicycle parking rack outside.
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Accessibility at 2 Royal Avenue
- There is an accessible toilet on site.
- Wheelchairs are available for all guests visiting the venue. These are free of charge to borrow but are on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The venue has a sensory dome for visitors with sensory issues or anyone who needs a quiet play space.
- There is light and sound display within the dome and fidget toys and headphones are available on request.
- This venue is dog-friendly and assistance dogs are permitted across all areas.
- Visitors can access a quiet room if they need to.
- The venue entrance is on flat ground for easy access for those with accessibility needs.