2 Royal Avenue

Update on Friday 6 November 2026

 2 Royal Avenue will close on Thursday 31 December to allow essential building work to take place. This will preserve our beautiful building for future generations.

In 2027, we will progress proposals with a new occupier to deliver a not-for-profit civic and cultural space on the ground floor, alongside Belfast's first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Hub on the first floor. 

2 Royal Avenue events until 31 December 2026

Before the venue closes on 31 December, there will be plenty to enjoy, including: 

• Christmas events
• free family activities
• and Santa’s Post Office.

Belfast BID One will deliver Santa's Post Office.

Follow 2 Royal Avenue on:

• Facebook for 2 Royal Avenue (link opens in new window)
• Instagram - @2royalave (link opens in new window)

Or go to MayWe (link opens in new window).

2 Royal Avenue opening hours

The venue is open Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.

2 Royal Avenue will close on 31 December 2026 for essential building work. We'll publish updates on this page and on our social media channels.

Getting to 2 Royal Avenue

The venue is in a central city centre location, accessible on Metro bus and Glider routes.

Bus and train stations serving the wider Northern Ireland area are a short walk away. Visit the Translink website (link opens in new window) for bus and train timetables.

Accessible parking spaces are available on Castle Place and Donegall Place. There is a bicycle parking rack outside.

The venue

Since 2021, 2 Royal Avenue has welcomed over one million visitors and brought people of all ages and backgrounds together through creativity, culture and connection.

Our meanwhile use community and cultural hub at 2 Royal Avenue provides a free creative space in the heart of the city centre. It’s a warm indoor public park where you can take some time out, socialise with friends, hold a business meeting or come in and work for the day. Bring your packed lunch to enjoy on the comfortable seating inside or buy a snack at the kiosk.

Delivering many of the ambitions of our 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:

• a selection of hot and cold artisan foods at Yallaa kiosk (link opens in new window)
• the ‘Cosy’ - a fun playful space for children to explore
• a Belfast-themed library with books for all ages
• a sensory area
• a Belfast notice board
• comfortable seating
• free Wi-Fi
• baby-changing areas
• study areas
• meeting tables
• pods, and
• a grand piano.

Our 2 Royal Avenue building is also dog-friendly.

For more information on events at 2 Royal Avenue until we close temporarily on 31 December 2026, go to MayWe (link opens in new window)

Accessibility at 2 Royal Avenue

• You can access the venue from the main entrance at 2 Royal Avenue or from the rear entrance at Bank Square.
• There is an accessible toilet on site.
• Wheelchairs are available for our 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.

Yallaa kiosk

You can buy refreshments and sweet treats at the Yallaa kiosk (link opens in new window), operated by Yallaa Kitchen (link opens in new window).

Yallaa offers a range of contemporary Mediterranean and Arabic dishes with a local twist. All food and drinks are prepared locally and sourced sustainably.

History of 2 Royal Avenue building

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.

Future use of the upper floor as a LGBTQIA+ Hub

Plans are in progress to transform the first floor into a new LGBTQIA+ Hub for Belfast.

The PEACEPLUS-funded project will be a new home for several LGBTQIA+ organisations in the city. This will help these organisations to work more closely together. It will also be a place where individuals from our LGBTQIA+ community can receive support.