2 Royal Avenue

Opening hours

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

The venue

Our 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. Feel free to enjoy your packed lunch on the comfortable seating inside or grab a tasty snack at the kiosk.

Delivering on 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:

• Yallaa kiosk, with a selection of hot and cold artisan food
• the ‘Cosy’ - a fun playful space for children to explore
• a Belfast-themed library with books for all ages
• a sensory dome
• a Belfast notice board
• a variety of comfortable seating
• free Wi-Fi
• baby-changing areas
• study areas
• meeting tables
• pods
• a grand piano          

Our 2 Royal Avenue building is also dog friendly.

For more information about what’s coming up at 2 Royal Avenue go to www.maywe.co.uk/2ra (link opens in new window)

Yallaa kiosk

You can get 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 the 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.

Venue usage

Our 2 Royal Avenue venue is being operated by the welcoming team at MayWe.

Our venue at 2 Royal Avenue 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.

Getting to 2 Royal Avenue

The 2 Royal Avenue venue is in a central city centre location, 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 (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.

Accessibility at 2 Royal Avenue

• 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.

Follow 2 Royal Avenue

We are on social media. Follow us at:

• www.facebook.com/2RoyalAve (link opens in new window)
• www.instagram.com/2royalave (link opens in new window)

​Or visit www.maywe.co.uk/2ra (link opens in new window)