2 Royal Avenue: A Central Urban Community Hub

Located centrally within the city, a venue offers opportunities for dancing, singing, playing, live music performances, book borrowing, or simply a warm space to consume a packed lunch – all without charge. 2 Royal Avenue commenced public operations three years ago this month, following its acquisition as a listed building by Belfast City Council in late 2021. Since its opening, its appeal has expanded across diverse demographics, serving individuals ranging from toddlers and teenagers to pensioners participating in line dancing. Judith Crozier, a mother of two, described the venue to BBC News NI as “a really lovely oasis in the centre of the city. It has a really lovely community vibe, very relaxed.” Ms. Crozier expressed a preference for this location over typical cafe settings, where she perceives children are expected to “sit still.” She elaborated, “I have a four-year-old and a two-year-old and they can stretch their legs.” She added, “People are friendly and welcoming, so it’s a real no stress spot for kids.” In addition to a compact library, the facility features a play area designed for toddlers and organizes consistent family-oriented activities. Admission is free, and numerous events incur no cost. George McCann and Violet Hanna are among the many pensioners who reside alone and frequent the hub weekly to socialize with existing acquaintances and form new ones. George stated, “We have a cup of tea and a bun and talk…we have tea dances every now and again, which is always pretty busy – bunged – we always get a massive crowd.” He further noted, “I would say there’s five to six women to every man, but the women get up and they do line dancing and stuff.” Violet, aged seventy-seven and widowed for 14 years, travels by bus from Ballysillan to attend. She clarified, “It’s a bit of company for me.” She continued, “You would miss it if it wasn’t here. It’s a comfort.” She also remarked, “The craic is good. You’re meeting all different people.” Erected in the 1860s, the structure functioned as a bank for more than a century before its conversion into a supermarket during the 1990s. Following Tesco’s relocation in 2021, the council inaugurated 2 Royal Avenue as a community and cultural hub, pending a decision on its enduring purpose. The objective was to establish “a warm, indoor public park” where individuals across all age groups and capabilities could engage socially, perform, work, and unwind. Sarah-Jane Montgomery, the joint managing director, commented, “No two days in 2 Royal Ave are the same and that’s what makes it really special.” Ryan Longridge and Sarah-Jane Cooper established a jazz duo after their initial encounter at the hub’s shared grand piano. Ryan stated, “I heard Sarah-Jane singing in here and we thought we would start playing together.” He added, “This place lends itself to be a beautiful convergence point for people to share their gift and share music.” He concluded, “It’s a connection of different classes and cultures.” In 2024, the venue registered its peak regular visitor numbers and highest level of interaction with community organizations and charitable bodies. The Alive Community Choir is scheduled to host a cancer fundraising event named ‘Jingle Jam’ at the premises in December. Sharon Cauldwell, the choir’s founder, quipped, “We currently have 48 members from all over the place and it’s called the ‘Alive’ because you only have to be breathing to be in.” She further remarked, “The staff have been absolutely phenomenal in that they allow us to set up however we want.” Data from Maywe Events indicates that more than 40% of the venue’s patrons identified as belonging to a minority community, encompassing individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, or those from an ethnic minority background. Asylum seekers are also able to access advice and support. Sarah-Jane attributes the broad appeal to communities feeling “welcomed without any judgment.” She emphasized, “It’s really important for us that it remains a totally neutral venue,” noting that staff received “specifically trained in helping and welcoming vulnerable people.” Malcolm McCormick, a disabled man residing with his carer, stated, “I come out here to get company, to meet people. It gives me something to do, to come out of the house.” He added, “There’s a good range of activities.” He specified, “There’s pool tables and line dancing and there’s groups of music playing once a month.” The location is also accommodating to dogs, allowing Malcolm’s dog, Chelsea, to accompany him. Furthermore, the building supports the development of new professional paths. Olly Armstrong, a 19-year-old student, assisted in coordinating a book swap within the premises as part of his events management training program. He commented, “I’m a massive reader so the library was great for me when I discovered that.” The young adult expressed a preference for the building to continue as a community facility rather than being converted back into a commercial establishment. Given that 2 Royal Avenue receives funding from Belfast ratepayers, its future has been a subject of discussion. Belfast City Council informed BBC News NI that it initiated an expression of interest process earlier this year to determine “a longer-term, sustainable use.” The council stated, “The exercise welcomed proposals from a wide range of cultural, community, social, retail, hospitality and leisure users, or a mix of such uses.” Sarah-Jane proposed that integrating elements such as independent shops could “add to the city centre” while simultaneously “delivering social value and be completely focused on community and culture.”