Belfast gets new LGBTQIA+ collective space
House of Them, Belfast City.
The House of Them has opened in Belfast’s university area and aims to provide a space where everyone feels safe, comfortable and accepted for who they are.
The space currently encompasses a coffee shop called Brewed by Them, and a tattoo business, Pierced by Them. The goal is to have more business creatives from the queer community, in fields such as hairstyling, beauty or others, rent space within it to create a thriving community.
The House of Them is the creation of David and Ray Black, siblings from the town of Holywood, County Down. The pair had set up Pierced by Them in 2022 but the plan was always to set up a larger community space with a cafe area.
David explains: “As queer people, we know what it's like growing up in a world where you have to pick a chosen family of supportive people to surround you, but for those that don't have that, we wanted to be able to provide it in some way. We wanted to have somewhere for our community to go to feel welcome and heard, without the pressure of wondering if they will be accepted or what part of their personal lives they could share without the fear of judgement.
Pierced By Them, Belfast City.
“We hope that the House of Them becomes a space for people to feel free from judgement or social pressures to conform, while providing a sense of community. Whether it's self-expression through a new piercing or tattoo, or somewhere to sit and enjoy a chat and a coffee, we hope to provide that for the people of Belfast.”
The House of Them will provide a space for business creatives to grow their business and be supported and inspired by each other. For others, it’s a place to relax, enjoy great coffee and meet others from within the LGBTQIA+ community.
The House of Them is on Stranmillis Road, a vibrant area near Queens University and close to the award-winning Ulster Museum. It offers a non-alcohol space and adds to the gay pubs, clubs and performance venues in Belfast, a city that also hosts the annual Outburst Queer Arts Festival and the largest Pride event on the island of Ireland.
Queen's University, Belfast.