QueerSpace celebrates Grand Re-opening of InSpace Coffee Lounge, 28th May 2005

For the last few months, we've been hard at work, transforming the Cara-Friend Rooms in Cathedral Buildings. The room is used by a number of our LGBT community groups and has served us well but we felt it was time for a freshening up of the space.

The aim was to make the room more welcoming, comfortable and appealing. The walls were painted in shades of 'Tealight' with the accent wall in 'Soft Caramel'. A couple of good second-hand sofas were bought from charity shops to replace the worst offending old settees.

Perhaps the highlight of the whole enterprise has been the installation of a proper kitchen area in the main room with built-in cupboards, and plenty of worktop space for the coffee machine etc. This has freed up room beside the PC and will make running InSpace each Saturday a lot easier.

Well that's the story behind it. To recognise the great efforts our volunteers have put in and to publicise the availability of InSpace every Saturday afternoon, we held an informal re-opening on Saturday 28th May, attended by around 40 people.

Our newest volunteer Darius snipped the ceremonial ribbon, Gareth acknowledged the value of QueerSpace's volunteers and Thomas talked about the importance QueerSpace holds for him (I know many people present agreed with every word). We then got down to the task of demolishing some seriously great home-made sandwiches and buns!

Thanks are due to all the people involved for their hard work and dedication both in terms of the redecoration itself and the re-opening event.

Enough chatter - if you haven't seen the room yet, take a look at the photos below. Even better, come along to InSpace any Saturday from 3 - 6 pm on the second floor of Cathedral Buildings (opposite St Anne's Cathedral). We guarantee you a warm welcome and perhaps the best coffee in Belfast!

Return to the QueerSpace Photo Gallery page

Click the thumbnail to view each photo, then the Back button to return here.