Local investors breathes life into Belfast’s former Regency House

Aurient Ltd, run by entrepreneurs Anthony Kieran and Cecil Hetherington, best known for the popular digital platform, UsedCarsNI.com, is behind the 8000 sq foot, £2.5m passion project, which will see the former Regency House in South Belfast’s Upper Crescent transformed into luxury accommodation.

The Regency, an 8000sq foot hospitality venture targeting both long-stay and short-stay visitors to the city, will consist of six luxury apartments along with one communal garden and two private outdoor courtyards and will open its doors later this summer.

Aurient Ltd has called on the knowledge and skills-base of several local suppliers to restore Regency House to its former glory, including architect Gerry Rogers, builder Noel Savage and interior designer, Orla Higgins, employing 50+ people during the construction phase as well as procuring furniture, antiques and kitchen and bathroom products from local companies such as Wilson’s Yard, David Scott, Soaks and Lurgan-based Alwood Kitchen Supplies.

Anthony Kieran at Aurient Ltd, said: “The area itself, adjacent to the iconic Queen’s University building, has tonnes of potential in terms of architectural heritage, day and night-time economy and green urban spaces. It has long been crying out for regeneration. We hope this venture will truly breathe new life, not just into Regency House as it was formerly known but to both Upper and Lower Crescents, creating a new public space for the city’s Queen’s quarter which visitors and residents can enjoy once more. We spotted an opportunity to convert these two adjacent derelict buildings and create six luxury apartments.

“Belfast in recent years has become a desirable visitor destination and with the upward trend for first class luxury accommodation for the long and short term rental market, we feel this is the right direction to go.

“The properties will be finished to a very high standard and will appeal to people of all walks of life who may want a regular home-from-home option that feels more personal than a hotel, but still offers the luxury amenities of one.”

Upper Crescent, off University Road in the South of the city, was at one time, the grandest terrace development undertaken. An elegantly curving row of three-storey dwellings in a late Regency style, it was built in 1846 by the timber merchant Robert Corry. It has been suggested that the celebrated Belfast architect Sir Charles Lanyon may have been involved in the design of the crescents.

Mr Kieran continued: “Upper Crescent has always been an area of personal interest to me. When we first started our business in 2003, I would drive or walk through the Crescent and remarked often at the amazing feats of architecture before me and how unfortunate it was that they had been derelict for so long. When the option came to buy them several years ago, we weighed it up and decided it was a risk worth taking, even though we had never invested in commercial property before, let alone a restoration project. Our group of companies is very much immersed in the fast-changing world of technology, so perhaps it is natural that we are drawn towards these beautiful old buildings, which with care and attention will be enjoyed for generations to come.

“We are thrilled to be embarking on such an exciting regeneration project and we hope The Regency will play a huge part in restoring Upper & Lower Crescent to its former glory. The Regency will be a great addition to the city’s bountiful hospitality offering and we hope, something residents of the surrounding areas can be proud of once again.”

In a further move to regenerate the Crescent, Aurient Ltd have recently purchased 14 Lower Crescent, off Botanic Avenue and intend to create seven apartments that will appeal to young professionals, mature students, doctors and nurses, who are looking for long-term rental options in an upcoming, reinvigorated part of town.

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