Red phone boxes up for adoption ... at just £1 each

BT is offering communities across Northern Ireland the chance to adopt unused payphone kiosks for just £1 and transform them into something inspirational for their local community.

With 180 traditional red boxes available to be adopted across Northern Ireland, BT is encouraging community groups to get creative and give a new lease of life to facilities that often have little or no usage.

A phone box that now houses a defibrillatorplaceholder image
A phone box that now houses a defibrillator

BT will continue to cover the electricity to the adopted kiosks, which can be turned into any new ventures such as housings for defibrillators, mini-libraries, coffee shops, miniature art museums, sweet shops and information centres.

Paul Murnaghan, BT’s Enterprise division director in Northern Ireland, said the ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme offered “endless opportunities”.

He added: “It is simple to apply and individual assessments will take place to confirm if the adoption is possible and whether there is availability in a specific area.

“Since we launched the scheme in other parts of the UK, more than 5,500 communities have seized the chance to do something great with their local phone box.”

Communities can adopt a kiosk in Northern Ireland if they are a recognised local authority, such as a district or borough council, a parish, or town hall.

Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land.

For further details on how to apply for the ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme, log on to www.bt.com/adopt where application forms and information can be found.

Related topics:
News you can trust since 1737
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice