Forged in Belfast: The Riddel's Story (Riddel's Warehouse) EHOD 2026

Behind a modest arcaded façade on Ann Street stands one of Belfast’s most extraordinary hidden treasures, Riddel’s Warehouse, built in 1867 and largely untouched since its closure in 1973. Its five-storey galleried atrium of cast iron and timber is one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian industrial architecture in Ireland. Hearth Historic Buildings Trust owns and safeguards the building and has invested significantly in stabilisation and repairs. Hearth’s vision is to restore this unique at-risk building and reinstate Riddel’s Warehouse as a place of industry once more, by creating permanent makers spaces for creatives in Belfast, and a public event space under the atrium. What's happening for EHOD? A dramatised tour of Riddel’s Warehouse in partnership with Bright Umbrella theatre company. This innovative production weaves together theatrical performance and interactive storytelling, allowing visitors to engage directly with characters from all walks of life. Through carefully crafted scenes and participatory moments, audiences will experience firsthand the daily bustle of Riddel’s Warehouse while exploring deeper themes of class mobility, sectarian tensions, and industrial innovation. The event explores industrial heritage, preservation, and the importance of bringing endangered historic spaces back into public use.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL:  https://riddelswarehouse.org.uk/whats-on