Primark Belfast reopens after fire with drag night to celebrate

Shoppers began queuing outside the store as early as 5.15am ahead of the reopening.

Primark in Belfast City Centre officially reopened at 10am this morning after an accidental fire led to its closure in 2018.

Following the fire, the 18th century Bank Buildings where Primark is located underwent an extensive £100 million four-year restoration project, which involved demolishing and rebuilding the site completely. The renovation also saw hundreds of crafts and tradespeople, including more than 40 expert stonemasons from across the UK and Ireland brought in to carve new stone works and repair existing stone, RTÉ has reported.

The stone and marble on the building’s new facade was sourced from quarries in Finland, Scotland and Portugal – the same quarries from where the materials for the original structure were sourced over 237 years ago.

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With the reopening of the store, Primark has created almost 300 new jobs for Belfast. The new store features exciting additions such as a Disney-themed café and immersive experience, and a new nail and beauty studio.

4 years after Belfast’s iconic Bank Buildings was destroyed in a fire @Primark is about to re-open with staff in party mood induce ready to greet customers queued outside @rtenews pic.twitter.com/m7fZQZOG7H

— Vincent Kearney (@vincekearney) November 1, 2022

Belfast man Samuel Hamilton, who was in the queue from 5.45am told RTÉ News “Primark is in the heart of Belfast, that’s just it… There’s no other shop that does things (for) families like in Primark”. 

The early-morning queuers aren’t the only people excited about the reopening – to celebrate, Boom Box in Belfast are hosting a Primark Reopening Party with free entry for anyone with a Primark till receipt.

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The celebrations kick off tomorrow, 2nd November, with a chance to win a £100 gift card to boot.

Header image via BBC News NI 

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