Room2 Belfast: Low on carbon, big on style
This eco-friendly hotel in Northern Ireland uses 100% green energy and aims to be net-zero by 2030. It also offers a comfortable and stylish stay, as Lysanne Currie finds out…
When it comes to sustainability, hotels have been on a big journey: the global hotel industry generates around 363m tons of carbon dioxide, roughly 1% of all emissions. Hotel rooms typically uses around 1,500 litres of water a day, while all that restaurant food waste, shampoo bottles, chemical waste from cleaning products and dirty bedding piles up, causing an unpleasant environmental headache.
Room2 is a hotel brand which launched with sustainability at its core. The self-named “hometel” launched its Belfast property last autumn, which runs on 100% electric and low-carbon renewable energy. Not only that, but Room2 Belfast’s zero-waste policy ensures all rubbish generated by the hotel is recycled or converted into energy.
From the moment guests walk into the lobby and clock the check-in desk made from repurposed shampoo bottles, its commitment to the circular economy is immediately palpable. Look up and you’ll find the lampshades are fashioned from used orange peel and mycelium. Look down and you’ll discover the carpet has been recycled from old fishing nets. Meanwhile, you’re surrounded by overflowing greenery: Room2 Belfast is big on biophilia. According to sociobiologists, humans function better in nature. Judging by the receptionists’ cheery demeanour, it appears to be working.
Examine the décor a bit more closely and you’ll find most of it has been made from local craftspeople and artists, whether it’s the handmade light fixtures from Mullan village, Jamie Beard’s fetching wardrobe illustrations or Rebecca O’Doherty’s striking mural in the reception.
Sustainability and customer experience permeates every part of the hotel. All rooms come equipped with a kitchenette, while lighting and heating detects guests’ movement to instantly switch them off once they leave the room. Yet, guests never feel the eco-friendly messaging is being rammed down their throats.
Room2 is the creation of former Team GB Olympic sailor Robert Godwin, who was inspired to launch an eco-friendly hotel after witnessing how climate change was destroying the environment while on a trip to South Africa in 2019. Since then, Room2s have launched in London and Southampton, with more to come in Liverpool, Manchester and York.
The Belfast ‘hometel’ sits slap-bang in the middle of the city centre, meaning most major sights are within walkable distance. The tour-de-force that is Belfast’s Titanic Quarter is a 30-minute stroll away – the best part of a day can be spent exploring the magnificent Titanic Belfast museum and the former shipyards where the ill-fated liner was constructed.
Spend some time in Belfast and it’s clear that much of the city shares Room2’s sustainability-led ethos. Nowhere is this more apparent than the city’s buzzing food scenes. Whether it’s the stalls at St George’s Market, the glorious chowder at Mourne Seafood Bar, trout tartare at The Muddlers Club or even the black pudding in Ulster fry-ups, the produce mostly comes from nearby farms and ports, with an emphasis on seasonal menus. It’s a trend that continues with the craft beer and gins/whiskies from local distilleries on offer at Belfast’s rightfully-famous pubs and bars.
With the Belfast 2024 festival currently on, there’s never been a better time to visit the Northern Irish capital. And Room2 Belfast offers a guilt-free opportunity to enjoy it, without scrimping on either style or comfort.
Double rooms at room2 Belfast start from £140 per night.