Argento owner invests in Belfast tech sector offices

The owner of local jeweller Argento has made significant investments in Belfast office space, diversifying its business from jewelry to office refurbishment and rental.

Global jewelry retailer Argento got its start in Belfast back in 1997, starting as a simple street trader selling in market stalls and growing to create a globally recognised brand. The firm has since opened 35 stores across the UK, and recently made £7m when it sold 26 Pandora stores across England and Scotland back to Danish company Pandora.

Owner Pete Boyle is now looking for new opportunities to invest that money, and has decided to add office rental and refurbishment for the tech sector to his business portfolio, with eyes set on some of Belfast's old and listed buildings. Argento gained experience refurbishing listed buildings into office and retail space recently for itself, and now plans to do the same for other businesses.

Plans are in place to turn several old buildings in Belfast into trendy office space aimed specifically at the rapidly growing Northern Ireland tech sector. A red brick warehouse on Queen Street is being transformed into a modern "trendy" office space, and a 7,000 sq ft office on Lombard Street is being revamped into a "boutique-style" space.

Boyle previously bought Laganview House back in January 2017 for £1.4m, and got planning permission to refurbish it later that year. Refurbishment was completed throughout 2018, and software company Teamwork will now be leasing out three storeys of the building in a $1.2m (£930k) investment.

Source: Belfast Telegraph, Future Belfast