Planning for the Waterfront Hall, on Lanyon Place on the riverfront, began in 1989 and construction finished in 1997, the same year it opened its doors.
Part of a massive 1990s redevelopment of Belfast’s riverfront, the hall testifies to the city’s recent renaissance and gives a nod to old Belfast in the shape of its copper dome — intended to turn green to echo the dome of Belfast City Hall and much of the city’s Victorian architecture.
What to See and Do at Waterfront Hall
Inside, the Waterfront Hall centres on a circular, 2,000-plus seater main auditorium, an adjacent studio seating nearly 400, and numerous other spaces, including exhibition zones, meeting rooms and an art gallery, and a brasserie and bars with beautiful river views.
Used as a stage for the annual Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s and the Ulster Orchestra, Waterfront Hall has also hosted international stars such as James Galway, Robbie Williams and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, as well as crowd-pullers such as the World Irish Dance Championships, operas, musicals and more.
As a hub of Belfast’s arts and cultural scene and with a permanently impressive what’s on calendar, no visit to Belfast is truly complete without experiencing a show or event at this exciting venue.