Places

Waterfront Hall

August 19, 2026 14:59

Waterfront Hall is a major concert and conference centre in the heart of Belfast, situated on the banks of the River Lagan. The venue plays an important role in the city’s cultural life. It hosts concerts, theatre productions, comedy shows, sporting events and business functions. In this article, we will explore the history of the Waterfront, its architecture, capacity and most famous performances.

Address	2 Lanyon Place, Belfast, BT1 3WH
Year built	1997
Architects	Robinson McIlwaine
Owner	Belfast City Council
Capacity	The main auditorium has a capacity of approximately 2,250 seats
Purpose	Concerts, theatre, comedy shows, conferences and other events
Refurbishment	2014–2016

The History of Waterfront Hall

waterfront hall belfast — Waterfront Hall

The idea of building a new, large-scale concert and conference centre on Belfast’s waterfront first emerged in the late 1980s, with planning for the building beginning in 1989. Construction work began in the first half of the 1990s, and the project was carried out by the architects Robinson McIlwaine. The building became part of a large-scale development of the area along the River Lagan.

The shape of the building was no accident. The main hall has a circular layout, and its architecture was partly inspired by the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, designed by architect Hans Scharoun. This layout allowed seating to be arranged around the stage at different levels. Some of the seats are movable, so the Auditorium can be transformed from a standard concert hall into a more spacious arena. This makes it suitable for hosting events of various formats.

The opening of the Waterfront Hall was a significant event for Belfast. The venue welcomed its first audience on 17 January 1997. To mark the opening, a gala concert was held by the Ulster Orchestra, featuring flutist James Galway and pianist Barry Douglas as soloists.

waterfront hall photos — Waterfront Hall Belfast

The first few years of operation showed that the Waterfront quickly became a sought-after venue for cultural events. It hosted performances by symphony orchestras, concerts by popular artists and theatre productions. As early as 1997, the venue was actively hosting international artists.

A U2 concert, held on 18 May 1998 as part of a campaign to support the Good Friday Agreement, holds a special place in the history of the Waterfront Belfast. Politicians David Trimble and John Hume joined Bono on stage. This concert became one of the defining moments in the history of modern Belfast.

Between 2014 and 2016, the complex was expanded. The project, costing around £29.5 million, saw the creation of a new international conference centre, ICC Belfast, adjacent to the existing venue. Meanwhile, the Waterfront continued to operate as a concert and entertainment venue.

Events and concerts at Waterfront Hall

waterfront hall events — Waterfront Hall Concerts

Over the years, the Waterfront Hall stage has hosted performers from a wide variety of genres. Among them are such well-known artists as:

Van Morrison.
Neil Diamond.
One Direction.
Snow Patrol.

A firm favourite with the public – the Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro – performed here on 16 September 2018 as part of their MTV Unplugged tour. The concert was part of the band’s series of performances in support of their acoustic project.

On 31 May 2019, Anne-Marie performed for the audience at Waterfront Hall as part of her Speak Your Mind Tour. The concert featured Lennon Stella and was completely sold out.

David Essex is scheduled to perform at Waterfront Hall on 18 November 2026. The artist will be performing as part of the ‘Thanks for the Memories’ tour.

Where is Waterfront Hall?

Waterfront Hall is located in the centre of Belfast, on the banks of the River Lagan. The venue’s exact address is 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast, BT1 3WH, Northern Ireland. The building is situated in the Lanyon Place area, next to Lanyon Place railway station and the Laganside Bus Centre.

The venue is situated directly on the River Lagan, so the building offers views of the river. The location itself fits in well with the concept of the complex: Waterfront Hall was conceived as a major cultural and business venue in Belfast’s regenerating waterfront area.

Waterfront Hall Seating Plan

The official plan shows the layout of the main auditorium at Waterfront Hall. The auditorium features a stage and several blocks of seating, designated as Blocks A–F. The plan also shows the Ground Floor, entrances Door 1 and Door 2, and spaces for visitors with reduced mobility.

When purchasing a ticket, it is important to bear in mind that the seating plan may vary depending on the specific event: some concerts are held with standard seating arrangements, whilst the stage configuration and available seats may change. Therefore, before buying a ticket, it is best to check the plan provided directly on the page for your chosen event.

Information for visitors

Waterfront Hall is situated in the centre of Belfast, so it is easy to reach the venue by public transport or by car. Before you travel, it is worth checking the box office opening hours and parking availability.

Opening hours

Waterfront Hall does not have fixed opening hours for visitors: the venue operates according to the programme. On event days, doors usually open one hour before the start of the performance, and the exact time is specified on the page for that particular event. The ticket office also opens one hour before the start of the event.

Online tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day. The telephone helpline is open Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 18:00.

Nearby restaurants

restaurants near waterfront hall belfast — Restaurants near Waterfront Hall

There are several restaurants and bars around Waterfront Hall where you can pop in before or after a concert. Nearby, for example, is Stock Kitchen & Bar on Oxford Street – a restaurant serving Irish cuisine.

Another excellent venue nearby is Millar’s Grill & Seafood, which specialises in seafood dishes. Those who prefer more contemporary European cuisine should opt for OX Belfast. There is also a food court inside the Waterfront Hall itself, though the selection of food and drinks depends on the specific event.

Hotels nearby

hotels near waterfront hall belfast — Hotels near Waterfront Hall

There are a large number of hotels in various price ranges close to the venue. For example, you could stay at the Hilton Belfast – the hotel is on Lanyon Place, practically right next to the complex. Another good option in the city centre is the Malmaison Belfast on Victoria Street. The Waterfront Hall is within walking distance of this hotel.

If you’re looking for more budget-friendly accommodation, it’s worth considering the Premier Inn Belfast City Centre (Alfred Street). The hotel is situated in the centre of Belfast, so it doesn’t take long to get to the venue either.

How to get there?

Waterfront Hall is in the centre of Belfast: you can get there by train or bus, or walk from the city centre; cars and taxis are also available.

Train. The nearest railway station to the concert venue is Lanyon Place Station. It’s about a 5-minute walk from there to Waterfront Hall.
Bus. The nearest bus station – Laganside Bus Centre – is situated about a two-minute walk from the venue. The stop on Oxford Street is right next to the building; this is served by the main Glider routes.
On foot or by taxi. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from Belfast city centre to Waterfront Hall. This is a great opportunity to admire the beauty of the neighbourhood. You can also book an Uber to the venue or use the services of local companies such as Value Cabs and Fonacab.
By car. The venue is situated in the centre of Belfast, so you can reach it via the city’s road network. For parking, it’s best to check the availability of nearby car parks in advance, particularly on days when major events are taking place.

Parking

The Waterfront Hall does not have its own free car park for visitors, but there are several commercial car parks nearby. The closest are the Lanyon Place and Oxford Street car parks. The Lanyon Place car park is situated approximately 100 metres from the venue and is connected to it by a footbridge.

In addition, there is the option of free on-street parking: on the streets around the building, parking in spaces marked with a single yellow line is free from 18:00 to 07:30 Monday to Saturday and all day on Sundays.

Special spaces are available in the Lanyon Place car park for visitors with reduced mobility. Furthermore, you may drive right up to the main entrance of Waterfront Hall to drop off or pick up a passenger, but you must not leave your car there.