Beautiful concert venue within easy walking distance of Belfast city centre. The concert we attended was one of the worst I've suffered through in my life. As a result I spent a lot of time appreciating the venue instead. The way the seats are tiered and arranged in blocks around a gentle semi-circle facing the stage meant that there appeared to be very few, if any, 'bad' seats. The illusion of intimacy and closeness to the action was apparent everywhere. The sound system was superb, sadly given the rubbish on-stage, the seats were very comfortable and the bar was, thankfully, only a few steps from where we were seated. A very subdued crowd gratefully exited the venue in only a few minutes at the end. We returned to the city centre for a deserved nightcap in shocked silence. Seriously though, this is a great spot for a concert. read more

Went to the waterfront to watch smokie. Who on earth needs to charge 2.10 for a cup of tea. Concert was good but staff are job worthes. No dancing which ruins the evening. The group noticed them telling people to sit down so the group told us all to get up and dance. Had great night once the staff where put in the their place. Music is for dancing not for sitting. Waterfront need to lighten up and remember who pays the tickets which in turn keeps them in jobs. read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - Smokie concert - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Pretty impressed with the new look Waterfront. Attending the Professional Beauty Show......pretty amazing use of exhibition space. Some fab stands and it really increases the floor space for exhibitions in Belfast!!! The Good Food Show Belfast kicked off in this very impressive venue. Well laid out and well planned site, only drawback is lack of affordable parking!! Venue itself has everything needed from exhibition halls to meeting rooms, small theatres to the big theatre and amenities second to none. Fabulous views from the VIP bar!! read more

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Had the pleasure of attending a huge event here last night, and had an absolute ball! The staff were lovely & very pleasant The food was absolutely delicious! The event was attended by over 1000 people, so I was expecting the food to be a bit lacking as this can happen at big things like this...but I was pleasantly surprised! The from itself was well catered for with plenty of room to mill about, as well as not feeing too cramped or warm, I've been told this was a new extension that had been added on, if so, it works well! The downside was the price of the drink...I expected that it would be a bit more pricey than some places, but charging £3 for a red bull? Scary business! Our first round of drink cost £72! So all in all, whilst the price was the only negative, the waterfront did & looked well! read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - The only pic of food lol! Gorgeous!!! - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

A night out at The Waterfront always feels like a treat, like all good theatres should. I've seen dancers and dance bands and rock stars and comedians and even a night of footballers (which was surprisingly good). There isn't a bad seat in the house, even at the interval, where you can enjoy a full bar overlooking the lights of Belfast and the river. While the main events are obviously the shows, there are often some really good art exhibitions on the various levels which you can view at various times during the day. Be sure to check opening hours on the website first to avoid disappointment, as I went to view one and was sent (politely) on my merry way as a private event was on. Also there is a handy multi-story car park next door, but it is pretty small, so I'd say leave the car at home and make a night of it theatre darlings! read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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This is not my favourite concert venue. It's been a long time since I was here. There is very little free parking near it. One can park in a nearby hotel car park and pay up. I'm unsure how disabled folk manage to get close to the main doors, as entry to the venue is blocked off by huge stone bollards and I see no reason why this should still be so today. The Belfast of the 1980's yes, but certainly not now. The acoustics are good here and the lovely staff are always a friendly bunch but as I am over 6 foot I find the seating very cramped. The space between the rows of seating is miserly too and it's really a pretty crappy experience especially when comfort is really essential to full enjoyment of a performance. So if you are tall and/or plump you'll find the seats unpleasant to get to and sit in and after an hour it'll be downright grim. You will find that you will clash elbows with the stranger seated next to you. In fact the only other place I can think of where you get so close to strangers without being arrested is on the London Underground rush hour trains. But not for over 2 hours straight. Oh and the coffee here is lousy. If the seats were any less comfortable one could likely claim industrial injury. In fact I couldn't wait to get out at the end of the show we were at and that's not good. It's not often I stand up as fast as I'm able and try to run from a place at the end of the show but I do try here. It helps return feeling to a numb derrière and starts to relieve the pins & needles deadening what's left of my circulation below the waist. It's also pretty dead around the outside area as there's no decent coffee bars or restaurants open at night close by. I hope not to return again soon or if I'm really lucky, at all. read more

I had the pleasure of attending the Waterfront on Friday evening as part of Belfast Film Festival - the evening was billed as an opulent one and the Waterfront suited the occasion perfectly, they even rolled out the red carpet. This was the first time I had been to the Waterfront to watch a movie and I was a little skeptical about how the acoustics and seating would suit the cinema experience. The sound was perfect and the seating was fine- it was a bit strange looking down at the screen rather than up but this was the only place, in terms of size, that was able to accommodate the movie premier. The mingling areas outside the main theatre is bright and spacious and equipped with ample seating - if you're attending an event at The Waterfront I would recommend getting there a little earlier and enjoying a beverage from one of the fully stocked bars whilst you look over the Lagan. The arena is well signed - you shouldn't have any hassle finding your seat no matter what event you're attending. A tiny thing that stops me giving the Waterfront 5 stars is the fact that you can't take drinks in to the arena - the event I attended wasn't exactly rowdy yet they still banned any form of drink. Overall The Waterfront is an excellent venue and we are lucky to have a hall that can act as a showpiece for the city and host a wide variety of events. read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - The main hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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Truly fantastic concert venue. I visited Belfast Waterfront Hall during June 2017 to see Simple Minds in concert with KT Tunstall. Everything was flawless from start to finish. We collected our tickets immediately from the box office on arrival and were pleased with the numerous bars throughout the venue, comfortable seating, clear view of the stage and superb sound. Staff were extremely pleasant and helpful, there were plenty of toilets so queues were minimal and the building itself is clean and beautifully designed. We had a fantastic concert experience. Previously I visited Waterfront Hall in May for the Irish Vegan Festival and again my experience was perfect. An excellent concert and conference venue. read more

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The Waterfront is one of the buildings which has really helped to transform the scope of Belfast and help set a president for others to follow to help us get the cosmopolitan city feel that matches London, Cardiff or Newcastle. It sits right on the Waterfront (funnily enough) of the river Lagan and it really is beautiful down there both during the day and at night when the river is all lit up. As for gigs here it really is great! I love the comedy nights and the venue is warm, clean and comfortable. I would recommend Taxi's or walking though as the parking is really a spoiler for this place and multistories in Belfast cost an absolute bomb. The drinks are a little pricier but are as you'd expect as a big venue. Overall worth a visit if you see anything on that you fancy- the Waterfront doesn't disappoint! read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

The Waterfront has become a pretty iconic building on the Belfast skyline, being one of the first symbols of New (or bomb-free) Belfast, so it's pretty special for that reason. Personally, I'm not a fan of the building itself. I once heard a comedian describe as looking like it came flat-packed from Ikea and he was a little bit right! As a venue, it's ok. I don't think the sound is particularly great for music. Having seen the Ulster Orchestra play there lots, I much prefer the sound in some of Belfast's other venues. However, I do like to see comedians in the Waterfront. It's exactly the right size for a comedy show - intimate without being awkward and big without being swamped (as you sometimes find when comedians play arenas or stadiums). The smaller Studio theatre is also a good wee venue for small gigs or plays. It's a very well run venue too. No matter how many people are there (which can be close to 3000 if both auditoriums are full), it never feels cramped or chaotic, which is a real credit to the design of the interior and the efficiency of the staff. Overall, not my favourite venue, but still a place I'm happy to go see lots of different performances! read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Have only been in it a few times but every time I go I love it!! The service is always good, every helpful. Plus they have a little coffee shop which is lovely and clean and have a cracking vanilla latte can't wait to take my daughter in two weeks time! ! read more

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Having seen many shows here and having also performed on the stage here in some amateur shows, I would definitely recommend the Waterfront for a good experience. They have all sorts here, from pantos, to musicals, to psychic shows, and pop/rock concerts (JLS were there the last time I did a show and it was bedlam!). Belfast was proud of the Waterfront when it was first built, it seems to have been a symbol of the first spurts of 'post-trouble' regeneration and development. It was like Belfast silently giving the finger to places like Liverpool and London and saying, yeah - we can do it too! For this reason, I like the Waterfront a lot - and also because its a really pleasant venue for seeing a show, concert or a play. It's much warmer and more comfortable in the foyer and in the auditorium than, let's say the Odyssey arena, and it's cleaner and easier to get to also. Couple of negatives, the drinks are kind of pricey, and the parking is a bit of a pain. If you can get parked (legally!) over beside St. George's market, great - if not you will spend a pretty fortune in the multi storey next door...it might even be cheaper to split the cost of a taxi there and back. Apart from that - there are always plenty of staff on hand to help out, and the seats always have good viewing in the main auditorium. I went recently to see Mika in concert (don't judge me!) and it was a great night. The audience was well looked after and the acoustics were very good. I would have hoped for more seating in the foyer due to being in killer heels, but you can't have everything... read more

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The Waterfront stands proud as an iconic building overlooking the river Lagan. The building is modern and architecturally sophisticated and is a firm favourite for music fans of all genres. It hosts everything from concerts to comedy to art exhibitions to business conferences. Last month it hosted some seriously cool gigs as part of the forward thinking Trans festival and there were good reviews all round. A stunning venue right in the hub of Belfast. read more

One of the nicer of the modern buildings gracing Belfast's quite short skyline. The Waterfront holds pride of place as one of the best venues for all things music and of artistic merit. It tends to draw a lot of classical performers and acoustic sets, but is also partial to a bit of sharp black comedy at times. The last time I was here was for the fantastically satirical Dara O'Briain - one of the best live performances I've seen to date. The venue has superb acoustics and is set out in such a way as to feel spacious and airy. Certainly a place well worth going to if you see something interesting on. read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

I love this spacious, airy light filled dome placed almost spiritually on the edge of the river Lagan. The building plays host to big bands, orchestras, conferences, comedians, art exhibitions and graduations. I had a wonderful experience recently when I graduated and had my degree presented to me on stage in the hall while the Belfast Youth Orchestra played in the background. It was a truly magical moment. Parking is not great, you will have to find a space in the nearby multistory which can be expensive. The outside of the building is magical looking with big glass fronts and lots of marble and granite. The views from the upstairs bar are very nice indeed and I enjoyed a few stiff ones here before the ceremony to curb my nerves. A lovely venue and a great spot for the Belfast economy. read more

I'm not completely sure how old this venue is but I think it was built sometime around the mid nineties. I remember it was one of the very first signs of major investment in Belfast and it was quite a sight. The first time I was ever in the waterfront was for a local band I think in studio B. There is the main hall and a smaller studio for smaller productions. The Waterfront is host to concerts, conferences,graduations and what not and it seats I think close to two and a half thousand people. They cater well for kids but parking is not its best feature...however if you are just resigned to paying you can just go to the multistory car park. read more

I've been to so many events here, (including my own graduation!) and can't find a bad thing to say about it. Apart from not having a car park, there is one next door but if it's raining you get wet. There isn't a bad seat in the auditorium as it's not massive. Toilets are plentiful so you don't have to queue during the break and the bar staff are friendly and helpful. read more

Top notch venue , great service always and a special mention for the security g4 lads. Marty Gav read more

Belfast Waterfront Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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This venue has been adequately covered in terms of it being a concert hall; I intend to concentrate on its history and architecture. It was built in 1997, costing £32m and was designed by 'Robinson McIlwaine' a local architecture company. It took fifteen years to finalise planning and about three years to complete the building work. The Waterfront is located (did you guess ... on the water front) in Belfast's Lanyon Place. If you've read my previous architecture reviews it will come as no surprise to you that this area was named after Sir Charles Lanyon who was responsible for many of our cities great and beautiful buildings. I only recently learnt that the roof of the Waterfront is coated in copper so eventually it will turn green and mirror that of many buildings around the city; notably the dome of the City Hall. All in all, a great venue in a great city! read more

I have to say that every time I have been to the Waterfront Hall it has been absolutely excellent. The staff are so helpful in the box office and in the auditorium which is so nice. The main auditorium is a fantastic venue to see music being played live and if you can get seats close to the stage it is great, you are so close to the performers. An excellent venue. read more

I have seen everything from concerts to stand-up to Derren Brown (not quite sure how to categorize it), to even performing once (that is for a whole other evening) and it is one of the cleanest and friendliest places to watch any show. The building overlooks the Lagan (if my geography serves me correctly but when it comes to rivers and seas and things it just bamboozles me) which looks amazing at night time. The alcohol is slightly more than the usual price you would pay but it is a concert venue so don't expect anything else. The building looks stunning both outside and inside. Trying to get to it usually means taxis so in that respect it's a tad annoying but all in all its a fantastic venue and somewhere I would love to work as it seems like such good fun. read more

The Waterfront Hall is a cracking concert hall and conference centre right on the banks of the river Lagan. I've been to lots of gigs here and have never been disappointed. The acoustics are fantastic and due to the unique way the seating is arranged, you would have to crawl under a seat to hinder your fantastic view. The bar facilities are also fantastic. Considering where it is, I assumed the drinks would be seriously expensive but that wasn't the case. The floor to ceiling windows provide some of the best views of Belfast in the city. read more

A great venue for any event no matter how small or large. With several halls and seating for 100s if not thousands of people the waterfront is truly an amazing venue! read more

The waterfront is a lovely venue, i've been there a few times and sat in different parts and honestly couldn't say that i had a bad seat. The location is lovely and its really handy for public transport being so close to central station and laganside bus station. The restraunt on the ground floor is overrated though in my opinion, as the food is expensive, not great and there are better options nearby. read more

Great concert hall with good acoustics. However alot of the staff can be very rude and unhelpful, especially to teenagers. It is also very overpriced. read more

One word of warning - this venue may be find for a more relaxed type of band for an older crowd but it is no Kings/ Ulster Hall!! As it is council-owned, you may find staff running around telling folk who are standing up or dancing in the isles to return to their seats. Might not be a major issue, but if it is a favourite band and a lively concern it can be an irritation. There's plenty of parking, good places to eat and hotels nearby. Overall, a good venue if you want to listen to a band. But if you want to let your hair down - even a little - it might be best to see that band elsewhere. read more

What a fantastic venue! The city centre was always in need of a state of the art, modern and well designed building like the Waterfront Hall for concerts, plays, and all sorts of other entertainment and business needs. I have been to the Waterfront Hall three times before and all three times were a wonderful experience. It is really fresh and modern inside. I have been to see a few plays and the stage is brillant, the seating arrangement is also fantastic and you are very close to the performers. All the staff are very professional and very friendly. read more

Great venue, I was there for a concert and it was wonderful!

this place is brilliant and very modern i went here to see a comedian.

good for smaller concerts and shows. good views of stage and great acoustics