Key facts

Did you know...?

Here are some facts about Belfast Waterfront:

• the building opened to the public on 17 January 1997 after 15 years of planning and consultation and three years of building work
• it was officially opened in May 1997 by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales
• Belfast Waterfront cost £32 million to build
• our Main Auditorium seats 2,223 people
• our Studio seats 380 people
• we offer 14 meeting rooms, two bars, one restaurant and one shop
• we employ 50 permanent members of staff and more than 100 casual employees.

Over the past 12 years, Belfast Waterfront has:

• staged more than 3,800 performances
• hosted more than 2,400 conferences and meetings
• sold more than 3.5 million tickets
• welcomed more than 5.5 million visitors
• contributed £575 million to the local economy
• generated £10 to the local economy for every £1 spent on operational costs
• attracted more than 100,000 overseas conference delegates
• been voted number 1 in The Times 'Top Things To Do This Festive Season' for our 2006 Christmas pantomime.

Artists who have performed in the venue include:

• Dolly Parton
• Ronan Keating
• James Brown
• Van Morrison
• Beverley Knight
• Tom Jones
• Shirley Bassey
• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
• Lesley Garrett
• Billy Connolly.

Other famous visitors include:

• His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales
• Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
• former Prime Minister Tony Blair
• former US President Bill Clinton
• Cherie Booth QC
• President Mary McAleese
• Dalai Lama.