Accessibility

A Venue for Everyone

Waterfront Hall we understand that everyone is different, and we want to welcome all visitors to our venue regardless of any accessibility requirements that they may have. We continually strive to provide an inclusive environment for visitors, contractors and employees and address the needs of all visitors to the venue. Our location is in the heart of the city centre and is easily accessed by car, taxi and public transport.

Waterfront Hall and sister venues ICC Belfast and Ulster Hall recently underwent transformational change to become an accessible, diverse and inclusive venue. Our venues are certified JAM Card friendly which means customers are able to communicate their accessibility needs discreetly, highlighting that they may need a little extra time and patience during their visit.

Jam Card

Read more on JAM Card

Essential Companion or Carer tickets

Waterfront Hall is an inclusive venue that is committed to ensuring our space is accessible to all visitors. We recognise that, for many people, visiting our venues can be a challenge and offer a range of services, facilities and advice to assist with your experience.

Everyone has the right to access quality entertainment and the team at Waterfront Hall will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate requests, however, due to capacity and space within our venues it may not be possible to facilitate all requests.

If you do require supervision or assistance during your visit you may be eligible for a complimentary Essential Companion or Carer ticket. The companion must be over the age of 18, and be able to help with access to Waterfront Hall and its facilities. Essential Companion tickets are for customers who could not attend the event without the presence of their Essential Companion

Please complete the below form in advance of visiting our venue 72 hours prior to the event.

Complete accessibility booking form

Venue Facilities

We have collated some information on accessible parking and navigating the building that we hope will help make your journey and experience with us a positive one.

Should you require further information, AccessAble provides a detailed guide on our venue accessibility features.

Visit AccessAble website

Access to disabled parking

There are two privately owned car parks (Lanyon Place and Oxford Street) adjacent to the venue with dedicated accessible spaces.

Changing places facility

Our Changing Places facility is located in the Riverside Foyer area of the venue. Changing Places toilets are larger accessible toilets for severely disabled people, with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers. If you need to avail of the Changing Places facility during your visit to Waterfront Hall, please let a member of our team know and they would be happy to assist.

Venue signposting

We have improved our venue signposting to enhance accessibility so visitors can easily navigate our building.

Wheelchair spaces

We can accommodate any visitor who may require seating arrangements to assist with all access and mobility requirements.

Storage of walker or other equipment

We can accommodate the storage of equipment at our venue and should you require this service during a performance please let a member of our staff know on arrival.

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs

We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and other assistance dogs at Waterfront Hall. We are unable to accommodate any other animals in the venue unless pre-authorised as part of an event schedule.

Autism Friendly Venue

Waterfront Hall is an autism friendly venue that offers an inclusive and autism-friendly service, helping to create a more welcoming environment for patrons who are autistic.

We have recently been certified with the NI Autism Impact Award and are proud to promote best-practice and social inclusion at our venue. Our team are on hand to support autistic customers and their families when they visit our space.

We understand the importance of creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for every visitor. With this in mind, we have introduced a designated Sensory Cooldown Area and Sensory Packs, specially designed to cater to the needs of patrons who may benefit from sensory support.

Sensory Cooldown Area:

Our Sensory Cooldown Area caters for children up to the age of six, providing a quiet and calming space for those who may need a break from the excitement. The area features a blackout tent with plush cushions, offering a cosy retreat. To enhance the sensory experience, we have a remote-controlled light and sound projector that can cast rippling lights and soothing bird noises inside the tent. Additionally, we provide various sensory items, including timers, pop-its, and gel shapes, allowing children to explore and engage at their own pace.

Sensory Packs:

For added convenience, we also offer Sensory Packs for children up to and above six years of age, that can be borrowed during your visit. Each pack includes a pop-it toy, a sensory timer, ear defenders, and a gel shape. These packs are designed to provide comfort and support for children who may benefit from tactile or auditory stimulation control.

We are committed to ensuring that every family feels welcome and accommodated at our venues. If you have any specific requests or questions regarding our sensory support services, please don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly staff members, who are there for your safety and comfort.

Waterfront Hall Autism NI team building day

Social Narrative Access Videos

Waterfront Hall Customer Service Desk will be open on event days only. For non-event days, our venue is not open to the public. If you require a visit to the venue (for familiarisation) please contact our team directly via email at [email protected].

Entry into the building is at street level and lifts are available to provide access to all levels of the building. There is a ramp and low-level counter at the Customer Service Desk.

If assistance is required at any of our events, staff will be available. There is a limited number of wheelchairs on-site and available to visitors on request.

We want all patrons to become familiar with our venue and have created Two Social Narrative Access videos with sign language to help you prepare for their visit and their surroundings at Waterfront Hall.

Waterfront Hall Social Narrative Access video - British Sign Language

Waterfront Hall Social Narrative Access video - Irish Sign Language

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Waterfront Hall has been designed to make live entertainment accessible to everyone with designated drop-off points and accessible seating spaces, as well as wide corridors and doors.

    Please visit our dedicated accessibility FAQs section which can answer any queries you have in relation to your visit.

    If you would like to contact our team directly you can do so via email at [email protected].

    Accessibility FAQs

      Website Accessibility Statement

      Our website accessibility statement applies to https://www.waterfront.co.uk/. This website is run by BWUH Ltd. We want this website to be as accessible as possible for all visitors. For example, that means you should be able to:

      • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
      • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
      • listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

      We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand and will review this regularly. AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

      Read the accessibility statement in full