Use of City Hall

Venue hire at City Hall

Belfast City Hall is open and available to hire to host functions. Functions can be held in our three function rooms, grounds and cobbled area. 

Wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships can be held at Belfast City Hall. It cannot be hired for wedding receptions. You can read more information about wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships. You can also contact our Registrar Team by calling 028 9027 0455. 

City Hall offers a variety of unique facilities that can accommodate your function including: 

• three function rooms including The Reception Room, The Banqueting Hall and the Great Hall
• the Rotunda area at the heart of the building can be used as a space for welcome elements of your function
• the grounds – the west and east lawns and cobbled pathways, and
• cobbled entrance – the cobbled area at the front gates of City Hall.

The Reception Room is used during the day to host wedding ceremonies and is available for evening functions only. 

Booking a function room at City Hall

City Hall has three functions rooms. You can book rooms for specific events through an application process.

Functions allowed

There are criteria for reviewing and approving events:

• functions which support other events in the city and which are of demonstrable economic benefit to Belfast whether organised by the council or not
• functions which demonstrably enhance the city’s image nationally or internationally as a desirable commercial, business or tourist destination
• functions designed to celebrate or commemorate a notable achievement or significant anniversary (25, 50, 100 years) by an organisation or body with close links to the city or province
• functions organised by recognised local community or voluntary sector groups for non-profit and non-political purposes

Functions that are not allowed

Fundraising events are not allowed through this booking process. These functions aren't allowed:

• conferences, meetings, seminars, performances, wedding receptions, private parties or receptions and similar booking requests in the prestige function rooms
• functions, which have as their principal purpose the generation of commercial gain for the organisers (charity-fundraising is managed by the Lord Mayor’s Office)
• functions which have no compelling links to the council or the city specifically and which could instead use local private sector facilities
• functions which have as their primary purpose the advancement of any political or religious cause or campaign or are otherwise potentially contentious or involve significant reputation risks for the council.
• functions which involve exceptionally large or disruptive set-ups or pose a real and tangible risk to the fabric of the building or grounds

You should contact us to discuss your event. Email [email protected] or call 028 9027 0281 before completing a booking form.

How to book

To use one of our function rooms, you must complete a booking form. You can contact us by email [email protected] or call 028 9027 0281 to ask for the function booking form.

You may type or write your answers. If you fill in the form by hand, write your answers in capital letters using black ink. Remember to sign and date the form before returning it. You should keep a copy of the booking form for your own records.

Once we receive a completed form, this is reviewed and presented for approval at the monthly Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (link opens in new window) and ratified at the monthly council meeting. You should allow at least eight weeks before your proposed event. 

Deadline for applying to use City Hall

Closing dates for application forms are listed in this table.

The Reception Room

Envisaged by the architect as the first room you would enter receiving your first glass of champagne on the night of the ball – the Reception Room is the most intimate of all the function areas at City Hall. Used today for a variety of events of a smaller nature, the walls are adorned with prominent men of the City’s past and its central display is a variety of gifts given to previous lord mayors from ethic and religious communities living in Belfast.

The Banqueting Hall

This middle sized function room was designed for banquets as the room’s name would suggest but today it can be used for a variety of events from public lecture to exhibition. Large portraits adorn the walls of former Lord Mayors of Belfast including Sir Edward Harland the famous ship builder and Viscount Pirrie who commissioned titanic and during construction of City Hall as Lord Mayor choose many of the finishes you see today. A large portrait can also be seen of his wife Margaret, the first Lady Mayoress to wear the stunning jewels which are still in our collection today.

The Great Hall

City Hall’s largest function room is the principal ballroom. This room was completely destroyed during the Belfast Blitz of 1941 but restored to its original design and former glory in 1951/52. The seven glorious stained glass windows that light the room are the originals as they had been removed previous to World War II. From Royal banquets to community events, the room has played host to every conceivable type of event over City Hall’s long history.

Virtual site visit

Watch this video for information about the three functions rooms within Belfast City Hall. Details include room capacity for standing receptions, theatre style and round tables, as well as access information.

The video is five minutes and 21 seconds long.

Hiring the grounds of City Hall

The beautiful grounds surrounding City Hall are primarily a green pedestrian space for local residents and visitors to the City Centre. The large west and east lawns and cobbled paths outside City Hall can also host non-commercial activities.

To discuss a proposed activity and receive an application form, contact our Function Management team by email [email protected].

Hiring the cobbled area outside City Hall gates

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) owns the cobbled area in front of City Hall gates. We manage this area on their behalf. The cobbled area can be used to host various non-commercial activities.

To discuss holding a proposed activity on this cobbled area, contact our Function Management team by email [email protected]