Use of City Hall

Coronavirus update

In response to coronavirus, there are no public tours or functions in City Hall rooms. City Hall exhibition is closed. City Hall grounds are open. Please remember to keep a safe distance from others.

For any queries, call us on 028 9027 0281.

Our Registration Office is currently closed to the public. Find out about registering births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships.

We are unable to facilitate weddings or civil partnership ceremonies at Belfast City Hall, Belfast Castle, Malone House or at external venues. We are contacting couples who this affects.

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Booking a function room at City Hall

City Hall has three functions rooms. These can be booked for specific events through an application process. There are criteria for reviewing and approving events:

• functions which are support other events being held 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.

Fundraising events are not allowed through this process. Fundraising events are managed by the Lord Mayor’s Office and linked to one of the civic dignitaries during their time in office.

How to book

Email cityhallfunctions@belfastcity.gov.uk or call 028 9027 0281 to request the function booking form. Complete the form. You may type or write your answers.

If you choose to fill in the form by hand please make sure you write your answers in block capital letters using black ink. Remember to sign and date the form before returning it to the council. Please keep a copy of the booking form for your own records.

Once we receive a completed form it is reviewed and presented for approval at the monthly Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and ratified at the monthly council meeting so please plan for at least eight weeks before your potential event. 

Functions not permitted

Functions not permitted include 

• conferences, meetings, 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 (although charity fundraising are managed by the Lord Mayor’s Office)
• functions which have no compelling links to the council or the city specifically and which could instead avail of 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 and/or its grounds.

You should discuss your event with one of the Function Management team. 

Email cityhallfunctions@belfastcity.gov.uk or call 028 9027 0281 before completing a booking form.

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.