Best seats at the Ulster Hall Belfast - floor or balcony

Look behind the stage before the lights go down. That wall of pipes is the Mulholland Grand Organ, built by William Hill & Son and one of the oldest working examples of a classic English pipe organ. The hall around it opened in 1862, and its 2009 restoration brought back the balcony's metal balustrade and the chandeliers. It is a Victorian concert hall that took Led Zeppelin and Metallica in its stride, so choose your spot with care.

Two areas: Ground Floor and Balcony

The venue's seating plan has just two zones:

• Ground Floor: since 2009, its seating is removable, and there is a moveable stage extension. For most rock and pop gigs it is a standing floor, which is how the hall reaches about 1,850. For orchestral concerts, comedy and talks, it is seated, and capacity drops to about 1,000.
• Balcony: seated, raised above the floor. On a standing night, it is the seated option.

When booking online, you pick your seat on an interactive plan, and the venue also has a downloadable PDF plan by section.

Our picks

Standing gig, you want it loud: the floor. The hall is compact enough that even the back of the floor feels close; the trick is to be in early, because the hall suggests arriving 30 to 60 minutes before the start, and the front fills first.

Standing gig, you want to see: the front of the Balcony, looking down over the crowd. Good for shorter people and for anyone who has done their time at the barrier.

Seated concert: the middle of the Ground Floor for sound, or the front Balcony for the full view of the stage and the organ.

Rules that change your night

• 16+ on the standing floor, unless the event says otherwise. Under-16s with standing tickets are turned away, with no alternative seats and no refund.
• Under-14s must be with an adult aged 18 or over, and everyone needs a ticket.
• Cloakroom only on standing nights. Bags bigger than a laptop bag may be refused.
• No buggies or walkers stored in the auditorium, no flash photography, no flags or banners.
• The bar is card only; see where to eat near the Ulster Hall.

Access

Entry is at street level and lifts serve every level. The hall has accessible seating spaces; book them, and any free Essential Companion ticket (the companion must be over 18), with the accessibility booking form at least five working days before the show. For sound, the hall uses Mobile Connect, streaming the performance to your own phone and headphones through the free Sennheiser app; it also works with some digital hearing aids.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capacity of the Ulster Hall?

About 1,850 standing or 1,000 seated, depending on whether the removable Ground Floor seats are in.

Is the Ulster Hall standing or seated?

Both. The Balcony is seated; the Ground Floor is standing or seated depending on the event, as shown on its seating plan when you book.

Can under-16s stand at the Ulster Hall?

Not unless the event allows it. Standing areas are 16+ by default, so book Balcony seats for younger fans.

How do I book accessible seats at the Ulster Hall?

Fill in the venue's accessibility booking form at least five working days before the event. Complimentary Essential Companion tickets may be available, subject to availability.