SSE Arena Belfast — Attraction in Belfast

The show was excellent but the venue, which is probably perfect for ice hockey etc is not great for certain genre of music. Rock and pop good but for a more classical style not good. Security asked "any sharps or alcohol?" and I was waved through without answering. A lot of people buying alcohol and bringing their drinks into the auditorium which resulted in people wanting the toilet, talking loudly etc., A slightly spoiled view of the stage with a very large cable hanging down to the control desk was annoying. I paid good money for the seats but was horrified to learn that the lady directly behind me had paid 2.5 times more having bought her tickets on a transfer as the show was "sold out" despite at least 100 empty seats available. Not necessarily the fault of SSE but part of the overall experience. The car park must be the worst designed such facility I have ever experienced. Efforts have been made to expedite leaving but an awful lot more needs to be done. We were advised by SSE to pay for the car park on the way in. This will did and the gentleman manning the car park machine advised we pay until 11pm which we did. Show ended just after 10pm so we hurried to the car and as I eventually approached the exit barrier I was trying to scan my prepaid car park ticket when the barrier went up. The gentleman explained that it worked by number plate recognition so I suppose I was delayed leaving the car park I would be stuck having to sort that out with an angry queue behind me. Not a nice thought. I have been to the SSE a number of times before and it does have a big influence if I will go to see a show or not, usually not. I know I am in the minority but I am of an age when going to a show was also part of the thrill and not just...

The SSE Arena is an outstanding venue for concerts, shows, and major events. From the moment you arrive, everything is well organised — signage is clear, staff are friendly, and security checks are efficient without being over the top. The layout of the arena means you get a great view from almost any seat, and the acoustics are excellent, with sound carrying really well even in the upper tiers. The lighting and screens add a lot to the atmosphere and make every performance feel special.

There’s a good range of food and drink options, from quick snacks to hot food, and while prices are in line with large venues, the quality is solid and queues move quickly. The bar areas and toilets are clean and well maintained, even during very busy events. Accessibility is also well thought through, with lifts, accessible seating areas, and helpful staff on hand to assist where needed.

Getting to the arena is straightforward thanks to good transport links — it’s close to the city centre, easily reachable by bus, train, or on foot, and there’s plenty of parking available nearby if you’re driving. Leaving after an event is also smooth, with traffic managed well and staff helping direct crowds safely.

Overall, the SSE Arena delivers a brilliant experience from start to finish. Whether you’re attending a music concert, comedy show, or sporting event, the facilities, staff, and atmosphere are consistently excellent. A top-class venue that Belfast should...

For Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils ice hockey 🏒 Arrived quite early and it was still busy. There is a single smallish lift from the Ground (entry level) to the Upper Levels. Long queue of pushchairs and the odd wheelchair user. Managed to sneak in though :-). First Floor is the main concourse area normally accessed by wide staircases from ground level but my health dictated otherwise :-(. The concourse has multiple hot food (in house burgers and hot dogs [avoided :-)] and hot / cold soft drinks). Suggest getting hot drinks early as the supplied temperature needs some time to cool from boiling hot to a drinkable level. Other outlets provide alcohol. This event is very popular with groups, ranging from a few people to large numbers, all of which seems to block access routes by standing around and congregating ignoring other people trying a get around. Pushing through seems the only way at times (most). Once you get through to the seating, it is well tiered and affords a good view. Since my last visit some years ago they have upgraded the seats to padded ones which are very comfy. The event ended up with Cardiff winning 3 - 2 scoring a goal in the last few minutes. Oh well, you can't...