The Belfast Empire in Belfast

Old pub with an amazing atmosphere, good service and entertainment however not clean at all .

Great venue, amazing music, a historical place to visit really. £6.50 for a pint of coke though… 😵‍💫

Friday night, not many about. Pint £6.50...on Botanic Avenue where they should be trying to get customers in. It's seemed to be full of hangers on or afternoon drunks at 8 or so. Left shortly afterwards. The Guinness is very good though and staff pleasant, quick service albeit hardly any punters.

Great but with Great live music.

A good music venue for artists but not so good for the audience. Mostly standing and long pl no queues to get in. If you are in the know you can get in early to get a seat.

*2025 update. Having come here for multiple years to watch the Cheltenham festival, 5 of us arrived this year, advised the racing would go on the big screen with sound... 5 over priced pints poured, and then advised that the bar man had spoken to the manager and the racing wouldn't be going on the big screen, the volume wouldn't be on and the background music would continue. Nice that a bar does so well that it can chase off 5 of their 8 customers, all 5 agreed they won't be back, and seen another 1 of the 8 in another bar soon after. Cheltenham Tuesday is great in here. Lovely staff and good beer selection. Music nights great too

Was good to stop off and hear Chris Taplin band again for a while. Reasonable amount of listening people there.

Probably Bangor,s best everything about it is right from the minute you walk through that door you know it's going to be a good night

Super nice and typical bar, the atmosphere is very cool and intimate. I recommend going for a drink in a real pub atmosphere

Wow only been for music love it

Went to a gig upstairs. Some more tables and chairs would be useful. Not everyone wants to stand for 2 hours waiting on a gig to start!

I was back in the Empire for the first time in over twenty years and what a nostalgia trip it was! I did not realise that they served food now and I must admit that I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of it. We had fish and chips, the Empire Burger and the Mexican Chilli Chicken burger, all with generous portions of chips or wedges. We were all very impressed. I had the chicken burger and it was so tasty! As we ate, we were entertained by the talented Jackie Rainy. Her acoustic set was just perfect and not loud which meant we could still have a conversation and enjoy the music at the same time. Overall we had a great time in the Empire and we would be very keen to return soon and do it all again!

Decent venue for intimate gigs, I can't imagine there's a bad view in the place. Cloakroom facilities were a bonus.

Went see "When Ireland Rocked" who were outstanding.

Been on a concert! Beautiful building, great atmosfera! Love IT!

Great little venue. We stopped in here to see a comedy show. Door staff were all very friendly and we were admitted quickly. Limited space for seating so ideally arrive early if you want a good spot. Bar was fairly quick at serving and didn’t have to wait too long for a drink. Acoustics etc for the venue were all great. I was toward the back and despite having terrible hearing I could hear everything perfectly.

We go here every year for our work xmas outing. The pleasuredome. The place is brilliant, great atmosphere, not too packed, friendly bar staff, and great entertainment

Great night at The Empire watching one of the greatest bands to come out of Belfast, The Adventures. What a performance the band put on!

Great venue Good live music 🎶 Very safe and friendly bar We didn't eat as out for Xmas drinks

Great atmosphere- clean and thought the staff where really pleasant and helpful

Set in an old church and over two floors, with a bar downstairs and the music hall upstairs. This is a nice venue for live music and comedy.

Fantastic venue. Staff very friendly. Attended a concert.

Good night had by all, Bon Jovi experience was quality.

Always a great night for a laugh. Will definitely be going back.

Shocking pint of Guinness, not poured properly. Emptied out part of the pint twice to get the head proper, therefore ruining the pint. Won’t be back for a Guinness.

Didn't let us use toilets even though we had tickets for a concert

Good venue but pricey drinks. Bouncer was friendly but forgot who we were :/

Gorgeous venue! I would go see anything here!

25 to 30 years ago was last time I was here. Had a great night. Sound system needs improved but vibes were great, pints were good. Fun was had!

A nice little place with a good pizza. Not great but hits the spot at a good price

Went to see a gig. Great small venue, great sound. Good service.

ah i loved this place 25 years ago and I love it now. hasn't changed a bit, but in a good way.

Fuimos a ver a los hermanos Bow viajaron desde Dublín. La música era genial, pero no había suficientes asientos. Muy incómodo. Una lástima porque el lugar tiene buen ambiente. Si pueden resolver el problema de los asientos, volveremos. Si no, no volveremos.

One night in Belfast. Got a recommendation. Ordered food. Never showed up. Kitchen missed the order. As a restaurant you have one job. Fail.

Great spot for live music. Great bar staff and door staff too

Had a great time there last night at the Stereo MCs, 1st gig I'd been to there in ages.

Great atmosphere, good beers, great cocktails, fantastic live venue

We saw a local band, Now the 90s in September 2023. The venue opened at 8:30pm, and the band went on at 10:30pm. The venue is not too small but intimate, no bad vantage points for seeing a show. A little too crowded for my preference though. While waiting for the band, they played some 90s hits, you know - Britney Spears, NSYNC, blink-182, etc. There were a few songs that us Americans didn't recognize (clearly very British) but we had a great time and danced along. It got really crowded before the band went on (sold out show)! And once the band did go on, we didn't know any of the first 3 songs... But eventually recognized some global pop songs.

Came in very late but was still welcomed by both door and bar staff, nice venue.

Brilliant historical venue well worth a visit 😀 have some fab acts on so keep an eye out

Had a really good night at the 90s night but there is no air conditioning, no doors open so the heat was unbearable.

Great Venue, Surprised how beautiful the building is inside and out ..

Attended the Ken Haddock night, brilliant from start to finish.

Food is lovely, some great pub grub staples to choose from. Service is quick and friendly, great place to grab a bite to eat or have a drink with mates or solo. Fantastic live music also! Awesome wee spot for a great night's craic!

Unfortunately I can't rate anything because no discrimination-free access was possible and my wife couldn't get in with her wheelchair; no longer up to date!

We know of a jazz evening scheduled for 10pm and we arrive early. We enjoy an excellent Guinness and then 2 hours of performance by a band of 4 very talented young people: Chris Taplin Blues Band

🌟🌟🌟🌟 I recently attended the Bollywood Night at the Belfast Music Empire Hall, and overall, it was a fantastic experience! The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with energy, and a great mix of people came together to celebrate Indian music and culture. The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the DJ, who really knew how to get the crowd moving! They played a brilliant selection of Bollywood hits, blending classic tracks with the latest chart-toppers. The transitions between songs were seamless, and they constantly engaged the audience, encouraging everyone to join in on the dance floor. The venue itself is well-suited for events like this, with good acoustics and a welcoming vibe. The decor and lighting added to the festive mood, making it a perfect setting for a night of fun and celebration. If I had to point out an area for improvement, it would be the wait time at the bar, which was a bit longer than I expected. However, this did not overshadow the overall enjoyment of the night. I left the event feeling uplifted, with a great sense of community around me. If you're a fan of Bollywood music and looking for a fun night out in Belfast, I highly recommend checking out their next Bollywood Night. I’m definitely looking forward to attending again!

Large venue with multiple bars / areas. I was downstairs for a trad session on a Wednesday - great spot. The upstairs venue was quite busy as well.

Great buzz, place was full. Too warm, no obvious ventilation in place/working

Here for a show. Get in line early if you want a good seat.

Unique atmosphere, great bartenders. The music was a bit off-putting but I suppose it depends on who‘s playing.

Great pint and a venue like no other!!

Great venue for comedy and music.

2022 - £6 for a pint of Guinness and it's not even poured properly. Save your money and go to Parlour nearby, better pint for less money Edit for 2024; went recently to give it another go, £6.70 for a pint and I didn’t even get a quarter of it because of the poor quality of the pint. Absolutely ridiculous, avoid avoid avoid

Magnificent place to have a beer.

Very nice pub located downstairs. Food was great, drinks well priced, just a bit down but that may have been a Wednesday night.

Visitaría el imperio regularmente con mi padre (a veces amigos) para el fútbol y la comida extraña. Siempre buen lugar para ver el fútbol y la comida siempre spot on , a un precio razonable también. Yo diría que el imperio, los laverys y el bot serían tus únicas opciones reales para el fútbol del centro de la ciudad si quieres tener una buena visión de las pantallas y escuchar comentarios , pero para mí el imperio pips los otros dos en mi opinión. Lo único negativo para mí es el hecho de que no juegan comentarios de construcción para que coincidan y en su lugar solo pueden escucharlo una vez que el partido ha comenzado. No estoy seguro del razonamiento detrás de esto, pero sé que esto molesta a muchos clientes, especialmente a los seguidores que vienen a gastar dinero para ver a su equipo. Las mismas reglas se aplican a los comentarios posteriores al partido y a las entrevistas entre jugadores y entrenadores. El personal suele ser siempre amable y servicial. Un saludo especial a la señora que fue y consiguió un jersey y una toalla para mi padre jubilado de edad avanzada, ya que era extremadamente frío. Ese es el único otro negativo. El lugar suele ser bastante frío lo que lleva el brillo de la experiencia. El aire acondicionado es demasiado frío y normalmente soy una persona muy cálida. Te aconsejo que lleves una capucha y guantes y sombrero para este lugar si quieres mantener el calor. La única razón por la que no he dado a este lugar 5 estrellas es la temperatura del lugar y el problema de comentarios del partido como se aconseja arriba. Muy buen bar de otra manera y recomendaría a cualquiera.

Place is dead most times, better craic across or just down the road and the pints aren't much dearer. Thursday night's okay though.

Stumbled across this place what a find loved it. The band that was playing was great people up dancing great atmosphere

We had the classic fish and chips and a guiness. Can‘t go wrong there. In the music hall there was 4 bands doing rock‘n‘Roll. What a beautiful venue to enjoy live music.

Nice venue but the door staff are a little overbearing. They seem to have been given a very strict rule book to follow. You can't stand here. You can't put your drink here. Makes it seem a lot less relaxed than other venues in the area.

Great night out. Staff very attentive and quick service.

Bon Jovi Experience was amazing 👏🤘

During the day very quite, but still nice and warm. Only in for a few drinks

What a classic pub, so ornate with a real oldie worldie atmosphere, good free entertainment also put on. A great range of drinks available, unfortunately I can't rate the food as I was just there for a drink

Great night out,bar staff were amazing,door staff very professional but thought there was too big of a crowd in...

Bring lots of money with you, also soap for the toilets, as well as a towel. You'd think such a popular place would have this stuff already. The only time I'll be back is if I have to! I'm actually shocked at how poor the place was

Great atmosphere, food lovely and drinks great. Would go back again very friendly staff.

Went to see Mack Fleetwood. Doors opened at 8pm. Pretty big queue to get in and a scramble to get a table/spot to watch. It was after 10pm before the band started. Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy lol. Great company tho and had a good time. 😃

Ken Haddocks Sunday Supper Club is always great on a Sunday night

Was nice enough for burger and chips but it's not worth driving to belfast just for the food here. Staff are nice and friendly.

I attended here with one of my best friends, for a 90's night event. Staff were very accommodating and helpful. Unfortunately I had my drink spiked here and ended up in hospital.

Great spot for comedy, can get quite crowed

I enjoy going as it is a great live music venue.

Great bar for watching sports.. watched the Ireland Wales Rugby..good atmosphere but Guinness is £6.10 a pint!

This is an amazing venue for some of the best entertainment to hit this city. The only downside is that they don't serve 0.0 upstairs.

As always, the empire provides wonderful vibes and lovely staff

Always have a great night when go here. Staff are very friendly.

Fantastic venue for concerts. Sound is great, atmosphere is amazing. Love this place.

Nit staffs fault but just not enough staff

Went to see the Bon Jovi experience, and boy was it an experience. Unfortunately not a good one.Doors opened 8.30pm the place was packed to such an extent that even the staircase was packed with people standing shoulder to shoulder and blocking them. 1030pm came and still no Bon Jovi , at this point we left, as we had to fight our way to bar and to the toilets, not very satisfactory. Won't be back there any time soon

I'd you want somewhere for music and sports this is a place to go. Especially on a comedy night upstairs on Tuesdays

Nice bar for a drink 🍺 Nothing much else on tonight.

Great if you love loud music I was just to old for this place

Fabulous atmosphere, music and company 👌

Visited the music hall upstairs for a gig. Great venue and atmosphere and very good acoustics for any type of music

Great live band venue Guinness 4/10🤮

Raised on rock always a great night out. Didn't have any food was late getting there, bus strike hazard

Really nice, great comidans, the entrance included a pint of Harp.

Love the Empire, never change. It's a beautiful spot, EXCEPT please lose the plastic glasses! Why would you do this, it really disturbs that you're using single use plastic for every drink served night after night. Got to rethink this one???

We went to see the Bon Jovi experience. AND WHAT AN EXPERIENCE IT WAS , ABSOLUTELY AWFUL. Doors opened at 8.30pm, my partner and I went to the upper balcony where we got a seat. Within 30 minutes the place was overcrowded. I had to push my way down the stairs, as people were standing shoulder to shoulder on the stairs. The bars on the ground floor and the upper balcony had people standing shoulder to shoulder and about ten deep. Where we were seated just infront of the bar, there was no space whatsoever, with people standing shoulder to shoulder. We kept wondering when would a band come on stage and at 1030pm still no band had arrived. At this point we left the venue as it was totally overcrowded and possibly over the limit for fire safety regulations. At no point did I see any staff clearing exit points or the stairs. To me the whole thing was a great big SCAM. Get as many people as possible ramed in and rip them off for two hours or more, before the band started to play. Had I known before hand this was going to happen, I would never have bought the tickets. I complained to Ticketmaster where I bought the tickets and they just said not their responsibility, take it up with the venue. To top it off, I bought a pint at the ground floor bar, handed over a £20 pound note,bar man gave me £4 change. Nearly pulled him over the bar, no apology nothing, just thought he would try his luck. PLACE IS A RIP OFF, A refund for my tickets would be appreciated. I sent them an email asking for a refund, over a week ago , still had no reply two weeks later, speaks volumes about their customer service

This is the best place in Belfast for live music. Friendly staff and great crowd

Excellent setting for concerts.

Great live music on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sunday downstairs for free. Wish they would start a bit earlier and not have it excessively loud though. Staff are always very friendly and atmosphere is great.

Brilliant venue for concert Had fish and chips in bar before Concert Great friendly venue

Staff can be hit or miss and its a bit pricey but good gigs and atmosphere,good door staff

Busy venue but served quickly at the bar. Great night listening to Dom Martin.

Great place for comedy on Tuesdays

Great spot for gigs really enjoyed it

First time back in a while. Love this place. Great atmosphere.