All About Limelight Belfast

• Link
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Google

Belfast, Ireland

Club / Indoor & Outdoor / S – 500-2K

City

Electronic, Pop, R&B

$$

Live Music

Casual

For electrifying electronic hits and stunning live music performances, Limelight Belfast is the place to be.

Located on the thriving Ormeau Avenue in Belfast, Limelight opened its doors to music lovers in 1984. With its classic British architecture and charming wooden entrance door adorned with posters of upcoming musical acts, it is no wonder why this venue has been standing strong for over three decades.

Crowds are treated to sets by world famous DJs and rock bands such as Steve Aoki, Arctic Monkeys and Dillinger Escape Plan – making Limelight one of the most sought after names in Belfast nightlife.

Limelight Belfast has earned its reputation as an essential hotspot for the city’s music and nightlife scene, with treasured acts performing on its renowned stage.

Here is everything you need to know about Limelight Belfast.

The club has been in business for more than three decades

Back in 1987, Patrick Lennon – Harp Bar’s ex-owner – adjoined forces with its sister bar, Dome, to create an alternative space for both emerging and well-known acts. Fast forward to today, Limelight is a hotbed for the city’s indie scene and a go-to spot for everybody who daydreams about the day when pubs

Limelight is the epicenter of Belfast’s homegrown talent

Limelight takes pride in its mission to preserve local talent. Embracing music diversity, the Belfast club translates into the platform where upcoming musical talent and established artists showcase their skills. 

In other words, the venue earned the reputation of a launching pad for the city’s growing music scene. 

With masterfully-curated weekly events, Limelight features musicians coming from a plethora of musical backgrounds.

No matter who you are, what you’re into and what kind of music blasts through your headphones every morning, Limelight’s repertoire probably includes your beloved music genre.

Legendary rock band Oasis made history at Limelight Belfast

On 4 September 1994, legendary English rock band Oasis debuted at Limelight Belfast with an iconic gig. 

On the very same night, the band’s fresh-out-of-the-studio album Definitely Maybe topped the UK charts and went straight to number one.   

The rest is history – the album would eventually become UK’s fastest-selling debut album, with over eight million copies sold. Oasis’ co-lead vocalist Noel Gallagher said in a interview with Belfast Telegraph:

“Limelight is now part of our heritage. There was a great buzz when the owner Eamonn McCann informed me we had hit the No 1 spot that night in ’94. I’ll always remember this place with affection. We had a party that night and the audience joined in. That was the start of our success story.”

The club is home to many high-profile musical starsars

Limelight has been no stranger to big-league musical performances – and we’re not only talking about the Oasis gig here. 

With an illustrious and rich concert history, the Belfast club can be considered a music mecca for all sorts of artists – from pop-punk bands to hip-hop rappers. 

Notable music stars who graced the stage include alternative group Arctic Monkeys, punk band NOFX, and American rock crew New Found Glory. 

The club’s live show schedules are always jam-packed

As the ultimate holy grail for live gigs, it comes as no surprise that Limelight continues to be fully booked with live performances. 

Take 2022 as an example – the venue’s event schedule was packed with clubbing nights, themed parties and live gigs until the very last day of the year. 

Limelight is a popular nightspot for themed club nights

Besides being recognised as one of Belfast’s most iconic venues for live music shows, Limelight has also become a beloved local nightspot for the Belfast crowds.

A master of the reinvention craft, Limelight never sticks to seasonal events – it rather comes up with new clubbing concepts.

Maybe this is one of the reasons why it’s considered a top pick in Belfast’s nightlife – you never know when the clubbing destination will leave you flabbergasted with its brand-new events.

Limelight Belfast features more than one venue

Limelight isn’t your average clubbing spot – it’s a complex of venues. While Limelight 2 is the original venue that opened its doors three decades ago, Limelight 1 is the club’s fresh addition. 

Featuring a generous bar and a spacious dancefloor scattered with bar stools, Limelight 1 is a purpose-built room integrated to accommodate a larger guest capacity. 

It has a modern feel to it, unlike Limelight 2, which kept some of its wooden walls and massive pillars intact.

With strong historical ties, Limelight 2 has witnessed iconic live acts like The Strokes and Blur. 

You can have your drinks at Katy’s Bar

Good tunes call out for one thing – delish boozy drinks. Katy’s Bar – an integral part of the Limelight Belfast complex – has been a go-to place for the city’s nightlife scene.

And that happens for a good reason. Over 30 types of beer sourced from all over the world are available at the bar.

Beer drinkers, this might be your only shot at finding your malty soulmate.

For those of you that don’t have a soft spot for beer, don’t worry. Fine gin and tasty whisky are also part of Limelight’s boozy menu. 

Visitors can walk up to the rooftop terrace

On top of Katy’s Bar is Limelight’s stunning roof terrace. Fittingly dubbed as Rock Garden, this area is the go-to spot during Belfast’s summeresque season. Beer pints, jaw-dropping sunsets and cool breezes are all part of the menu. 

Limelight Belfast usually hosts its weekly club nights and live music performances here. This terrace is perfect if you’re done with indoor spaces and hunting for a change of scenery. 

It’s a home to fun student night

Looking for some good fun after a long day on campus? Limelight’s Student HQ will get you up and running in seconds.

From Monday to Thursday, students enjoy drinks for a discounted price (oh, the many benefits of doing a university degree).

After three decades, Limelight continues to become one of Belfast’s pioneering clubs. Not only that it delivers sheer entertainment to anybody and everybody who is passing through its doors, but it is also a genuine tribute to the ever-evolving music scene.