“We have a duty to protect, cherish, and maintain our historic cultural institutions. The Assembly Rooms building is a key landmark representing the legacy of Belfast’s past, but now, with restoration to bring it back into public use, it has the opportunity to play its own part in shaping the future of the city and its cultural heritage for generations to come.

“This is incredibly exciting progress that we hope only marks the beginning of even more efforts to regenerate Belfast city centre for all who live, work, and visit here.”