Riviera

• Theatre ID
  1288
• Built / Converted
  1826
• Dates of use
  • 1826: continuing (1924-33 in hotel ballroom)
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused
• Address
  Den Crescent, Teignmouth, Devon, England

Details

The Riviera was built in 1826 as a public Assembly Rooms, later becoming the headquarters of the Teignmouth and East Devon Club. It has an imposing 7-bay façe with a giant Ionic order of columns with a crowning pediment above a ground floor Doric colonnade. In 1912, films were shown. In 1924, it was in use as a hotel and restaurant, live entertainment and films continuing in the hotel ballroom. In 1933 the interior was demolished and a 900 seat cinema was constructed in the shell. This was converted to its present form in 1970 - a theatre/cinema above an amusement arcade. The auditorium retains features of its 1930s moulded plasterwork, cove lighting and panelled ceiling. It has raked seating with excellent sightlines. There are no flying facilities. The foyer upstairs is spacious and enjoys views over the bay. As well as the amusement arcade, retail outlets have been introduced at street level and an owner’s flat was added, somewhat incongruously, in the 1960s, in the form of a penthouse.

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• Other names
  Assembly Rooms, Riviera Cinema
• Events
  • 1826 Use: continuing (1924-33 in hotel ballroom)
  • 1826 Design/Construction:
    • William Patey - Architect
  • 1924 Alteration: converted to hotel and restaurant with ballroom
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1933 Alteration: cinema constructed in shell
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1970 Alteration: converted to cinema/theatre with amusement arcade below
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1910 Owner/Management: G A Bilton, proprietor
  • 1924 Owner/Management: Bill Prince, owner, continuing in Prince family
  • 1995 Owner/Management: Peter Prince
  • 1995 Owner/Management: (cinema-theatre) Peter Hoare, lessee
• Capacities
  • Later: 1910: 400-500 1933: 900
  • Current: 417
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Pros flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: 1910 Depth: 23ft Width: 35ft
  • Proscenium width: 1910: 23ft