Winter Gardens & Queen's Hall

• Theatre ID
  1954
• Built / Converted
  1911
• Dates of use
  • 1911: continuing
  • 1963 - 0: continuing (Queen’s Hall)
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Theatre and concert halls)
• Address
  Fort Crescent, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HX, England

Details

The Winter Gardens opened in 1911 on the site of an old fort. Low built and D-shaped on plan, with a typical seaside dance/concert hall in front of an open, semi-circular colonnaded amphitheatre. In 1935, part of the amphitheatre was converted to a sun lounge, then, in 1963, the whole of the area was roofed over to form the Queen’s Hall. The old, flat-floored, main Winter Gardens hall has a proscenium stage on the long side and balconies across the short ends. Bleacher seats and sprung dance floor. The Queen’s Hall has a smaller proscenium stage and a small balcony with kitchens under. Neither hall was designed with an orchestra pit. Both have their own dressing rooms.

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• Events
  • 1911 Use: continuing
  • 1963 - 0 Use: continuing (Queen’s Hall)
  • 1911 Design/Construction:
    • Stanley C Ramsey & E Borg (borough engineer) - Architect
  • 1935 - 1936 Alteration: Array part of amphitheatre converted to sun lounge; cafe created
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1946 Alteration: repairs after war damage
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1963 Alteration: amphitheatre roofed over to form Queen’s Hall
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1972 Owner/Management: Margate Corporation
  • 1974 Owner/Management: Thanet District Council
• Capacities
  • Later: 1971: 1800 1990: 1533 1992: 1500
  • Current: WG 1400; QH 550
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • WG: Proscenium Rake
  • QH: Proscenium Flat
• Dimensions
  • Proscenium width: WG:10.2m (33ft 8in) QH: 8.53m (28ft)
  • Height to grid: 7.62m (26ft 8in)
  • Orchestra pit: WG: Original 14; Currently none QH: 5