Empire (Harrogate)

• Theatre ID
  2124
• Built / Converted
  1910
• Dates of use
  • 1910 - 1931
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (Restaurant)
• Address
  Cheltenham Mount, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England

Details

The building was originally constructed in 1872 as a Primitive Methodist Chapel and converted to a theatre in 1910. It finally closed as a theatre in October 1931, and was used for a number of retail purposes and, by 1948-49 as a garage. The front of house area was converted to a restaurant in the 1970s and in the 1980s this was enlarged to incorporate the original auditorium. Previous to this the auditorium and stage had been used as a scenic workshop by the Harrogate Repertory Company, located immediately across the street from the Empire. Externally the upper part of the building, above the shopfronts, remains much the same as it was conceived as a Primitive Methodist Chapel. Four windows wide, cill band, semi-circular arches with imposts and key stones and a crowning cornice and parapet. Internally the original proscenium arch, which is carved timber rather than fibrous plaster, has been restored. New cast iron balcony fronts have been installed around the original line of the single balcony. New floor levels have been inserted at stalls level, and original cast iron columns, supporting the balcony, have been boxed in. The stage area is also used for dining, and the stage house has been underdrawn with a false ceiling. The theatre suffered a fire in 1996, that was caused by a fire bomb sent to an adjoining shop by animal rights activists. This caused significant fire damage to the stage area. The proscenium and auditorium survived, although water damaged.

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• Other names
  Gaiety Theatre
• Events
  • 1872 Design/Construction: as a chapel
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1910 - 1931 Use:
  • 1910 Alteration: converted to theatre
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1970 - 1979 Alteration: converted to restaurant
    • Unknown - Architect
• Capacities
  • Later: 1912: 1,000
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium: raked stage
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 20ft Width: 38ft 6in
  • Proscenium width: 18ft 6in