Winter Gardens (Rothesay)

• Theatre ID
  2337
• Built / Converted
  1895
• Dates of use
  • 1895 - 1923: open-air; 1924-1971 enclosed; 1987 continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (Information centre, cinema and restaurant)
• Address
  Esplanade Gardens/Victoria Street, Rothesay, Argyll & Bute, PA20 0AH, Scotland

Details

Standing proudly in the middle of Rothesay’s immaculately maintained waterfront lawns, the Winter Gardens started life as an open air bandstand, and, indeed, the stage area dates from this time. Later, in 1924, Walter McFarlane’s Saracen Foundry produced the attractive circular hall in cast iron which enclosed the seating area. The building has a more angular sister at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It is an elegant design with Art Nouveau details, corner towers and a wide, curving expanse of windows overlooking the bay. Its broad, gently domed roof is supported by an ingenious system of exposed curving iron beams, which are functional, yet elegant. The original pay box is preserved inside and the building has been successfully rescued after years of dereliction to act as the focus for Rothesay’s consequently improved waterfront. The Winter Gardens now contains the ‘Isle of Bute Discovery Centre’ - a tourist information and visitor centre - plus a cinema and restaurant.

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• Other names
  Isle of Bute Discovery Centre
• Events
  • 1895 - 1923 Use: open-air; 1924-1971 enclosed; 1987 continuing
  • 1895 Design/Construction:
    • Alex Stephen with Walter MacFarlane & Co (ironfounder) - Architect
  • 1924 Alteration: enclosure created
    • Stephen and MacFarlane’s - Architect
  • 1911 Owner/Management: Fyfe & Fyfe, lessees
• Capacities
  • Original: 1100
• Listings
  • Grade A - 12.4.1978