Kingston Empire

After a false start in 1907 the theatre was then built to the designs of Bertie Crewe, and opened in October 1910. The theatre had a fine interior. The exterior was in modern English Renaissance style in terra cotta and red brick. There was an ornamental wrought iron and coloured glass verandah, and a turret at the south east elevation which was lit at night and could be seen from many parts of the town. In 1930, the theatre was bought by Kingshott Theatres, and was refurbished. Neon lighting was introduced to light the dome, the second theatre in the country to do this (the first being the London Coliseum). The theatre continued the policy of twice-nightly variety into the 1950s when business declined so much with the popularity of TV, that it finally closed in 1955. It was auctioned, but failed to meet the reserve price and was later bought by an investment company, and the interior was gutted and a supermarket opened in 1956. It was later used as offices and a Wetherspoons pub and much of the foyer plasterwork was revealed and restored. The word EMPIRE is picked out in brick, and many exits at the side and rear are preserved, though some are bricked up. In September 2010 the building re-opened as the home of KingsGate Church.