Theatre Royal
5 Ward's End,
Halifax,
HX1 1DE
5 Ward's End,
Halifax,
HX1 1DE
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Christopher Rowland Cooper, Richard D. Horsfall
Firms: Horsfall and Sons
Styles: Baroque
Nearby Theaters
The Theatre Royal, a replacement of an earlier theatre, opened in 1904/5 purely for live entertainment. A superb façade in ashlar stone in the Edwardian style dates from this period, and was designed by Richard Horsfall & Son of Halifax.
The 1,900-seat auditorium, believed to have been on 4 levels was gutted in April 1937 and to the plans of architect Christopher Rowland Cooper a new two tier 2,200-seat cinema auditorium was created which extended into the stage area.
The cinema closed around the 1960’s and became a bingo hall which in turn closed in the 1990’s. Various redevelopment schemes, retaining the façade of the Grade II Listed building, but demolishing the auditorium came to nought and it re-opened as a nightclub, Chinese restaurant and bar. Unfortunately, by 2007 these had closed and the building was ‘For Sale’.
Plans proposed in July 2022 are to build a hotel within the existing walls and above the current structure.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The nightclub has now closed and the building is boarded up and for sale. Photos taken October 2007.
View link
View link
There is currently (2008) a proposal to demolish the auditorium and incorporate the facade and various other bits into a new build hotel. In truth there is virtually nothing worth saving in the much altered interior. Photos (interior and exterior) taken in August 2008 here:–
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
There is a new proposal to build a hotel within (and above) the existing walls.