Empire Picture Playhouse

Opened on 1st July 1911, the Empire Theatre was designed by architect Arthur S. Hewitt as a purpose-built cinema and the exterior was clad in a vitreous terra-cotta material in a ‘free Renaissance’ style.

Operated as a cinema until the late-1960’s when it switched to bingo. Continued to screen late night shows after the evening bingo session finished and morning cartoon shows between 10am and 1pm during the summer season May to September. Had a short period during the late-1980’s early-1990’s as a full-time cinema again when the ABC Regent closed to become bingo club.

By 2006, it was in use as a nightclub known as Zen, but this closed in September 2008. The building remain mothballed & shuttered until 2021 when it was renovated and reopened as a bar. This was closed on 13th September 2025. Most of the original decorative details remain.

The Empire Picture Playhouse is a Grade II* Listed building.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Ken Roe on December 9, 2006 at 6:29 am

A set of photographs that I took of the Empire in 2003:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317861036/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317861352/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317861861/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317862701/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317863068/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317863474/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317863949/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317864964/

Ken Roe on December 9, 2006 at 11:28 pm

Another view of the building that I took in 2003:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318443058/

Ian Grundy on December 19, 2006 at 8:08 am

Another exterior photo taken in 2003:–

http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/104625062/

Ian Grundy on August 9, 2007 at 4:49 am

A couple of interior pictures of the Empire here:–

View link

View link

Ian Grundy on October 31, 2012 at 2:11 am

Two more interior photos from 2003:–

CEILING

BALCONY

Seems there is a chance that the Empire might be restored in the near future, use uncertain.

Ian Grundy on October 23, 2018 at 1:24 am

Two exterior photos from September 2018 here – closed but seemingly in OK condition:–

EMPIRE THEATRE

EMPIRE THEATRE

Jake Bottero on October 6, 2025 at 10:31 am

Closed again in 2025.

“The reasons for this closure are complex and, sadly, reflect a wider trend affecting venues across our area and the nation, it’s the perfect storm of rising costs, rising wages, margins getting shrunk, and unfortunately it feels like a bit of a change in direction in the whole night life scene…” ~ Jack Jay

The Empire has been owned by the Jay family for the last 70 years.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4759dwxkqo

https://www.theempiregy.com/