Spanish City Theatre

Charleshooton on August 9, 2025 at 1:57 pm

The leisure firm Stack submitted plans to redevelop the Grade II Listed former Carlton Bingo/Empress Ballroom and create a function room, wedding suite, cabaret and performance venue, late-night cocktail bar, restaurant, and roof terrace. Permission was granted in March 2021, but work was delayed by Covid and storm damage. Work did eventually start but has stopped while revised plans by Stack submitted in May 2023 are considered.

The original entrance to the venue was through the Dome building, and the base of the steps leading to the auditorium can still be seen. The entrance has been bricked up. Beneath the restored dome is an upmarket restaurant operated by a firm unconnected with Stack. They objected strongly to the internal link being restored, which meant a new two-story glass and steel foyer and entrance building being constructed to the rear of the auditorium. This has been partially completed, and new photographs are attached.

As of 7 August 2025, the is no evidence of any work on the building. However, in an interview with the Newcastle Chronicle on 7 July 2025, Stack has “reassured the public that it fully intends to get the former Empress Ballroom back up and running in the face of complicated planning conditions.”

Ian Grundy on October 22, 2011 at 3:59 pm

Two shots of the Spanish City Theatre / Carlton Bingo from 2009:–

PROSCENIUM

BARREL VAULTED CEILING AND BALCONY