The Queen's Theatre was originally built in 1887; the theatre was rebuilt following a fire in 1894 and the new building, designed by Frank Matcham, was opened in 1896. It was renamed the Empire Theatre in 1916 and from 1922 was used primarily as a cinema. The theatre closed in 1966 and became a bingo club - first an Alpha Bingo Club, then as a Tudor Bingo Club, and was finally operated by Gala Bingo Clubs. A false ceiling was installed below the balcony level, reducing seating capacity to just the stalls and circle, though it is not known whether this occurred before or after the building's conversion into a bingo hall. The bingo club closed in 1991. In December 1992, the building, which was Grade II Listed, was largely destroyed by fire. The remaining facade was demolished in 1997.
This is part of the Series: NWC01/01 Norman Walley: Series of slides; within the Collection: NWC01 Norman Walley Cinema Collection
© Historic England Archive
Photographer: Walley, Norman
Architect: Matcham, Frank
Auditorium, Victorian Theatre, Early 20th Century Cinema, Late 20th Century Bingo Hall, Sport And Recreation
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