Mayflower Theatre
Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1AP
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1092039
- Date first listed:
- 08-Oct-1981
- List Entry Name:
- Mayflower Theatre
- Statutory Address:
- Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1AP
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-02-17
- Reference:
- IOE01/15222/18
- Rights:
- © Mr Thomas Olding. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1092039
- Date first listed:
- 08-Oct-1981
- List Entry Name:
- Mayflower Theatre
- Statutory Address 1:
- Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1AP
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1AP
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Southampton (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SU 41563 12291
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 5 August 2025 to update the Name and Address and reformat the text to current standards
SU 4112
1/286
COMMERCIAL ROAD
Mayflower Theatre
(Formerly listed as Gaumont Cinema)
II
W. and T. R. Milburn, Architects. December 22nd, 1928. Formerly the Empire Variety Theatre and became a cinema after 1933. Large building (capacity 2,250) in 20s Reo-Grecian style.
The front elevation is of five storeys, stone with red brick infill. Each side has a half-octagonal stone turret. Deep modillion cornice. Six stone pilasters through. Second to fourth floors with lion's head masks at base. Five stone balconies. Five windows in all with metal casements. First floor windows have deep architraves with interlocking circles and glyphs. The ground floor has Vitruvian scroll frieze and four square piers with the same interlocking circles and glyph design. Double mahogany doors with brass fittings. Four storeys portion on R.H.S. of red brick with pantiled roof. Three sashes with glazing bars intact. Panels between second and third floors and iron balconette. Cambered arch to ground floor.
The foyer is decorated with plaques with antique masks, swags and anthemion motifs and the lower part of the wall is covered with marble. On each side are staircases rising four floors with stair wells. Brass handrails with intersecting oval balustrades and newel posts with urn finals. The auditorium has a tall curved proscenium arch with 'torcheres' decoration. This is flanked by panels with anthemion motif. The seating is on three tiers supported on columns (Ionic to stalls and Circle). Oval dome with original octagonal glass and metal lanterns with anthemion decorations. The railings to the Circle and Upper Circle have fasces decoration. Ti<o cuuved boxes to each side with vitruvian scroll decoration and pillars with anthemion motif. Round-headed pediments above with fishscale decorations and plumed edge. Three round-headed arches leaf to the Upper Circle boxes which have Vitruvian scroll decoration. This theatre has 22 mahogany and glazed 'Standing boxes' which are a rare survival. The walls are clad with marble to dado level.
Included as a complete example of a theatre in 20s lieo-Grecian style.
Listing NGR: SU4255313582
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 135797
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jun-2026 at 07:23:01.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.