New owner bids to save 'treasure trove' theatre

The Empire Theatre on the corner of High Street and Ship Hill first opened in 1913

A "treasure trove" theatre in Rotherham needs to be restored to its former glory, a developer has said.

The Empire Theatre, on the corner of High Street in the town centre, first opened in 1913 as a twice nightly variety venue.

Over the years the building has had many uses, becoming a cinema and nightclub - and most recently the Amber Lounge bar, which closed in July.

Its new owner Mark McGrail, who previously restored the George Wright Hotel, said: "We are losing beautiful buildings in the town all the time, we should certainly be keeping this."

The building has been used as a cinema, nightclub and bar. Developer Mark McGrail would like to restore it to a music venue

Since taking over the ownership, Mr McGrail said his team have uncovered many of the theatre’s original features, most not seen for decades.

These include a mosaic marble floor in the entrance and the original Italian facade moulding.

“You start peeling back the plasterwork and find something new and interesting every time," he said.

The development team uncovered a mosaic floor in the entrance to the building

The theatre opened on Monday 15 December 1913 and was equipped to show film presentations as part of its programming.

It was constructed by George Longdon and Son of Sheffield, and designed by Chadwick and Watson of Leeds, who also designed the earlier Hippodrome in Rotherham as well as the Empire in Dewsbury and Alhambra in Bradford.

In 1921, the theatre's auditorium was altered for full-time cinema use and it reopened on 2 May as the Empire Picture House.

In 1954, the theatre was taken over by Essoldo and Cinemascope was installed.

Classic Cinemas took charge of the building in 1972.

Rotherham Council said the project would require "significant structural costs" which made the scheme "unviable”

Rotherham Council had previously explored the possibility of investing in the building but found the project too expensive.

A spokesperson said: "We worked with the previous owner of the old Empire Theatre on High Street, but our work revealed significant structural costs which made the project unviable."

Mr McGrail is calling on the council to have a “rethink”.

He said: “The bones of this building is fantastic, the council needs to look again.

"There is such musical history here. It needs to be restored."

A spokesperson for the council said: “We are committed to investing and transforming Rotherham town centre and we welcome private sector investment to bring historic buildings back into use.

"An alternative site has since been identified which would bring another historic building back into use.

"We continue to work with the current owner of the old Empire Theatre to look at the feasibility of an alternative scheme."

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