Empire

Early in the twentieth century Great Yarmouth and nearby Gorleston were quite elegant resorts. Several of the old entertainment buildings are architecturally pleasing. Alongside the Empire are two small arcades, at right angles to the sea front, one bearing the date 1902, the other 1904.

The Empire itself is architecturally imposing for a narrow-fronted ciné-variety of such an early date. The terra cotta façade is framed by giant fluted and cabled, coupled Ionic columns rising from pedestals with tall blockings over; the centre is taller with a shallow, segmentally arched recess above the entrance, containing a triple-arched balcony. Cornice and blocking over. The brick flank walls are blind-arcaded.

The auditorium has raked stalls and a single balcony and barrel-vaulted ceiling. The circle ends very close to the proscenium arch, and extends back towards the front of the building, occupying about two thirds of the length and forming an elongated horseshoe. The sides of the balcony will take a single line of seats - strangely these are not angled. It is clear that the high proscenium arch was originally flanked by Corinthian columns of which only the caps remain. There is a fly tower, with the grid and two fly rails still in position. Although now disused, this was once a fine auditorium with excellent plasterwork on the balcony fronts in the form of a series of cartouches supported by cherubs encircled with laurel wreaths. There are dressing rooms and a band room under the stage.