Empire

The original design drawings (displayed on site) show a differently composed and more decorative façade than that now seen. They also show an auditorium with no balcony but with a raked stage for variety acts. A balcony was added in 1920.

The Empire was probably a cine-variety from about 1912 to 1920 and thereafter dedicated cinema. It is now owned by the local authority and again has mixed use as a cinema and theatre, having reopened in 2003 after refurbishment and improvements. The major building change was the creation of a single-storey extension on the front of the theatre over the wide pavement. This provides a roomy bar and exhibition space with full disabled access and facilities. The entire theatre has been refurbished and re-roofed and the legends EMPIRE THEATRE on the façade and EMPIRE PALACE on the rear elevation have been restored.

As now seen, the theatre has a modest thinly classical pedimented façade, in front of which the fully glazed foyer extension has pedestalled doric columns supporting a broad, shallow-arched pediment.

The auditorium is intimate with one balcony; a slightly raked stage with 10 hemp sets; two dressing rooms.