Harrow Arts Centre

The neo-Tudor style Elliott Hall was built in 1904 in red brick with stone dressings as the assembly hall of the Royal Commercial Travellers School. The Grade II listed building has 9 bays with cross wing at the east end and mullion and transom windows. Entrance at the west end is in single-storey wing of 7 bays under traceried west window. Square corner towers dominate the west end with a connecting balustered walkway spanning the gabled elevation. The building contains two spaces, the main 403 seat wood panelled auditorium and the 120 seat black box Travellers Studio Theatre which is very narrow relative to its length. Elliott Hall still reflects its beginnings as a school hall. It has attractive stained glass windows but there is no ceiling and the roof is full of an elaborate ventilation system. The flat floor is stepped at the rear. Portable staging can be used in a variety of configurations with an acting area of 7.3m by 18.8m. There is a technical control room and modern lighting and sound. The building also houses a 200 seat function venue along with meeting rooms and a dedicated dance studio. Separate from this building, but interconnecting, are the bar and the dressing rooms with shower and toilet. Cultura London, an independent not-for-profit charity, took over the management of Harrow Arts Centre in May 2016 after Harrow Council decided to reduce its financial commitment. A fundraising campaign has been launched for a development programme that would see a new two screen cinema with cafe and bar, performance and studio spaces along with a new 600-seat theatre with a properly equipped stage. The restoration and redevelopment of Elliott Hall would also create a 280 seat studio theatre with restaurant and bars.