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White Rock

365

A handsome building in Spanish Colonial style on a rising site; a landmark on the seafront. Rendered façade with brick-coloured band at upper floor level, where the windows are grouped to give an impression of an open loggia, above which is a deep entablature and overhanging eaves to Roman tiled roof. The front facing the sea has a broad bowed centre with tall arched entrances, above which the ‘loggia’ storey is expressed as a continuous glazed band. On either side are slightly taller corner blocks with pyramidal roofs with apex finials. These blocks have two well-modelled, coloured faience roundels above the ground floor windows on each of the front and return elevations.

The auditorium was refurbished and redecorated in 1985 in a style now beginning to look old-fashioned. Notwithstanding the presence of a proscenium stage, this is essentially a concert hall, uncomfortably wide and with imperfect sightlines for theatrical use. The circle overhangs the stalls by eight rows. Hinged doors conceal front of house lights at circle level. The stage is not deep and has restricted wing space with no cross-over. Get-in is from the rear street which, due to the sharp rise in the ground, necessitates the use of a lift down to stage level.

In the basement there is a good studio space (Sussex Hall) with a dance floor and a small platform stage. There are ample dressing rooms and a large green room which can be used for rehearsals.

A careful remodelling of the auditorium could make the place more attractive and flexible, and improve ticket sales in what is a particularly well-sited venue.

Built / Converted
1927
Dates of use
  • 1927 : continuing
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre (Theatre and concert hall)
Address
White Rock, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1JX, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
White Rock Pavilion
Events
  • 1927 Use: continuing
  • 1927 Design/Construction:
    C Cowles Voysey
    - Architect
  • 1985 Alteration: auditorium altered
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1993 Owner/Management: Hastings Borough Council
  • 2002 Owner/Management: Clear Channel Entertainment, managers
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1967: 1300
    1972: 1250
    1992: 1165
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    1165
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
Stage type
Pros. Rake 1:48
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: d: 5.94m plus forestage 1.68m (23ft) w SL: 9.14m (30ft) w SR: 9.14m (30ft)
Proscenium width: 9.14m (29ft 5in)
Height to grid: 9.75m (32ft)
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: Original to accommodate 10/12