The Queens
Hall was designed by Minehead architect W.J.Tamlyn as a centre piece
to the seafront development
and now stands out as one of the most prestigious buildings
in Minehead. The building was a gift to the town by the
Minehead builder J.B.Marley.
The Queens Hall, Minehead
It was opened on Whit Monday 1914 and from then touring
theatre companies and live music filled the Queens Hall. In
1930 it became the first place to show talking movies in
Minehead.
It then became an amusement centre, but now it has
been carefully restored back to its former glory into a pub and
live music venue. The old pictures adorn some of the walls
to keep the spirit alive of the old building.
Opened in 1914 with stage productions alternating
with films. The building is of local brick from the owner’s works (he was also the contractor),
with Bath stone dressings. Three bays; the central bay with entrance
has a large arched window at first floor level. Fascia is elegantly decorated
at attic level with part-balustraded parapet topped with four urns and
ornamental gable carrying a motif with QUEEN’S HALL. An iron and
glass canopy covered the entrance until 1996, when it was destroyed by
storms (the hall also suffered flood damage).
Teak doors originally led to a marble vestibule with
pay-box and cloak room and stairs to the balcony. Both stalls and balcony
were well raked; there were two private boxes (since removed), one at
either side of the proscenium. The auditorium still has its barrel-vaulted
ceiling and elliptical proscenium arch with ornamental cartouche. There
is an ornamental frieze band with brackets carrying the ceiling ribs.
The stage with dressing rooms, storage space, backstage crossover is
thought to be intact.
This one-time concert hall built by Minehead architect W J Tamlyn opened to the public in 1914 and over the next 15 years played host to a lineup of world-class and distinguished performers including the dancers Pavlova and Nijinska entertainers George Robey and Vest Notley and a host of visiting West End Shakespearian operatic and review companies
Records reveal that Cabinet ministers of the day addressed audiences of 1000 and it was also used for boxing tournaments and to screen the first talking pictures within six months of it's opening.
www.queenshall.info
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