Spanish City

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 10 October 2022 to amend description for correction of building material.

NZ 37 SE 5/182

WHITLEY BAY PROMENADE (west side) Spanish City

GV II Originally theatre, and eight shops, converted to amusement arcade, bar and bingo hall, now a mix of restaurants, café, micro pub and three shops.1908-10 by Cackett and Burns Dick for Whitley Pleasure Gardens Ltd; LG Mouchel engineers using Hennebique patent 'ferro-concrete' (reinforced concrete); copper statues. Free Baroque style. Two storey three bay main block flanked by three storey towers and single storey four bay wings. Central block: seven wide steps to three double doors under bracketed keyed arch with deep panelled coffering. Either side single shops with bracketed fascias defined by pilasters with garland and wreath ornament. Above nine windows divided by single pilasters and entablature into three groups with renewed windows. Tower doors have bracketed canopies under lunettes; two upper stages contain sash window in architrave and slit windows. Cornice. One storey wings have pilasters defining four shop windows on either side plus wreaths to fascias. Central dome has colonnaded lantern and iron finial; drum has twelve round windows in projecting panels. Other roofs flat. Either side single simplified towers crowned by hand raised copper statues of cymbal players. Door head in right tower and pilasters in right wing obscured by signs at time of survey. Restored in 2018

INTERIOR: has circular entrance hall, originally two storey, and now reinstated following the insertion of a floor at first floor level with coffered concrete dome above. This dome is 50 feet in diameter and has twelve oval windows with festoon swags. Ground floor now converted into restaurant, has twelve columns. Former theatre was converted to Bingo Hall but is now vacant

Listing NGR: NZ3539872722