Royale Club

The Royale Club, originally the Theatre Royal, is a building located on Peter Street in Manchester. It was constructed in 1845 by Irwin and Chester and underwent alterations in 1875 by Edward Salomons. The exterior was restored and the interior remodeled in 1989. The building is made of sandstone ashlar, with a rectangular plan situated on an island site, except for the southeast corner which is occupied by other premises.

In a classical style, the building features two storeys and an attic, with a monumental facade that has three unequal bays arranged symmetrically. The facade includes a plinth, a modillioned cornice, and an attic that is treated as a parapet with a gabled center. The central bay, which projects slightly forward, is designed as a giant recessed portico supported by fluted Corinthian columns arranged distyle in antis. The entablature is interrupted by a central semicircular arch that extends into the gable above, with a frieze inscribed "THEATRE.ROYAL" "ERECTED.1845". This area contains steps leading up to three altered doorways, a central pedimented aedicule featuring a statue of Shakespeare leaning on a pedestal, tall windows on either side, low windows on the floor above, and a lunette beneath the arch.

The narrower side bays have windows at first-floor level with pedimented architraves and square windows in the attic. The return sides include alternating rectangular panels and windows on the main floor, with fluted friezes on the panels and semi-circular blank arches above the windows. Although the interior has been altered, it still retains the balcony from 1875. The Royale Club is noted as Manchester's oldest surviving theatre.