The Royalty (Gala Bingo)

The Royalty (Gala Bingo)

This is a reinforced concrete and red brick cinema, built in a loosely classical style. The façade is faced in deep red brick laid in Flemish bond, with stone and tile detailing throughout.

The road front presents a seven-bay composition. The central three bays rise two storeys and are contained beneath a dome, with lower-height bays flanking either side. The central bays are punctuated by three tall windows with stone pilasters and round heads that rise into the upper floor. These windows are separated by a fluted stone band running the full width of the façade, above which stands a stone cornice. The central window features a hood and stone detailing. A frieze terminates at both ends with a roundel above decorative pilasters. The word ROYALTY is fixed to a stone parapet. The upper lights of the leaded windows contain stained glass. The left and right windows have iron balconies decorated with "R" emblems, date stones, console brackets, and narrower stained glass windows below. A projecting porch with pilasters decorated with pyramidal bosses, floral pendants and console brackets protects the central entrance.

The symmetrical bays to either side have central windows with mullions, stone pilasters and hoods, set at a raised level. Below these are paired keyed oculus windows. Between these and the central porch are blank doorways with brick architraves, raised tile keystones, and blue brick diapering in the tympanum; these show signs of former window openings. Paired brick doorways with fanlights and raised tile keystones stand at each corner of the façade. One door to the right bears a sunray emblem. The side bays have brick parapets ramped to meet the central section. Above the façade stand the curved brick elevations of the auditorium range and a pitched roof.

The side and rear elevations are irregularly set, with visible concrete structural beams running through the red brickwork. The west flank is successively set back to accommodate the auditorium length and attached service rooms. Timber fenestration and a brick chimney stack rising above a first-floor kitchen are visible. Fire exits serve the ground floor, and the concrete rear of the stage extends to the south-west. The south-east wall has three evenly-spaced upper-level lights with sunray glazing bars. The east flank elevation has casements under concrete lintels at each level, a large inset brick section, and an oculus window with sunray glazing above. A further oculus sits above a flight of fire escape steps.

The building's plan is informal. The auditorium is largely rectangular with a stage at the front, a stalls area, and a substantial dress circle seating area. The upper rear wall is bowed. Connecting corridors, circulation areas, service rooms and internal flighted exits stand to the rear and side of the auditorium at upper level. A projection box and further service rooms occupy a mezzanine level. The auditorium range stands offset to the road, with an attached foyer range positioned in-line with it. This foyer range contains a central circular foyer with a lightwell above, offices, and a substantial inner foyer.

Original double doors with bronze handles open into the circular foyer, which retains its original proportions and tiled floor, now mostly covered by modern carpet. A kiosk stands to the left, with service rooms and offices beyond. An inserted ceiling sits below a lightwell with balustrade. To the right are steps leading to doorways and stairs to the dress circle and a switch room. A corridor to the right leads to an inner foyer with concrete relieving arches, which opens to the principal entrance of the main auditorium.

The auditorium is split-level to the stalls, progressively raised towards the rear, and now fitted with modern seating and bingo tables. A raised stage with proscenium arch stands at the front. Steps down to Gentlemen's and Ladies' facilities flank either side.

The auditorium walls are richly decorated in plaster. Boldly-coloured, full-height, arched designs flank either side of the stage, each centring a relief crown insignia at the top with scimitar-like motifs dropping down the sides. These arches form the focus for a circular and arched design continuing around the upper auditorium level. The arch bases lead to regularly spaced, slender pilasters with chevron motifs, terminating in an overlapping semi-circular pattern. A curved ceiling section directly above the stage incorporates a decorative ventilation panel with intricate design. Much interior decoration is sprayed in gold. Multiple exits project into the auditorium space, all with original double doors featuring glazed upper lights, some with sunray motifs. Below the balcony at the rear are further exits, toilets, and modern inserted serveries. Cast-iron radiators are set within shallow-framed alcoves throughout the building, resembling fireplaces. On the dress circle, these align with the seating rake.

A modern stair from the right side of the stalls reaches the dress circle, which has modern seating. The balcony fronts bear elaborate applied designs. A former projection aperture, now an air-conditioning vent, occupies the central recessed section. The walls are richly decorated beneath a large circular ceiling dome with rich floral cornice. The dome's upper part has been sealed, potentially concealing further decoration. The wall decoration incorporates the three windows in the south elevation, with three blank windows featuring sunray patterns on the opposite wall. Behind the dress circle are a timber-panelled balustrade, toilets, roof access, and a central semi-circular recessed lobby. An oculus window with lotus flower glazing sits above the lobby; inset lunettes appear on the rear auditorium walls either side. The stair to the foyer is accessed to the right of the lobby, with doors to the left leading to circulation spaces including a café, further stairs, and the foyer lightwell. The rear upper-level areas are generally plainly detailed, though they retain original doors and glazing. Three thematic leaded windows facing the High Street depict a crown, a white rose, and a plume of feathers. Some rear stairs include display alcoves inset in the walls. On the mezzanine level below the balcony, the former projection room retains some electrical plant, colour-coded light levers, and projection shutters. Many internal doors and fire exit balustrades are original.