Mecca Social Club Carlton Rooms

The Mecca Social Club Carlton Rooms, formerly known as The Maida Vale Picture House, is a cinema and later a social club and bingo hall, dating back to 1912. It was designed by Edward A. Stone for Messrs Wilmot, Williams and Co. The building is constructed of stucco with red brick returns.

The exterior presents a symmetrical facade. A central entrance bay features three round-arched openings, flanked by enriched pilasters and approached by four curved steps. Above, four architraved windows are arranged on the first floor, the central two paired and surmounted by scrolled pediments, and separated by pilasters that support an entablature with a dentil cornice and blocking course. Above this is a small segmental-arched pediment featuring a keystone and shell enrichment. The central bays are flanked by rectangular towers, each with paired architraved ground floor windows (a door on the left), an oculus at mezzanine level and above, and two narrow vertically set windows. Each tower is crowned by enriched dies at the angles, a circular belvedere with oculi having scrolled surrounds, an enriched frieze, a dentil cornice, and a cupola with a flagpole.

The interior includes a panelled foyer with part-fluted pilasters supporting an entablature with a mirrored frieze and a dentil cornice, above which is a deep plasterwork frieze depicting putti, animals, birds, and foliage. There's an enriched plasterwork panelled ceiling with bracketed cornices. The auditorium is of fine quality, with a balcony at the rear creating the impression of four boxes. Giant Ionic panelled pilasters alternate with round-arched etched glass mirrors, and above those are tall lugged panels with wreath and festoon plasterwork. The proscenium arch is flanked by fluted Ionic half columns supporting an entablature with a central foliated cartouche; the sides feature tall panels of geometric openwork design. The ceiling is coved and panelled with intricately moulded ribs, with a central circular panel featuring enriched plasterwork spandrels and a dome decorated with a flaming sun and ray motifs. The original seating has been removed.

This is a rare example of an early picture house with minimal alterations. It operated as a dance hall in 1949 and subsequently as a casino and bingo hall from 1965.