Mecca Social Club Carlton Rooms

CAMDEN

TQ2583SE MAIDA VALE 798-1/80/1098 (East side) 05/02/91 Mecca Social Club Carlton Rooms

GV II

Formerly known as: The Maida Vale Picture House MAIDA VALE. Cinema, now a social club and bingo hall. 1912. By Edward A Stone. For Messrs Wilmot, Williams and Co. Stucco with red brick returns. EXTERIOR: symmetrical facade with central entrance bay of 3 round-arched openings flanked by enriched pilasters and approached by 4 curved steps. 4 architraved windows to 1st floor, central 2 paired, with scrolled pediments and separated by enriched pilasters supporting an entablature with dentil cornice and blocking course above which appears a small segmental-arched pediment with keystone and shell enrichment. Central bays flanked by rectangular towers each with paired, architraved windows with cornices to ground floor (left hand, a door), an oculus at mezzanine level and above, 2 narrow vertically set windows. Each tower crowned by enriched dies at angles and a circular belvedere with oculi having scrolled surrounds, an enriched frieze, dentil cornice and cupola with flag pole. INTERIOR: panelled foyer with part fluted pilasters supporting an entablature with mirrored frieze and dentil cornice above which a deep plasterwork frieze of putti, animals, birds and foliage. Enriched plasterwork panelled ceiling with bracketed cornice. Sumptuous, fine quality gilded auditorium with balcony at rear giving impression of 4 boxes. Giant Ionic panelled pilasters alternate with round-arched, etched glass mirrors with above, tall lugged panels having wreath and festoon plasterwork. Proscenium arch flanked by fluted Ionic half columns supporting an entablature with central foliated cartouche. To either side, tall panels of geometric openwork design. Coved, panelled ceiling with wide, intricately moulded ribs. Central circular panel with enriched plasterwork spandrels and dome with flaming sun and rays enrichment. Seating now removed. HISTORICAL NOTE: a rare example of a virtually unaltered early picture house. In 1949 it became the Carlton Rooms Dance Hall; in 1965 a casino and bingo hall.

Listing NGR: TQ2570783394