Grand Theatre

The Grand Theatre, built in 1900 by E A Woodrow, was originally known as the Grand Palace of Varieties and was established by a partnership that included Dan Leno. This building is a local landmark and one of the few remaining suburban examples from the late 19th-century variety theatre boom. Its exterior is robust rather than elegant, constructed of red brick with minimal stone decoration. The symmetrical facade features seven bays, with three narrow bays on either side of a wide central bay. The central bays are slightly set forward and topped with belvederes that have ogee roofs. The overall appearance consists of large areas of machine-made brick, complemented by arcaded loggias in the central bay.

The entrance canopy has been altered, leading to a columned entrance that opens into an altered foyer. The auditorium has been converted for bingo, resulting in the removal of the original stalls seating and the addition of a false ceiling, which affects the proportions of the space. However, the original ceiling and gallery remain above this false ceiling. The theatre features an elaborate Chinese decorative scheme that is unusual and would be striking if restored and properly lit. The boxes are adorned with tented 'pagoda' canopies and modeled plaster dragons, and the ceiling is designed to resemble an 'inverted willow pattern plate'.