Floral Hall (Paul Hamlyn Hall)

Floral Hall (Paul Hamlyn Hall)

Former market and concert hall, now a bar and restaurant. Built in 1858–1859 to designs by architect Edward Middleton Barry in Italianate style, constructed adjacent to the Royal Opera House. The contractors were Messrs Lucas, with ironwork supplied by Messrs Grissell of the Regent's Canal Ironworks. The building was heavily damaged by fire in 1956 and subsequently repaired. It was dismantled and refurbished in 1996–2000 under a scheme by Dixon Jones BDP, with contractors Graham Welding and D.M. Foundries. During this work, the south portico and four bays were relocated to Borough Market, and the remainder was re-erected with a replica of the original barrel-vaulted roof. Further alterations followed in 2015–2018. The building is constructed of wrought and cast iron and glass.

The Floral Hall survives as a rectangular structure, now raised above ground level on a modern plinth and abutting three ranges of the Royal Opera House to the north, south and west. Its main elevation faces Bow Street.

The east façade is constructed of iron and glass in Italianate style and dominated by an enormous radial fanlight lighting the barrel-vaulted roof below. Six double-height bays are divided by projecting panelled pilasters with cast raised-ring decoration. Each bay has a round-headed arch with ornately-cast perforated spandrels beneath a frieze and moulded cornice. The four outer bays have lower square-headed glazed panels bordered by raised-ring decoration. The two central bays and the centre of the fanlight are recessed with a gadrooned decorative band, whilst the outer portion of the fanlight features sunburst glazing panels bordered by raised-ring decoration. The entire elevation is surmounted by ornate iron cresting.

The interior comprises a broad nave of double height, flanked by lean-to side aisles and divided from them by four-bay arcades of cast-iron columns. The arcade columns have elaborately moulded octagonal plinths, fluted pedestals, plain shafts and perforated Corinthian capitals. Each column base carries the maker's mark: HENRY GRISSELL / 1858 / REGENTS CANAL IRON WORKS / LONDON. The columns are hollow and were originally designed to provide ventilation to the basement. Each column supports perforated brackets cast with Gothic rose and dagger tracery, which form the arches of the arcades and aisles as well as the supports to the curved iron ribs of the barrel-vaulted roof. The roof is a replica of the 1990s with I-section purlins and glazing bars.

The following modern additions are excluded from the listing: single-storey glazed addition to the east front (2015–2018); false ceilings and air conditioning units beneath the lean-to aisle roofs; 1990s glazed and steel-framed mezzanine galleries and associated modern stairways; bar and servery (circa 2018); 1990s west wall including full-height mirror and viewing window to the adjacent amphitheatre bar; 1990s glazed addition and escalator on the south side; and the modern basement. However, works to these features which could affect the character of the listed building as a whole may still require Listed Building Consent.