Royal Hall

The Royal Hall is a concert hall and entertainment complex built in 1903 by architects Frank Matcham and Robert Beale. It is constructed of squared coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings and slate roofs.

The west-facing front is symmetrical with seven bays arranged over two storeys. There are three entrances in the central bay beneath a cast iron and glass portico. To either side is a three-window projecting pavilion, and a lower projecting extension extends to the right (south). The front elevation is dominated by Dutch gables with domed lanterns above each pavilion, and an elaborate central Dutch gable featuring a lunette and coat of arms, with a cartouche below inscribed 'Kursaal'. The other elevations are largely obscured by later buildings, though at the rear a glazed ambulatory is partly boarded. Above it rises a series of hipped roofs over the stage areas, with a central large copper dome featuring glazing below and smaller domed turrets at the corners.

The interior was recently restored and was designed by Frank Matcham in an opulent Baroque style. The front foyer contains a box office (enlarged in 1916) and opens to the auditorium and promenades on either side, with two main staircases housed in the corner pavilions. The central auditorium is rectangular with a circle and grand circle to the rear, boxes below on either side, and a relatively small stage. Above is a coffered ceiling with splayed corners and a central raised section with a lantern light beneath the central dome. The interior is lavishly decorated with caryatids, marble pilasters, enriched plasterwork, restored painted panels and stained glass. The promenades have arched coffered ceilings and stained glass in round-arched windows. The rear ambulatory features cast iron and glass screens to the exterior, now boxed in, with the rear balcony area closed off. A bar occupies the rear with modern fittings. Extensive lower floor and basement areas contain dressing rooms, service rooms, boiler rooms and storage.

The building was developed as part of Harrogate's expansion as a spa town. The concept of a kursaal, common in continental European spa towns, was rare in England. A design competition held in 1899 was won by Robert Beale, though the scheme was substantially modified and Frank Matcham completely redesigned the interior, becoming the senior architect. The building was attached to a pre-existing Concert Room of 1835 and opened in 1903. A permanent projection box and enlarged box office were installed in 1916. The adjoining Concert Room was demolished in 1938. Various alterations were made throughout the twentieth century, though proposals to alter the stage house were repeatedly proposed but not implemented. The Hall served diverse functions from ballet to wine tastings, though its importance diminished following the opening of the International Conference Centre in 1982. A major restoration project identified serious structural defects and was undertaken from 2005 to 2008, restoring the decorative scheme to its original design.