Ayr Playhouse, Boswell Park, Ayr

The Ayr Playhouse, designed by John Fairweather of Glasgow in 1930, is a 9-bay, rectangular-plan former cinema that now serves as a bingo hall since 2007. The building features painted harl, a deep base course, and a fluted frieze.

On the northeast elevation, there is a pilastered central entrance with three pairs of modern recessed doors, a cornice and brackets above the fascia, and a three-light window. The pilasters divide the bays, and there is a frieze and cornice above. The entrances to the advanced bays on the outer left and right have corniced, square-headed doorpieces with two-leaf timber doors. Above these, single windows on the first floor have raised margins and stepped block pediments with square cross motifs. The remaining bays have regular fenestration at both the ground and first floors, although some ground floor windows are partly infilled, and all ground floor windows are corniced. The central entrance bay retains some original glazing, while the rest of the building has predominantly infilled glazing. The roof is made of corrugated iron, with some flat sections, and features square coped stacks.

Inside, the Playhouse boasts an impressive and largely intact original decorative scheme. The entrance staircase is adorned with marble balusters and banisters. The main auditorium includes semi-circular boxes along the side walls, separated by Corinthian columns that frame the stage. A curved balcony features original velvet-padded, tipping seats. There are also some original glazed timber doors, glazed brick and timberwork in the offices, stained glass windows in the stairwell, and original friezes and cornices throughout the interior.