137 High Street

This building is an Art Deco style structure, dating to the 20th century. It is constructed of brown brick with buff faience detailing, incorporating red ribbing on the tower and entrance bay. The ground floor entrances and shop fronts feature black tiles and vitriolite panels. The roofs are corrugated asbestos.

The corner of the building, at the junction with Brighton Road, has a two-story, circular entrance block made of black vitriolite on the ground floor and buff faience above, open through its full height internally. A wrap-around painted canopy with blue ribbing and curved brackets extends over a matching fascia, supported by columns with black tiled surrounds. Large upper windows are divided by cylindrical piers. Modern lettering is present above the entrance. The tower is set back behind this entrance block and features ribbed faience work sweeping up to form an asymmetrically curved roof, with banded brickwork to its sides and inside elevations. To the right of the entrance block, a low four-window bay includes twin panelled exit doors and a pilastered wall related to the auditorium. The Brighton Street return has channelled brick to the ground floor and three long windows above, connected by bands of projecting brick. Narrow windows are found in the upper storey, which also features channelled brickwork.

A three-storey, four-window shop block, forming part of Nos 135-141 High Street, is located to the south of the auditorium. This section has curved corners with two central bays projecting forward, featuring black vitriolite fascias and green and black panelled surrounds to the shop fronts, which largely retain their original glazing. The upper windows have been altered and are set in rusticated brick bands.

The interior is noteworthy, featuring a longitudinal entrance hall with overpainted detailing, including half-columns, channelled bands, and quatrefoil bronze and bakelite light pendants to a panelled ceiling, along with matching wall lights. Low, curved and stepped jambs lead to twin staircases ascending to half-landings. Metal handrails and stepped skirtings are present in the upper foyer, which has original glazing to the double doors. The auditorium retains much of its original detail, although the balcony area has been divided off. Features include curved jambs to the proscenium arch, flanked by Art Deco trapezoidal panels with horizontal ribs over original fretwork patterns, and a full-width overarch to a reinforced curved ceiling. Other original detailing includes double doors with glazing, ribbed overdoors, and a fretwork frieze to the rear of the curved balcony.