Weymouth Pavilion facts for kids
Weymouth Pavilion, July 2016
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| Former names | The Ritz |
|---|---|
| Address | The Esplanade Weymouth DT4 8ED England |
| Operator | Weymouth Pavilion CIC |
| Capacity | 988 (Theatre) 600 (Ocean Room) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 21 December 1908 |
| Closed | 23 April 1954 (destroyed by fire) |
| Reopened | 15 July 1960 13 July 2013 |
The Weymouth Pavilion, formerly the Ritz, is a theatre in Weymouth, Dorset. The complex contains a 988-seat theatre, 600 (maximum) capacity ballroom known as the Ocean Room, the Piano Bar restaurant, Ritz Cafe and other function and meeting rooms.
The original pavilion, constructed in 1908, was destroyed in a fire in 1954 and the current theatre was built in its place in 1958. It was owned and operated by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council until 2013 and is now operated by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. The theatre is located at the end of The Esplanade between Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Beach.
History
The Pavilion and The Ritz (1908-1954)
The original pavilion was built in response to Weymouth's increasingly popularity as a seaside resort. Following calls for an entertainment venue, a site at the southern end of the Esplanade was chosen and an architectural competition launched in 1907 for the design of the theatre. It was built in 1908 of timber, with a steel frame, for a cost of £14,150, which included the reclamation of land on the esplanade. It was officially opened on 21 December 1908. In 1914, the council began leasing the theatre to Ernest Wheeler, who continued to run it for twenty five years. It later saw competition with the opening of the Alexandra Gardens Theatre in 1924. In response, the pavilion also began screening films.
The pavilion was requisitioned by the military during World War II and was largely used by the newly-formed No. 4 Commando. During 1940, it was used to house 800 Moroccans from the French army and was then later used as a medical centre during the evacuation of the Channel Islands. The pavilion saw bomb damage in an air raid during April 1942 and was afterwards taken over by the Admiralty, who retained it as a naval post sorting office until 1947.
In 1947, the council leased the venue to the Buxton Theatre Circuit. After a new cinema projection room was installed in 1949, the tenants re-opened the theatre as The Ritz in May 1950. A new management company, Melcombe Productions, took over the venue in September 1951. Later in January 1954, some restoration work began on the building, including the renewal of the roof and the redecorating of its wooden exterior. However, on 13 April 1954, the building caught fire, which destroyed much of the building within an hour. The fire was sourced to the misuse of a blow-lamp and the damage costs were estimated to be around £80,000. The council claimed on the venue's fire insurance policy and its remains were demolished.
Weymouth Pavilion (1958-1960)
After much debate, the construction of a new theatre and ballroom began in September 1958. The design plans were drawn up by Samuel Beverley. After running a competition to name the new venue in 1959, the council decided on Weymouth Pavilion against The Normandy. The pavilion, which had cost £154,000 to build, was officially opened on 15 July 1960. The ballroom had opened shortly before this.
See also
In Spanish: Weymouth Pavilion para niños
