Walthamstow Soho 9828-Pano
Soho Theatre (Granada), Walthamstow - a panoramic stitch of seven portrait mode shots, showing the whole of the auditorium. Opened on the 15 September 1930, designed by Cecil Masey with interiors by Theodore Komisarjevsky, and built on the enlarged site of the earlier Victoria Cinema. The Granada had 2,697 seats in stalls and balcony, with a strongly Moorish influence to the spectacular foyers and auditorium. It was tripled in 1974, with two mini cinemas under the balcony - the front stalls were removed and the stage lost live usage. The theatre was grade 2 listed in 1987 (upped to Grade 2* in 2000). Later known as ABC, MGM and EMD Cinemas, the venue closed in 2003 and was sold to a church, who were refused planning consent for change of use on several occasions. It was sold again, in a derelict state, in 2014 and parts of the building were reopened as a bar and live entertainment venue known as Mirth. In 2019 it was bought by Waltham Forest Borough Council and, in conjunction with the Soho Theatre, they began a restoration process. This saw the main auditorium restored as a 1,000 theatre, the rear stalls had the original plasterwork restored to become a unique bar, the rear of the circle, again with original features, is now a community / rehearsal room, the circle foyer is a stylish bar, and the foyers restored (with full disabled access adaptations) to original splendour. The architects for the scheme were Pilbrow & Partners, and the main contractor was Wilmott Dixon. Soho Walthamstow, as the theatre is now known, reopened in May 2025 and the theatre is now very comfortable and looks stunning, there is some of the best front-of-house space existing in a theatre, wiith brand-new artiste rooms and a widened stage. What it lacks is the original organs, now in storage, awaiting sufficient money (£1million+) to be restored and reinstated.
London Borough of Waltham Forest, Walthamstow, London, UK - former Granada Cinema, Hoe Street
July 2025
Walthamstow Soho 9828-Pano
Soho Theatre (Granada), Walthamstow - a panoramic stitch of seven portrait mode shots, showing the whole of the auditorium. Opened on the 15 September 1930, designed by Cecil Masey with interiors by Theodore Komisarjevsky, and built on the enlarged site of the earlier Victoria Cinema. The Granada had 2,697 seats in stalls and balcony, with a strongly Moorish influence to the spectacular foyers and auditorium. It was tripled in 1974, with two mini cinemas under the balcony - the front stalls were removed and the stage lost live usage. The theatre was grade 2 listed in 1987 (upped to Grade 2* in 2000). Later known as ABC, MGM and EMD Cinemas, the venue closed in 2003 and was sold to a church, who were refused planning consent for change of use on several occasions. It was sold again, in a derelict state, in 2014 and parts of the building were reopened as a bar and live entertainment venue known as Mirth. In 2019 it was bought by Waltham Forest Borough Council and, in conjunction with the Soho Theatre, they began a restoration process. This saw the main auditorium restored as a 1,000 theatre, the rear stalls had the original plasterwork restored to become a unique bar, the rear of the circle, again with original features, is now a community / rehearsal room, the circle foyer is a stylish bar, and the foyers restored (with full disabled access adaptations) to original splendour. The architects for the scheme were Pilbrow & Partners, and the main contractor was Wilmott Dixon. Soho Walthamstow, as the theatre is now known, reopened in May 2025 and the theatre is now very comfortable and looks stunning, there is some of the best front-of-house space existing in a theatre, wiith brand-new artiste rooms and a widened stage. What it lacks is the original organs, now in storage, awaiting sufficient money (£1million+) to be restored and reinstated.
London Borough of Waltham Forest, Walthamstow, London, UK - former Granada Cinema, Hoe Street
July 2025