Report - The Embassy Bingo hall/former irving Theatre, wirral - July13

[The Kwan]

I had been watching the scaffold go up on this one for a little while and lately it has been scaffed right up to roof level so I went for a look with Liam (non member) who had a day off work. there has been alot of activity lately as it has just been sold at auction and the "sold" sign has been attached to the buiding, rumour has it that it will be a weatherspoons or a Mosc but no one is sure.
Anyway it has great history and although we only went for a reccy we were gifted the opportunity of an opening and we were in.


some History
The Irving Theatre stood on Victoria Road (later renamed as Borough Road) and it took its name from the famous repertory actor, Sir Henry Irving (1838 - 1905), who laid the corner stone on 11th October 1899. It was understood that Sir Henry only allowed his name to be used on the condition that the theatre showed serious drama's. The theatre could hold 2,500 and opened on 18th December 1899 with 'The Sign Of The Cross'.

The building way back when it had a tower

and its reopening Bill

After a fire in 1908 the theatre reopened as 'The Kings', never to be called 'The Irving Theatre' again. In 1912 the theatre was renamed again as 'La Scala' under the new management of Ludwig Blatter. The theatre went through several improvements and in August 1918 was renamed as 'The Hippodrome' under the management of Fred Ross. In March 1923 the theatre was sold to A.J Moran and renamed 'The Casino' but after 6 months it had reverted back to 'The Hippodrome' with Will J. Prescott as the manager. For a short time the theatre was called 'The Irving Repertory Theatre".

In 1928 the theatre again was under new management and with the old name of 'The Hippodrome'. The theatre closed in 1930 and reopened in the same year with Fred Ross again as manager. Not long afterwards, the theatre closed and remained so for a while until Pat Collins purchased the theatre with Richard "Dick Batch" Batchelor as the manager and the theatre opened on 12th November 1934 with a young comedian actor Tommy Trinder appearing on stage

The Buxton Theatre Company took over the building in 1936 and opened it as the 'Embassy'. It remained as such until forced to close because of poor attendances on 31st March 1959 when it became a bingo hall.
Sadly the Embassy closed its doors for good in December 2012 having become a victim of the economy and online gaming.
a more recent shot Snaffled from wikiwirral Thanks to Ian Grundy

The place is MAHOOSIVE
a shot from the side

We headed straight upstairs and couldnt get onto the roof but we could see evidence of its original features that the it was once more than a bingo hall.

I think that these were used to tie off props etc

The original stairway up to the cinema circle

And the original doors into the circle

The door to the gantry was all steel and welded to oblivion and I just couldnt figure out why, even the doorway was welded..picture isnt HDR it was just dark also I dont know what the box is on the wall with three wooden pegs in is.

So we headed dowwnstairs into the Bingo bit and it was much more modern but still some nice features, you can see the screen as it once was.

it was already being stripped

The Bandits had been had by bandits

And we hit the bar

And the beer was still there but not working

It closed at christmas and the Notice board confirmed it

Bingo cards anyone?

The lobby and more Fruities, the change machine has been ravaged

The reception

some tables and bingo altar

Bit out of date

Lastly this is a crap shot but just check out the nicotine, it was running down some of the walls in places a memory from when you could smoke in premises.

Thanks for looking

 

[scotty markfour]

what an excellent report n pics , pics don,t have to be masterpieces , as long as it gives you an idea of the place ! ...i take my hat off to you for such an excellent find !

 

[tumbles]

Loving that. Nice work.

 

[Speed]

Whats going on there now?

 

[KronJewels]

Nice report. Better these places end up a Spoons or a mosque than get demolished!

 

[The Kwan]

Whats going on there now?

It is apparently still up for sale, I read on wikiwirral website that concerns over the newly installed 4G masts have scuppered any plans for residential uses and there are two nearby pubs that have closed in recent years as well as a Morrisons supermarket so sadly the area appears to be in decline, although a licensed premises may still be an option but a big gamble, and only a name like Wetherspoons could probably make it happen. I do pass it fairly regularly and it always seems to be left to rot with no activity in or out but I do keep an eye on it.

I found this bit of info too that suggests that Stan Laurel was in sleeping beauty here in 1907 as a Golliwog and his Dad also owned three theartres, a leg up in the game
.......
In October, 1902, Mr J.H French became manager of the Irving Theatre, and under his administration musical comedy and pantomime were introduced;Floradora was performed twice in one year, and a company of juvenile artistes presented The Sleeping Beauty in February 1907. Among the cast was Wee Georgie Wood, then a talented boy of eleven and a fine mimic of well-known music hall celebrities. In the show was another young man, thought by his contemporaries to be rather too old for the show (as he was then in his teens) and decidedly 'untalented'. After a conference it decided to give this boy the part of a golliwog; in fact it was considered by some that he was given a part at all only because his father owned three of the four theatres and the producer did not want to offend him. So young Stanley Jefferson was 'suited'. The name, which meant nothing to anyone then and means nothing to people now, was later changed to Stan Laurel of the Laurel and Hardy partnership.

 

[Urbexbandoned]

Great report, love the style of building. The inside reminds me of when I used to go to bingo with my mum.

 

[tazong]

brilliant

 

[The Kwan]

Great report, love the style of building. The inside reminds me of when I used to go to bingo with my mum.

Funny how kindly Mums turn into monsters when they get inside the bingo hall..shhhh no noise or laughing and woe betide anyone who calls a house that turns out to be wrong
Serious shit, I have been to the bingo but they did have a bar so the experience was quite pleasant

 

[Urbexbandoned]

Funny how kindly Mums turn into monsters when they get inside the bingo hall..shhhh no noise or laughing and woe betide anyone who calls a house that turns out to be wrong
Serious shit, I have been to the bingo but they did have a bar so the experience was quite pleasant

Haha your not wrong. If I was quiet I got to call out 'Bingo' and be rewarded with a chip butty

 

[The Kwan]

Just by way of an update, the there was speculation that this place was going to be a Mosc, then a Wetherspoons but it has now been bought by a furniture shop called Hunters, it is currently being painted grey but at least it is being used again, new windows the lot.

View attachment 712034

 

[skgogosfan]

Thanks for the update and well done for getting in there just after it closed! I wonder what happened to the tower section - was it bombed in the war?

Dave.

 

[The Kwan]

Thanks for the update and well done for getting in there just after it closed! I wonder what happened to the tower section - was it bombed in the war?

Dave.

Hi Dave, The tower was destroyed by fire in 1908 apparently

 

[WildBoyz]

Great report. I wasn't expecting it to look like that inside back in the day. I think I have a vague recollection of where this is... Somewhere in the back of my mind. Nice one for getting inside!

 

[Brad4398]

This is now being turned into a massive gym, privately owned and absolutely huge. The area that was once the balcony will be a cardio section of the gym, downstairs will be a dance studio where the bingo seats were, also a false wall has been put in at the front of the large downstairs area to make use for personal trainer sessions. Towards the very top will be massage parlours etc, the upper circle seating area will also be another gym room, behind the curtain is another large space which will be utilised for a downstairs gym which will be child friendly so for use of younger generations and safe for parents to bring their children and not have to go upstairs to get to the gym. This is going to be amazing, it is getting a new lease of life with nice white walls and a spruce of modernisation. However a lot of what you see will still be original features, just freshened up. The large, and I mean absolutely huuuge room shown in the pictures with all the ropes and metal ceiling suspenders will be renovated so that it is safe to go into the rooftop using stairs rather than ladders to catch a bit of sun and any rooftop excercise yoga sessions.