Newcastle, New Bridge Street, Oxford Galleries Dance Hall

HER Number:
15563

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Newcastle, New Bridge Street, Oxford Galleries Dance Hall

Place:
Newcastle

Map Sheet:
NZ26SE

Class:
Recreational

Site Type: Broad:
Music Speech and Dance Venue

Site Type: Specific:
Dance Hall

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Extant Building

Description:
London architects Adamson and Kinns drew up plans in 1921 for a cinema on New Bridge Street. City Amusements was formed in April of that year and the proposed capital was £250,000. The chosen site was No. 49 New Bridge Street. John Dobson's house would need to be demolished. The picture hall was to be called the Oxford, with a dance hall, restaurant, billiard saloon and tea rooms. The plans survive in Tyne and Wear Archives. The façade was to be in cream terracotta with Corinthian pillars. The spacious vestibule would lead to a semi-circular foyer and then into the theatre. Staircases from the vestibule would lead to the billiard room and basement restaurant. There would be lifts to the circles and galleries of the theatre. The stalls would hold 967 people, the lower circle 540 and the upper circle 405. This was a vast size for a 1921 theatre. In addition the restaurant and dance floor would both accommodate 800 people, plus 1500 in the balcony. The council approved the plans on 27 April 1921 but the promoters withdrew the application. Raising the funds might have been the problem. In 1923 City Amusements instead built Oxford Galleries dance hall for £75,000. Later a nightclub (Tiffany's, Ikon and Liquid and Envy). Now closed.

Easting:
2516

Northing:
6455

Grid Reference:
NZ25166455

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
Frank Manders, 1991, Cinemas of Newcastle, pp 182-183; Bernicia Archaeology, 2013, Archaeological Desk Based Assessment for 48 New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne; plan of approved planning applications 1921 and 1924, Tyne and Wear Archives T186/A1701; plan of proposed alterations to Oxford Galleries, 1925, Tyne and Wear Archives T186/A1701, plan of proposed alterations to Oxford Galleries 1946, 1949, 1952 and 1954, Tyne and Wear Archives T186/A1701; Ainsworth Spark Associates, 2015, John Dobson's House, 49 New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne - Historic Building Recording