Designed by W. G. R. Sprague and opened in April 1915 as a music hall with Marie Lloyd topping the bill, performances were subsequently more varied including a series of plays in the late forties.

It became part of the northern based Essoldo chain owned by Solly Sheckman in 1950 after which it was primarily a cinema, finally closing in 1960. Demolition soon followed.

The site is now occupied by shops. Recently the adjacent open space has been named Empire Square in honour of the old theatre.