Queen's Hall, Minehead

{{short description|Former theatre in Somerset}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Geograph 3069988 Queens Hall Minehead.jpg

The Queen's Hall in Minehead, Somerset, England, was built in 1914 on the sea front of Minehead as a theatre for films and live performances.

It was designed by W. J. Tamlyn, a local architect and built of brick with Bath Stone dressings by J. B. & S. B. Marley. The first show was Oh I Say, which had previously been at the Criterion Theatre in London.{{cite web|title=Chronological History of Minehead|url=http://www.minehead-online.co.uk/chronology.htm|publisher=Ninehead Online|accessdate=29 August 2016}}

The brick building has three bays, with a decorated fascia and iron-and-glass canopy. The auditorium, which is {{convert|100|ft}} by {{convert|46|ft}}, has a barrel roof with an elliptical proscenium arch with ornamental cartouche. Orchestra stalls and the balcony provided the majority of the seating, and there were two boxes.{{cite web|title=Queen's Hall|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/41612|publisher=Cinema Treasures|accessdate=29 August 2016}} It was a venue for various ballet and theatrical touring companies and was the first place in the town at which a sound film was shown.{{cite web | url=http://www.minehead-online.co.uk/history.htm | title=A short history of Minehead|publisher=Minehead online|accessdate=4 May 2013}} In 1930 a Western Electric sound system was installed.

The theatre and cinema closed in 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War, with the building being used as a canteen for troops. The building suffered major damage in the storms of 1996, with the glass canopy over the entrance being destroyed and flood damage to the hall.{{cite web | url=http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/233-queen-s-hall-minehead|title=Queen's Hall (Minehead) | publisher=Theatre Trust | accessdate=4 May 2013}} The building was restored for use as an amusement arcade and then a public house, at one time called the Mambo bar. Until 2015 it operated under its original name, "The Queen's Hall," as a pub. The pub closed in 2015. The lease was sold in 2012 for an undisclosed sum. It incorporated upper and lower ground floors with the balcony set up as a VIP area. There were also a kitchen and washing up area with a manager's flat above.{{cite web|title=Queens Hall, Warren Road, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5BG|url=http://www.humberts.com/asset-images/rps12/brochures/TMC140031.PDF|publisher=Humberts|accessdate=29 August 2016}} It was refurbished and reopened in 2016.{{cite news|title=Minehead's Queens Hall officially opens|url=http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/14543652.Minehead_s_Queens_Hall_officially_opens/|accessdate=29 August 2016|work=Somerset County Gazette|date=8 June 2016}}