Weymouth Pavilion
Weymouth Pavilion, July 2016
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| Former names | The Ritz |
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| Address |
The Esplanade Weymouth DT4 8ED England |
| Operator | Weymouth Pavilion CIC |
| Capacity | 988 (Theatre) 600 (Ocean Room) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 21 December 1908 |
| Reopened | 15 July 1960 13 July 2013 |
| Website | |
| www |
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Coordinates: 50°36′32″N 2°26′49″W / 50.609°N 2.447°W
The Weymouth Pavilion, formerly the Ritz, is a theatre in Weymouth, Dorset. The complex contains a 988-seat theatre, 600 (maximum) capacity ballroom known as the Ocean Room, the Piano Bar restaurant, Ritz Cafe and other function and meeting rooms.
Originally constructed in 1908, it was destroyed in a building fire in 1954 and the current theatre was built in its place in 1958. The theatre was owned and operated by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council until 2013 and is now operated by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. The theatre is located at the end of The Esplanade between Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Beach. The Jurassic Skyline is also located in this area.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Weymouth was becoming increasingly popular as a seaside resort. The large demand for entertainment was put forward to Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Borough Councillors. Many people believed that if Weymouth was to flourish as a first-class resort, a venue was urgently required and so by 1906, the decision was made to build the Weymouth Pavilion. The site chosen was at the southern end of the Esplanade, and this caused some objections to be made, including that it was a location too far from the railway station and that the area was particularly exposed to bad weather. Despite this, the plans went ahead and the area was reclaimed from the foreshore. In 1907, an architectural competition was launched to find a design, and in October that year, the winning design from an anonymous hand was chosen. It included an auditorium with stalls and gallery seating, an Oriental café and outside verandahs. The building's frame was of steel with the main fabric of wood. The construction began in early 1908 and was completed that year at a total cost of £14,150, including land reclamation.
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