Dates

• Existence: 1882 - 1966

Biography

The Chester Royalty Theatre in City Road first opened its doors in 1882. The Royalty was built on the site of a primitive theatre, known as The Prince of Wales, where music hall acts of poor quality were mainly presented to the railway workers for years. The new theatre was initially called The New Royalty Theatre and soon it became a hit with the locals, showing a programme of pantomimes and high quality music hall acts and as early as 1898 the newly developed moving pictures.

In 1905, the theatre was sold to theatre promoter and impresario Milton Bode (1860-1938) and partners, who built a skating rink next to it.

Between 1932 and 1961 the Royalty changed owners and managers several times, who modernised the venue and the acts over the decades. Eventually, however, it suffered the same fate as most variety theatres in the United Kingdom, and the decline in audience caused by the advent of cinema and television forced it to close in 1966. After this the building was used as a cabaret, bingo, wrestling venue, indoor skateboard park and nightclub until 2001 when it was demolished.

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