City Varieties Music Hall

The City Varieties is a Grade II* listed music hall in Swan Street, Leeds, built in 1865 by the architect George Smith for the publican Charles Thornton as an adjunct to his White Swan Inn, and originally called Thornton's New Music Hall and Fashionable Lounge. With Wilton's and Hoxton Hall it is one of very few Victorian music halls left standing: cast-iron columns with foliage capitals carry two bow-fronted balconies, and a three-centred proscenium arch under the royal coat of arms covers a shallow stage. Charlie Chaplin, Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, Vesta Tilley and Harry Houdini all appeared here, and the BBC recorded The Good Old Days in the room from 1953 to 1983. It reopened after restoration in September 2011 and seats 467.