Malt Cross

The Malt Cross is a Victorian music hall in Nottingham. It stands on St James Street, just off the Old Market Square in the city centre. The building was completed in 1877 and is one of the few surviving music halls from that period. It began as a café bar hosting live music events. After closing in July 2018, it reopened the following September under new management. The name comes from a former monument in the market square where people gathered. William Howie Wylie wrote that John Nelson, an early follower of Wesley, once preached there. The monument was cleared in 1806, and the site was repaired. The building itself was once an inn called the Roebuck before being bought and rebuilt. It changed hands several times in the late 19th century. Inside, the most striking feature is the high-arched glazed roof designed by Edwin Hill. The wooden arches are made from ten or twelve layers of laminated wood, bent into shape without visible nails or bolts. The design relied on glue alone to hold the layers together. The interior reflects its past as a lively music hall and café bar.