Notting Hill Coronet

The Coronet stands in Notting Hill, a corner of west London known for its colourful streets and lively market. Built in 1898 as a theatre, it later became a cinema for most of the 20th century before returning to live performance in 2014. The building still shows its original theatre shape, with stalls, dress circle and gallery tiers. Inside, the main auditorium seats 195 people while a smaller black box space holds 100. The Print Room, a fringe theatre company, runs the venue and fills it with plays, poetry, dance, art and music. Notable productions have featured works by Tennessee Williams, Harold Pinter and Anton Chekhov in fresh versions by Mike Poulton. The theatre has welcomed visiting directors such as William Kentridge and companies like Handspring Puppet. It has been nominated for the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and won Offies for set and sound design. The Coronet also appears in the film Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant’s character watches a movie there. Visitors find a restored Victorian theatre with ornate plasterwork and deep red plush seats. The main stage hosts plays and concerts, while the black box studio hosts experimental work. The building’s Grade II listing protects its late-19th-century architecture. Outside, Notting Hill’s cafés and Portobello Road are a short walk away.