Barrfields Pavilion

Barrfields Pavilion stands beside the Vikingar leisure centre on Greenock Road in Largs, North Ayrshire. Built in 1930 as a variety theatre for summer visitors, it once seated over a thousand. Over the decades it has welcomed Scottish stars such as Rikki Fulton, Stanley Baxter and Billy Connolly, alongside English names like Frankie Vaughan. Local companies still stage pantomimes, musicals and plays throughout the year. The building now belongs to North Ayrshire Council and is run by North Ayrshire Leisure Entertainments. The theatre was rebuilt in 1995 alongside a new swimming pool and sports complex. The auditorium now holds five hundred seats and the foyers were enlarged with a Winter Garden Café Bar and improved stage facilities. A volunteer group called the Barrfields Theatre User Group promotes the venue and supports amateur productions. The programme includes children’s shows, ballet, Scottish plays and touring productions. Visitors find a modern theatre with spacious foyers and a café bar. The auditorium seats five hundred and the stage has new facilities. Outside, the Vikingar centre shares the site with sports grounds and a putting green. The building is part of Largs’s municipal policies and remains a busy touring venue.