Pavilion Theatre

The Pavilion Theatre stands on Torquay’s seafront, a Grade II listed building facing Vaughan Road. It was designed by Edward Rogers with Henry Goss and built on a concrete raft above reclaimed land. The façade shows five symmetrical bays, a central entrance with an iron canopy and a Diocletian window above. Copper domes crown the outer bays, each topped with sculpted figures of Mercury. White Carrara-enamelled tiles and Art Nouveau ironwork frame the steps and bandstands. A life-size Britannia stands on the main dome, overlooking the promenade. The theatre opened in August 1912 with a municipal orchestra and hosted famous conductors and singers. Unlike nearby venues, it staged plays during the summer season in the 1970s. The council nearly demolished it in 1973, but listing saved the building. It closed in 1976 and became a skating rink, then a shopping arcade in the 1980s. Heavy corrosion now affects its steel girders while restoration awaits. Visitors find a grand foyer and auditorium once panelled in oak, with lounges and a café. The promenade deck offers views across Torbay’s waters. Curved structures with round-headed windows and copper domes mark the outer bays. The bandstands and steps still carry their original ironwork. Though empty and decaying, the building remains a landmark of Edwardian design.