The Palladium

Where is it? 

7 Gloddaeth St, Llandudno LL30 2DD 

What’s there? 

The building is now a J.D Wetherspoons 

Facts - 

▪ The Palladium Theatre was built in 1920. It replaced Llandudno’s first market hall, which was built on the site by the Llandudno Market Company in 1864. 

▪ The Palladium was initially built “to carry on the business of kinematograph hall, theatre, music hall, opera house, circus and entertainment proprietors etc”. Kinematograph was an early name for film. 

▪ The building was designed by Arthur Hewitt, whose other works in Llandudno include Clare’s Department Store and the Washington Hotel. He was a Llandudno councillor and, in the Second World War, a Home Guard commanding officer. 

▪ The theatre had 1,500 seats in the stalls and two balconies. It had its own orchestra, offering a blend of drama, variety, musical comedy and ballet. One the stars who performed here was Gracie Fields (1898-1979), who grew up in Rochdale. She was a famous singer and actress, making the transition from music hall to cinema films and television. 

▪ For many years after the Second World War the Palladium functioned principally as a cinema. In 1972 it was split, with a bingo hall occupying the stalls area and a 600-seat cinema above. 

▪ In 2001 the building was converted by Wetherspoons into a pub which still retains many of the original features of the theatre.