Journey back in time with me, as we explore the captivating history of The London Pavilion. The London Pavilion stands on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street. It is on the northeast side of Piccadilly Circus. Today, it serves as a shopping arcade. It is also part of the Trocadero Centre.
The London Pavilion’s story began in 1859. A music hall was formed. It was created by roofing the yard of the Black Horse Inn. Emil Loibl and Charles Sonnhammer were behind this venture. However, the hall could not utilize its full width. Part of the premises was occupied by Dr. Kahn’s “Delectable Museum of Anatomy”.
In 1885, Shaftesbury Avenue was constructed. It cut through part of the site. A new London Pavilion Theatre was built. This opened on November 30, 1885. It quickly became known as the first “music hall deluxe”. It featured marble-topped tables for dining. This signaled a new era for variety theatre. The architect, designer, and decorator put in their highest efforts. The gaudy music hall gave way to a resplendent theatre of varieties. Its classic exterior boasted marble and freestone. The auditorium was lavishly appointed. Elegant foyers and promenades were brilliantly illuminated by myriad electric lights.
The success of The London Pavilion led its owner to form Syndicate Halls Ltd. This became the first combine of music halls. Lupino Lane made his London début here in 1903. He was known as “Nipper Lane”.
Between 1912 and 1936, The London Pavilion hosted a regular programme of musicals. Noël Coward’s first success, “On With the Dance,” was shown in April 1925. Sir Harry Lauder made appearances. In October 1921, Clifton Webb appeared in “Fun of the Fayre.” In 1923, electric billboards were erected on the side of the building.
In 1934, significant structural alterations took place. The London Pavilion was converted into a cinema at a cost of £70,000. F. G. M. Chancellor oversaw the conversion. The first film screened was “The Private Life of Don Juan”. It premiered on September 5, 1934.
The London Pavilion hosted premieres of iconic films. “The Curse of Frankenstein” premiered in May 1957. The foyer was revamped to look like Frankenstein’s laboratory. In October 1962, “Dr. No,” the first James Bond film, premiered here. In July 1964, “A Hard Day’s Night” also premiered at The London Pavilion. The cinema closed on April 26, 1981.
In 1986, the interior was gutted and converted into a shopping arcade. Only the 1885 façade, outer walls, and roof were preserved. A wax figure exhibition opened in the building. It was run by the Madame Tussauds Group. It was called Rock Circus. The Rock Circus exhibition closed in September 2001.
In 2000, the building became part of the Trocadero Centre. In 2003, signage was altered to read London Trocadero. The basement connects with Piccadilly Circus tube station. From August 2008 to September 25, 2017, The London Pavilion housed Ripley’s Believe It or Not. On October 6, 2018, Body Worlds London opened. The exhibition displayed more than 200 real human bodies.
Today, The London Pavilion stands as a testament to its ever-evolving history. From music hall to cinema to shopping arcade, it remains a key building in the Piccadilly Circus group. Its exterior reflects the grandeur of 1885.