WHILE controversial plans for a Sexual Entertainment Venue at the Truth nightclub in Warrington town centre have been rejected by licensing chiefs, the owners of the building say ambitious plans to provide a theatre fell on deaf ears at the town hall.
Plans had been drawn up at great expense showcasing how the prominent building on Friars Gate, once the hugely popular Palace Theatre, could be brought back to life as an 850-seat capacity theatre.
More than a decade ago there was a campaign for a theatre venue in the town centre, with the former Mr Smiths building seen as an ideal venue prior to being destroyed by fire. More recently there had been talk of creating a theatre at the drill hall next to Warrington town hall.
A spokesperson for the landlord said: “We have gone to huge expense in producing plans for a working theatre in the heart of the town by one of the UK’s leading theatre designers. We sent copies of the plans to the members responsible for Culture, Warrington and co, Culture Warrington. Not one of them indicated a theatre was part of their plans for the town centre.
“There is constant noise about the town needing a theatre, but the reality is the powers that be have zero interest in delivering one.”
An illustration of the stalls of the theatre plan
But a spokesperson for the council said: “We strongly refute the claims being made.
“The Chief Executive from the Council met with a representative to informally discuss the company’s vision and high-level plans for a theatre.
“However, as yet, no meaningful detail has been provided in terms of how the theatre would be funded. Their business case therefore remains unclear.
“If the company is able to provide a robust and detailed business case, we would be able to properly review their proposals.”
Earlier this year the council nodded through a near £5m investment to upgrade the Pyramid Performing Arts Centre, funded by Government money.
The Palace-Hippodrome Theatre opened on 23rd September 1907 and was part of the MacNaghten Vaudeville Circuit. The opening production featured John Tiller’s ‘High Jinks’ Company.
It was converted into the Palace Cinema in early 1931, opening with Ben Lyon in “Hell’s Angels”. Closed in 1957 when the MacNaghten Vaudeville Circuit ceased operation, it remained closed for 3 years.
It was purchased by the Hutchinson circuit in 1960 and re-opened with Shirley Jones in “Oklahoma”. The Palace Cinema closed on 7th November 1964 with the film “The Camp on Blood Island.”
It then became a Surewin bingo hall, operated by Hutchinson’s. In later years it was known as the Apollo Bingo Club until it closed in 1997. After a few years of lying empty, it is became a nightclub named Brannigans. By 2013, it was known as the Showbar. It was closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since then it has been the Trilogy nightclub and more recently Truth nightclub.
Bid to open lap dancing and striptease venue at town centre nightclub rejected
