Criterion Theatre and Restaurant

Details

TQ 2980 NE CITY OF WESTMINSTER PICCADILLY, Wl 71/75 (south side, Piccadilly Circus) 5.2.70 Nos. 218 to 223(consec.) with the Criterion Theatre and Restaurant = (Including Nos. 5 to 9 (consec.) Jermyn Street) G.V. II* Restaurant, theatre and former hotel. Nos. 218 to 221 including the theatre and 9 Jermyn Street: 1870-74, with the annexe Nos. 222-23 of 1878-79 and its extension to Jermyn Street of 1885 - all by Thomas Verity. Painted stone, slate roofs. Rich eclectic classicism owing more than a little to Charles Garnier. 3 storeys with lofty 2nd floor and dormered mansard and pavilion roof. Original block with 3-window wide centre slightly recessed from one-window wide pedimented pavilion-wings. Ground floor has channelled and panelled piers with canopies to restaurant and theatre entrances in wings, that to theatre with ornamental iron brackets and enrichments with white glass lettering to valence. 1st floor has square headed windows between pilastered piers rising from dentil corniced entablature to support entablature with enriched frieze, in the wings the windows are tripartite and the flanking piers have aediculed segmental pedimented niches containing statues. The central 3 windows of the 2nd floor, set on an enriched panelled pseudo-pedestal, are arcaded with Ionic half-columns flanking the piers, the spandrels carved with draped female figures, festoons and foliage; the wings on this floor have Ionic columned Venetian windows with fan patterned lunettes and are flanked by pairs of Corinthian pilasters. Deep entablature with pediments over wings set against high pedestalled parapet. The annexe continues the storey height and above the mid C.20 shop front is generally similar in the design of its 3 window bays to the original, the 2nd floor having the same central Venetian window motif as on the pavilion wings. Ornamental iron window guards to 1st floor and stone colonette balustrading to 2nd floor windows bowed out as balconette to centre window of original block. Of original interior features of the Criterion Restaurant that survive the tunnel vaulted "Long Bar" with its "glistening" gold mosaic decoration and the first floor banqueting room are of note. The Criterion Theatre itself is exceptional in being located in the basement. Approached by foyer corridors and staircase lined with richly polychromed tiles and painted tile panels alternating with large plate mirrors the auditorium is still substantially that of 1874 with the 1884 remodelling. 2 tiers of balconies, lyre shaped above horseshoe, supported on slender wreathed columns and with open work fronts all of cast iron. 2 more substantial columns with superimposed octagonal shafts support the flat circular main ceiling with shallow Rococo relief panels radiating around laylight. Enriched proscenium frame. As the theatre is in the basement scenery can only be moved via the auditorium - hence the openable prompt-side box; likewise there is no fly space and the safety-Curtain slides up in two parts. The Criterion is a unique survival of a Victorian entertainment complex. Survey of London; Vol, XXIX. The Theatres of London; Mander and Mitchenson.

Listing NGR: TQ2958680626

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

424081

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Mander, , Mitchenson, , The Theatres of London, (1975)
Survey of London in The Parish of St James Westminster Part 1 South of Piccadilly: Volumes 29 and 30, (1960), 29

End of official list entry

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