Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl facts for kids
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| Address | Esplanade, Porthcawl, Wales, CF36 3YW |
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| Coordinates | 51°28′36″N 3°42′21″W / 51.4766°N 3.7059°W |
| Operator | Awen Cultural Trust |
| Genre(s) | Theatre |
| Capacity | 643 (main hall) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1931 |
| Opened | 1 August 1932 |
The Grand Pavilion is a fun place for shows and events in Porthcawl, Wales. It first opened its doors on August 8, 1932. This building has a cool octagon-shaped dome and a big front area. It was first planned as a "Palm Court" where people could enjoy tea dances, fancy balls, and town events.
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Grand Pavilion: A Look Inside
The Grand Pavilion is a special building with a long history. It was built using a strong type of concrete called ferrocrete. This new building method helped them finish the building very quickly. Construction started in the summer of 1931 and was ready by August 1932.
What Happens at the Pavilion?
The Grand Pavilion hosts many different events all year long. You can see live plays, concerts, and even ballroom dancing. It's also a place for big meetings and parties. A very popular event is the Christmas pantomime, which is a fun, musical play.
Famous Faces on Stage
Many well-known performers have appeared at the Pavilion. These include actors like Rob Brydon and Eddie Izzard. Singers like Elkie Brooks, Cerys Matthews, Hayley Westenra, Katherine Jenkins, and Suzi Quatro have also performed here. Other famous names include Ralph McTell, Joe Pasquale, and Gerry & The Pacemakers.
A Special Performance
In 1957, a famous singer named Paul Robeson was not allowed to travel to the Miners' Eisteddfod event. But he still performed live! He sang over a secret phone call from far away. Many years later, in 2007, the Grand Pavilion celebrated its 75th birthday. They had a special concert with Sir Willard White.
More Than Just Shows
The Grand Pavilion is also a place for other important events. It can be used for conferences, which are large meetings. People can also have their wedding ceremonies, receptions, and parties here.
The Main Hall
The main hall has a stage with all the equipment needed for shows. It can seat 643 people for theatre performances. This hall also has one of the best sprung dance floors in South Wales. A sprung floor is special because it has some bounce, which is great for dancing. The octagon-shaped floor is often used for ballroom dancing classes and tea dances.
The Stage Door and Cafe Bar
In the basement of the Pavilion, there's a renovated space called "The Stage Door." It used to be called the "lesser hall." This area now hosts comedy nights, folk and jazz music, and dance classes. It's also used for theatre workshops, meetings, and smaller conferences. The Cafe Bar also has its own events, like jazz music, relaxing "chill-out" sessions, book readings, and art discussions.
