The Majestic Theatre, Quebec Street, Leeds

Later - The Majestyk and Jumpin' Jacks Nightclub / Channel Four Headquarters

Leeds Theatres Index

Above - The Exterior of the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in 1924 - From The Builder, 14th of November 1924.

The Majestic Theatre was situated on Quebec Street, Leeds, at the junction with Wellington Street, and first opened on the 5th of June 1922 with a showing of the film 'Way Down East'. The Theatre was designed in the Greek Revival Style by Pascal J. Stienlet of Newcastle upon Tyne with J. C. Maxwell, and was built for Leeds Picture Playhouse Ltd.

Right - A Report on the Opening of the Majestic Theatre, Leeds - From the Kinematograph Weekly, June 15th 1922.

The Majestic had a large Auditorium constructed on two levels, Stalls and One Circle, seating 2,500 people, and was decorated with large Wall Motives and a massive Plaster Frieze right around the auditorium, over the Proscenium, under the Dome, and above the walls, in a circular band.

The Theatre was equipped with a small platform stage and dressing rooms for artistes and speakers, (Notably the former Prime Minister Lloyd George was recieved there in 1922, see article and images below). And the Theatre had it's own Theatre Organ and Symphony Orchestra conducted by Francois Grandpierre on its opening. The Theatre's Projection Box was situated at the rear of the Stalls underneath the Balcony, and the Theatre also had a very Large Restaurant and Dance Floor situated in the basement which could accommodate some 500 people.

Above - A Sketch showing the Auditorium of the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in 1924 - From The Builder, 14th of November 1924.

The Yorkshire Post reported on the new Majestic in their 2nd of June 1922 edition saying:- 'A notable step towards the making of a "Brighter Leeds" will be taken on Monday next, when the magnificent new Majestic Picture house and restaurant, to be known as "The Majestic," will open its doors to the public. It is claimed that this will be the largest and most magnificent establishment of its kind in the country, and, with the aid of a little imagination, in order to overcome the difficulties caused by its present unfinished condition, one can at any rate tentatively admit the claim. The building itself is certainly a great improvement to the centre of the city, and well fills the City Square site which stood long expensively empty.

Above - The 'Waiting Space' at the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in 1924 - From The Builder, 14th of November 1924.

Leeds people, who during the last eighteen months have observed the "hang the expense" methods of construction which have been adopted in connection with this palace of pleasure, have been inclined to shake their heads and predict that it "can never pay." It may comfort these pessimists by the way, the capital invested is entirely British - to know that it has also occurred to the directors that in these depressed times they may see no direct return on so expensive a venture. They have a more immediate objective than dividends.

All the men behind the venture have large interests in the cinema industry, and are anxious, above all things that this latest minister to the public pleasure should take the highest place in the social and recreative life of England, and they will be quite content if in "The Majestic" at Leeds they can carry "the pictures" a step higher than has been reached. When better times come they, of course, hope to make the venture a commercial success, but in the mean-time they are content to allow what can be done.

Right - An Illustrated Feature on the Film 'The Lost World' being shown at the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in 1925 - From The Leeds Mercury, October 29th 1925.

The picture theatre will seat 1,400 on the parterre level, and 1,200 in the balcony, a feature of the theatre is the organ, which has cost £5,000. The dome over the auditorium is 84ft. in diameter, which is greater than the diameter of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral. A platform has been arranged in front of the picture screen so that the theatre may be used for other entertainments and meetings.

Above - A Sketch showing the 500 seat Restaurant in the Basement of the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in 1924 - From The Builder, 14th of November 1924.

Below the theatre is a finely equipped restaurant, which contains a dining-room more than twice the size of any existing dining-room in the city, and which is said to be the largest dining hall out of London. Apart from the space occupied by the orchestra and dancing floor there will be accommodation for about five hundred diners. The restaurant is sumptuously furnished and decorated, and the kitchen equipment is in harmony with the rest of the establishment. As the whole of the restaurant and the kitchens are below the level of the ground, space is precious, and the kitchen reminds one very much of the corresponding department on a first-class liner.

M. Demangeon, who was formerly chef at the Grand Hotel, Harrogate, has been installed for the last three months, planning, arranging, and equipping the cuisine in the most up-to-date manner, and organising the staff. The first fruit of his labour was tasted yesterday by a small party who enjoyed a delightful hot-weather luncheon to the accompaniment of the music of workmen's hammers and saws. M. Dernangeon received many congratulations upon the excellence of the luncheon.

In the restaurant as in the theatre the heating and ventilation are combined in a system whereby filters and humified air is forced into the building in winter. In summer the incoming air is cooled to 15 deg. below the outside temperature, and the whole interior atmosphere is changed four times every hour.

Above - Circle, Parterre, and Basement Plans for the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in 1924 - From The Builder, 14th of November 1924.

At the luncheon the Chairman said the construction of the building had occupied about 18 months. During that time unemployment had existed throughout England, yet that property had kept busy an average of from 600 to 800 men per week. The foundation was a tremendous undertaking. They had had to go down about 20ft. below adjoining buildings, and support those buildings. This meant that they had to go 40ft. below the surface. In doing so they tapped some ancient public wells which had to be filled with cement. The architect is Mr. P. J. Stienlet of Newcastle-onTyne, who has designed 48 similar halls.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the Yorkshire Post, 2nd of June 1922.

Above - A Photo Montage showing the former Prime Minister Lloyd George (From 1916 to 1922) receiving 'The Freedom of the City' at the Majestic Theatre, Leeds in October 1922 - From the ILN, 28th of October 1922.

The Majestic Theatre had first opened to the public on the 5th of June 1922 under the ownership of Leeds Picture Playhouse Ltd., but in 1925 it was taken over by the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Chain of Theatres. Gaumont British Theatres took over the Theatre in 1929, and later it became part of the Rank Organisation, who would close the Theatre on the 10th of July 1969 when it was quickly converted for Bingo use. Bingo ran at the Majestic for several decades but this itself would be closed in 1996.

In 1997 the Theatre was converted for Nightclub use called the Majestyk Nightclub with another Nightclub called Jumpin' Jacks situated in the basement and former Restaurant of the Theatre, see image right.

In June 1993 the Majestic Theatre was designated a Grade II Listed Building.

Right - The former Majestic Theatre, Leeds in June 2008 whilst in use as the Majestyk Nightclub - Click to Interact.

The Majestyk Nightclub was closed towards the end of 2008 and was converted into a Concert Venue whilst the Jumpin' Jacks Nightclub remained in the basement.

In 2012 alterations were carried out to the building involving creating windows at the ground floor level and renovating the Auditorium whilst converting it for retail use. However, before the retail units could be put to use a major fire on September the 30th 2014 destroyed most of the interior of the building. As the outer walls were considered to be structurally sound the building was then converted for office use which was completed in 2020 and the building reopened as the National Headquarters of Channel Four in September 2021, which it still is today, see image below.

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the former Majestic Theatre in March 2021, today the National Headquarters of Channel Four Television - Click to Interact.

Some of the later information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.