The Majestic Cinema, City Square, Leeds, aka Majestyk's Nightclub before the fire in September 2014
Inside the grade 2 listed Majestic Cinema on City Square, built in 1922 and seating 2,800 cinema-goers, closing as a cinema in 1969, later Majestic Bingo Hall and in the 1990s Majestyk Nightclub, closing in 2006. Now waiting for it's next chapter.
This video was filmed when the building was temporarily open for a silent art film from October to December 2013.
In January 2011, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported Under Rushbond's proposals, the ground and upper floors could be used as a cinema, concert hall, dance hall, bingo and gym, while the basement would become a live music venue and nightclub.
Its classical dome, Parthenon style frieze, Hellenic bordering, classical columns were mixed with the chrome and glitz from it's days as a nightclub.
Partly cleared out on ground level as part of renovation, the immediate entrance had had a wall removed, so there was no longer an entrance space & you went straight in. The VIP area upstairs had had a wall removed where you went in, replaced by an H joint, leaving a wide space with a view over City Square and an outside veranda space (I couldn't get to it). The dance floor had gone, leaving concrete. Windows on ground level are new, but reasonably sympathetic. Bars, toilets, diner hatch, shelving for drinks around the room, etc, are all there.
The 'earth' disc was precariously still there, hanging from the ceiling, with wires dangling around it. The ceiling was only a bit damaged in places and needed returning to classical colours. The chrome and metal of the 1990s were still attached against the balconies, though the lights and speakers had gone. The classic columns still have the hideous metal frameworks around them, install during the nightclub years. Ironically, they will have protected them from damage. The downstairs bar has the sign Try Our New Cocktail And Shooter Bar On The First Level Balcony. The small podium on the dancefloor has the sign telling the partygoers that drinks aren't allowed on the dancefloor...
Jumpin' Jaks in the basement remained largely untouched, apparently and still looked like a Wild West venue. The act down there was the Duelling Pianos, two large grand pianos, playing party music. A temporary stud wall had been erected so a tiny space could be used to show the silent film, but even then the old cloakroom & signs were still there in that small space.
The entrance floorway had broken up, revealing the original mosaics and floor tiling in places.