walsall imperial theatre

Walsall Imperial is a nationally significant theatre building which remains at risk.

Overlooked for many years, this building has played many roles. Beginning as an agricultural hall, it soon became used regularly for events and entertainment. It was then completely remodelled as a theatre before becoming a cinema. Many will also remember it as the Imperial Bingo Club and then of course as Wetherspoons, or even ‘The Dinosaur pub’ ! You can find a full account of its history, significance and why it’s at risk, here on the brilliant Theatres Trust site.

It closed as a pub and was boarded up in 2016 when Wetherspoons moved round the corner to a more prominent site and it has been on the Theatres Trust risk register site then. In 2022 they ran a successful campaign for it to be awarded Grade 2 listed status, which UK Culture Trust also supported and we have been working to find a way to reopen it as theatre or community venue since then.

In 2024 we successfully applied to the Architectural Heritage Fund for viability stage funding to explore the feasibility of returning the building to cultural use. Often it can be challenging to make the case for re-use at feasibility stage but our consultants, Theatre Projects, were very positive about The Imperial. Its size, central location in a town with great transport links, and the demand for creative space in Walsall being high, the outcome of the study was very positive.

You can view and download the full report here.

Follow our next steps on Instagram and Facebook as we continue our bid to bring live entertainment back to The Imperial and continue its long tradition as a peoples palace.