Alhambra Theatre

About

The Alhambra is a theatre situated on the West End promenade in the English seaside resort of Morecambe, Lancashire. Opened in 1901 as the Alhambra Palace, it took its name, though not its style, from the famous Moorish original in Granada, Spain. The building was in continuous use, with a range of entertainment and social uses, until 1970 when a fire gutted the interior. Following extensive refurbishment the theatre reopened in 1973 as The Inn on the Bay before renaming itself The Carleton Club, becoming a major events venue and one of the great Northern soul dance clubs. After closing in 2016, it reopened it the same year as a multi-purpose venue with capacity up to 1,100. The theatre was the location where Laurence Olivier shot his iconic 1960 film version of John Osborne’s The Entertainer.

History: The Alhambra is the most significant surviving example of Morecambe's West End heritage. Though diminished after the fire of 1970 by the loss of its elaborate Dutch gable and distinctive sun-burner turret, the edifice still dominates and enhances an elegant Victorian curve of promenade. It was built on the site of the old West End Market, which was demolished for this purpose, and...