Weymouth Pavilion
The Esplanade
WeymouthDT4 8ED
FREE ENTRY
Travel back 70 years in time to the 13th April 1954 when the Pavilion (then known as The Ritz) burnt down in a tragic fire.
We have teamed up with ‘Weymouth Museum’ to create a pop up exhibition to reminisce on the Pavilion’s fascinating history. The pop up exhibition is free to attend and will be open from 11am from the 10th April – 13th April. We will be displaying old photographs, merchandise and video footage of the former Ritz building before the tragic fire.
Historic overview
On the 21st December, 1908, the Pavilion opened to the public, with the first two performances two nights later – a Christmas Pantomime, Mother Goose. In 1939, the Pavilion was requisitioned by the military for war purposes, sadly in 1942 the building was damaged by an air raid. The Council didn’t get The Pavilion back until 1947, where they then spend two years trying to claim compensation for the damage inflicted during the war. In 1949, the Pavilion was leased to the Buxton Theatre Circuit who in 1949 spent £4000 installing a new cinema projection room. The Pavilion finally reopened in May 1950 with a new name – THE RITZ.In September 1951 a new management company, Melcombe Productions took over and put on live theatre but it soon became apparent that the post war repairs to the building had been inadequate. In January 1954 work began on renewing the roof and redecorating the wooden exterior.
Disaster hit it on the 13th April 1954 when the wooden building caught fire and much of the building was destroyed. The cause of the fire was later found to be the misuse of a blow lamp used for removing many layers of paint from the exterior.
It wasn’t until 1958 (four years after the fire) that construction began, and construction wasn’t completed until 1960 when it was decided that the new build would revert back to its original early 1900 name ‘The Pavilion’.
Tickets are not required for this event.
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Weymouth Pavilion
The Esplanade
Weymouth
DT4 8ED
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Please note though that dates etc can occasionally change so our advice is to check with organiser via their website or social media links on this page before making any special travel arrangements just in case there have been some changes/cancellation.
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