The Forum, Bath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Forum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Bath, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51°22′43″N 2°21′38″W / 51.37861°N 2.36056°W |
| Built | 1934 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Designated | 28 May 1986[1] |
| Reference no. | 1394832 |
  Location of The Forum in Somerset | |
The Forum was built as an art deco cinema in Bath, Somerset, England, in 1934, and was designated as a Grade II* listed building on 28 May 1986.[1] The building closed as a cinema in 1969, and has subsequently been used as a dancing school, a bingo hall, a church and a large event space for concerts and stand-up comedy. Its main auditorium has 1,600 seats, making it Bath's largest event venue.
The Forum was built by William Henry Watkins and E Morgan Willmott, assisted by A Stuart Gray,[1] at the cost of £80,000 (equivalent to £7,173,865 in 2023)[2] with a steel frame covered by Bath Stone cladding in a combination of art deco and neo-classical style. Inside the walls are brick with concrete floors, with large art deco candelabra lighting. Above the auditorium is a ballroom with a sprung floor and below it on the exterior of the building are shops.[1] The building was heated by radiators, but also by washed air, a novelty in the 1930s.[2]