Charles John Phipps FSA (25 March 1835 – 25 May 1897) was an English architect known for more than 50 theatres he designed in the latter half of the 19th century, including several important ones in London.

[2] His early work, especially the Gaiety, inspired a young Frank Matcham, who was impressed at Phipps's ability to build a normal-sized theatre on a small, awkward plot.

He also designed Leinster Hall in Dublin for Michael Gunn (opened in 1886 and closed in 1895), the Star and Garter Hotel at Richmond (demolished in 1919) and the Savoy Victorian Turkish baths, the first in London to be lit by electricity.

The building is still there, though no longer occupied by the RIBA (now in Portland Place) and is considered by some to reflect the influence of the architect's native town.

[8] A separate parliamentary inquiry was carried out by Captain Eyre Massey Shaw, the Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Phipps attended the inquest and was "vigorous" and "sarcastic" in his defence of his work, pointing out that a number of elements in his plans had been changed or ignored during construction.