The original winter gardens comprised a theatre, opera house, aquarium, a small zoo, conservatory, promenades and halls situated under the grand glass domes.

Although it was one of the biggest buildings ever to grace an English sea front, the Winter Garden was not a great commercial success.

Entertainments were lost or driven downmarket, until the Winter Garden was converted into a ballroom and roller skating rink, and the Pavilion became a cinema.

[1] The Opera House was built on Lord Street as an additional attraction to the main winter gardens complex.

The venue was a great success and had many well known performers attend including Ellen Terry, Matheson Lang, Sir Henry Irving.

The theatre was well provided with front of house space and had a spacious auditorium on two levels (plus boxes) seating 1,600 (later reduced to 1,500).

The original colour scheme was yellow and gold with green and black highlights, all lighting was indirect via troughs except for a chandelier in the centre of the balcony recess.

The stage was particularly large, and was designed to accommodate touring drama, musicals opera and ballet and a pantomime was produced at Christmas.

There was an open colonnade terrace containing an ornamental garden on the top of the Lord Street elevation, which was used in summer months.

The Garrick Theatre was sold to the Newcastle upon Tyne based Essoldo Cinemas chain in January 1957 and the follow-spot box was converted into a projection booth.

A mural in memory of the Winter Gardens can be seen as you look up upon entering the main entrance to the Morrisons Store on the site today.