[1][2] The building was designed in the neoclassical style, built in rubble masonry and was officially opened as the Theatre Royal in 1892.

The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto De Winton Street.

Below the oculus, there was a pair of plaques inscribed "18 Town Hall 92", suggesting the building was used as a public meeting place from an early stage.

[4][5][6] In the wake of the Tonypandy riots in November 1910, a public meeting was held in the building at which a socialist speaker, Harry Quelch, spoke of his support for the striking miners.

[11] By 1992, a restaurant, the Shenshaw Tandoori, had been established on part of the ground floor,[12] and, by 2010, the snooker club had closed, but the building contained a shopping arcade with a variety of small retail units.