From factual news content and interviews to image-led stories and videos, discover News, Views and Stories.

City Varieties auditorium from the stage.

City Varieties Music Hall

A hidden gem. Leeds’ oldest working theatre and the Guinness World Record holder for the nation’s longest running music hall. Not bad for a once smoke-filled room above a pub, where the working class of Leeds would drink and be merry, shout vulgarities at performers and sing-along to pithy ditties.

Established in 1865, City Varieties Music Hall is a living, breathing tribute to the music hall era.

Take a moment and imagine the extraordinary characters who have graced its stage: from Houdini and Russell Crowe to the prince who reportedly hid in the balcony to court a music hall star. There are tales of a baby born during pantomime and rewarded with free admission for life, mischievous schoolchildren firing pea shooters at striptease acts, rousing renditions of Down at the Old Bull and Bush for BBC TV’s The Good Old Days, and generations of volunteers who have welcomed audiences through its doors for more than 160 years.

And the stories are still being written. Aside from a major restoration between 2009 and 2011 and the pandemic closure of 2020–21, City Varieties has remained at the heart of Leeds’ cultural life. Today, audiences continue to flock from near and far to enjoy the very best in comedy, music, variety and pantomime. As comedian Dara Ó Briain put it, the venue is “steeped in history… still regarded as the best venue for stand-up in the nation.”

A brief history of City Varieties Music Hall

View all 8 images
A timeline of City Variety's history from 1762 - 1880 titled City's Varieties Music Hall: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1762: The Swan Inn opens on Swan Street. 1799. The Swan Inn is partially rebuilt to include a larger music and singing room. Accompanied by an old illustration of the music room in The Swan Inn and some of its patrons in dress of the day. More text reads 1857. Charles Thornton, a local businessman takes ownership and begins to rebuild large sections of the pub. 1865. The music hall (as we know it today) opens as Thornton's New Music Hall and Fashionable Lounge. 1876. Charles Thornton puts the building up for auction with a reserve price of £10,000; it does not reach the reserve. John Stansfield leases the building, and it becomes Stansfield Varieties. Accompanied with a sepia-toned image of the music hall from back then. More text reads 1880s. Upper Circle balconies are added to increases capacity to over 800 people.
A timeline of City Variety's history from 1881 - 1919 titled City's Varieties Music Hall: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1881. Charles Thornton dies; the freehold of the building is passed onto his daughter, Mrs Addyman. 1897. ‘8 Lancashire Lads’, a clog dancing troupe believed to contain Charlie Chaplin, perform. Accompanied a black and white image of the 8 Lancashire Lads dress in black trousers, white shirts, sashes and wide-rimmed hats. More text reads: 1902. Harry Houdini performs his ‘Handcuff King’ act. 1905. The Swan Inn and The Varieties separate under order of the licensing committee. 1914. City Varieties hosts free performances for troops to keep morale high during WWI. Accompanied by a faded image of the City Palace of Varieties sign. More text reads: 1919. A small fire breaks out. There is no record of any injuries or serious damage to the building.
A timeline of City Variety's history from 1941 - 1962 titled City's Varieties Music Hall: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1941. A woman gives birth during a performance of Babes in the Wood; the child, named Robin after the main character, is gifted free admission to The Varieties for life! 1947. The music hall is sold to Harry Joseph, managing director of British Union Varieties Ltd. He introduces striptease acts in the 50s and 60s to combat the growing popularity of TV and film. Accompanied by an image of a lady in a red body suit, red stockings and black heels. More text reads: 1951. The Stalls Bar is modernised. 1953. Barney Colehan produces a ‘one-off’ TV programme called The Story of Music Hall, which would go on to become The Good Old Days. It was commissioned by the BBC and ran for 30 years. 1954. A new entrance, with canopy, is created to provide access from The Headrow. Accompanied by a black and white image of the entrance to The Varieties on The Headrow. 1962. Stanley and Michael Joseph take over running the venue from their father. They improve its reputation by reintroducing the annual pantomime.
A timeline of City Variety's history from 1941 - 1962 titled City's Varieties Music Hall: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1963. The Dress Circle Bar is modernised 1983. The final episode of BBC’s The Good Old Days is filmed. The waiting list for seats in the audience is still eight years long! Accompanied by an image of a box during filming of The Good Old Days with audience wearing traditional dress. More text reads: 1987. Leeds City Council takes ownership of The Varieties. 1988. General Manager Peter Sandeman and original producer Barney Colehan launch a stage version of The Good Old Days. 2009. City Varieties closes its doors for the first time since 1865 for a large-scale restoration. Ken Dodd performs the last show. Accompanied by an image of Ken Dodd in the City Varieties auditorium holding his tickle dusters. More text reads: 2011. Ken Dodd re-opens the music hall with a special gala performance. He doesn’t leave the stage until midnight.

Visiting information

Find out more
The external glass lift shaft at the front of City Varieties. Is is slightly taller than the red brick building of the theatre and has City Varieties Music Hall written vertically on it.

Plan your visit

We can’t wait to welcome you to City Varieties Music Hall. Find out more about getting here, parking, access and eating and drinking.

Find out more

Find out more
Stairs curving up from entrance of City Varieties

FAQs

Got a question? Head to our FAQ page for information about our venues, shows, recruitment, ongoing safety measures and so much more.

Find out more

Find out more
A group of Leeds Grand Theatre staff celebrating the 140th birthday with a Jersey Boys themed cake and giant 140 balloons.

Our team

When we come together, we create something extraordinary: the feeling, the moment, the conversation.

Vacancies

Find out more
View of the stage and auditorium at City Varieties taken from the Balcony

Seating plan

You can view the seating plan for the historic City Varieties Music Hall to help choose your seats for your next visit.

Find out more

Support us

Find out more
A man touching a gold embroidered costume as a woman holds it up to him as part of the touch tour

Theatre For All

Help us increase our number of Accessible shows and bring the connection of live performances to new audiences.

Donate now

Find out more
A seat with a plaque in Leeds Grand Theatre auditorium

Name a Seat

Every seat tells a story. To keep writing the chapters, we’re inviting audiences to Name a Seat at one of our venues.

Find out more

Find out more
A view of the Leeds Grand Theatre audience during a show.

Memberships

Join one of our membership schemes today and be the first to hear about forthcoming shows and screenings.

Join now

Find out more
A view of the boxes at The Grand.

Gift vouchers

Give the gift of world-class live performance and cinema across The Grand, The Varieties and Hyde Park Picture House.

Buy now

Hear from us

Get our latest news, upcoming events and opportunities delivered straight to your inbox.

Image of two audience members sat in the stalls at City Varieties Music Hall taken from behind sharing a comment about the show they're seeing.

What’s on

More shows

Two men in jackets are in a hardware store, talking candidly to someone off-camera.

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

Presented by Vertigo
Hyde Park Picture House
More Info Book Now
Two people look off-camera with slightly confused expressions, in a room with pale blue walls and framed photos in the background.

The Invite

Presented by Black Bear Pictures
Hyde Park Picture House
More Info Book Now
In dark, shadowy lighting, the face of a girl with dark, wet hair, and dark eyes masked by dirt and make-up.

Evil Dead Burn

Presented by StudioCanal
Hyde Park Picture House
More Info Book Now