The Palace Theatre & Grand Hall Complex is a mutli-purpose

entertainment arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

complex in Kilmarnock, which was originally opened as a

corn exchange A corn exchange is a building where merchants trade grains. The word "corn" in British English denotes all cereal grains, such as wheat and barley; in the United States these buildings were called grain exchange. Such trade was common in towns ...

in 1863 and converted to a theatre in 1903. The red-sandstone Italianate tower, by James Ingram, dominates the cross at London Road and Green Street. The building is A-Listed and was one of James Ingram's finest designs in Kilmarnock

In popular culture

British glam rock band

The Sweet The Sweet (often shortened to just Sweet), are a British glam rock band that rose to prominence in the 1970s. Their best known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer M ...

wrote their song "

The Ballroom Blitz "The Ballroom Blitz" (often called "Ballroom Blitz") is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The song reached number one in Canada, number two in the UK Singles Chart and the Australian Chart, an ...

" about a concern they were performing at the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall when they were bottled off the stage during a performance in January 1973.

Notable events

* In 2022, the Grand Hall hosted the 2022

BBC New Comedy Award The BBC New Comedy Award first took place in 1995, and it is considered to be one of the top UK comedy newcomer awards. It was axed in 2006, being replaced by a nationwide talent hunt that places its emphasis on sketch writing and filmed perform ...

.https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/bbc-new-comedy-awards/episodes/2/4/

References

External links

{{East Ayrshire Theatres in Kilmarnock Buildings and structures in Kilmarnock Category A listed buildings in East Ayrshire