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Grade II listed former Victorian Music Hall, built by Edwin Hill in 1877, is owned by a charitable trust and was extensively restored in 2014 following Heritage Lottery funding of £1.4M. An upstairs gallery overlooks the ground floor area from all sides, with two lower floors opened up after the restoration, including caves once inhabited by Carmelite monks. Monday is Quiz Night, whilst live music is played on Tuesday evenings. Food is served until 9pm, (8pm Sunday) 7 days a week. The roof is a glass and wood structure, which resembles the upturned hull of a boat; rather alarmingly, no nails were used in the construction of said roof! The Malt Cross is a non-profit Bar & Kitchen that funds the work of the Malt Cross Trust, Nottingham Street Pastors and Nottinghamshire YMCA.
Historic Interest
The Malt Cross is a Grade II listed building (No 1270498) and is a former Victorian Music Hall, built by Edwin Hill for Charles Weldon in 1877 (Historic England).
The Malt Cross is in Nottingham City Council's Old Market Square Conservation Area.
Hstoric England's listing entry reads: "Formerly known as Old Malt Cross Music Hall. Music hall, now cafe, and adjoining shops. Restored 1982-84, and converted to cafe 1987. Brick, roughcast, with stucco dressings. Glazed barrel vault to the music hall, slate roofs to the remainder. EXTERIOR: moulded string course and eaves. 2 storeys plus attics, with galleried basement and rock-cut cellar. The shops face the street, with the music hall entrance to the left, and the music hall itself at right angles. Front range, 2 storeys plus attics; 4 window range of square wooden oriels, with tripartite sashes and cornices. Above them, 4 round-arched through-eaves dormers with finials and plain sashes. Wooden shopfront, full width, with moulded cornice and cast-iron columns with foliage capitals. Ground floor has wooden shopfronts with central double door and round-arched windows, 2 and 3 lights, with wooden mullions and transoms. To left, a wide opening containing a bow fronted doorcase c1935 with crest. INTERIOR: music hall retains major original features. Laminated wood barrel vault, glazed, with tie rods and plaster centre panels. Central light well through all floors, now boarded over at ground floor level. Gallery on 3 sides with cast-iron balustrade, on cast-iron columns with elaborate foliage capitals. Cantilever dogleg stair with cast-iron balustrade. Replica panelling, bar, stage, canopy and rostrum. This building is a largely intact example of a galleried music hall, and has an early example of a laminated timber roof. The first is thought to have been at King's Cross Station, 1851-52, by Lewis Cubitt. St Matthias' Church, Nottingham (qv) 1868, by TC Hine, also has one" (Historic England).
In 1996 conversion work took place within the then Potters House with the development of the old Busmen's Canteen next door (95/01657/LISS1 etc) between the music hall and Newcastle Chambers to provide counselling rooms, offices, a small performance hall and cinema, plus installation of a list and a new window in the west elevation.
In 2009, the existing ground floor bar construction was remodelled (09/03396/LLIS1) and in 2010, the first floor bar overlooking St. James's Street was removed (10/02548/LLIS1).
In 2013, the basement - which had previously been the Sapna curryhouse - was changed to a multi-functional heritage art and craft space, gallery, rehearsal studio, office, reception and toilet accommodation. This included associated internal and external alterations (13/01146/PFUL3 & 13/01147/LLIS1).
[Nottingham City Council; Bridge Ward / Nottingham South Parliamentary Constituency]
On the site of the Roebuck Inn, it was rebuilt as a pub in 1877 by architect Edwin Hill; then became a music hall; it was used as such until 1913; then for many years it was used as a warehouse before reopening as a pub in the 1990s. In October 2014 the Malt Cross reopened after an extensive refurbishment made possible by a £1.38m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Lovely Victorian galleried interior with some restored features. Cast iron columns with capitals of grapevines and dolphins support the gallery; matching iron balustrades and staircase banisters; at the far end of the gallery, narrow gates and staircases lead down to the small mezzanine stage. Modern benches on both floors in booth formation which match those on the original plans. Modern servery on the left. Original arched glazed roof, though much restored. Grade 2 listed.
The original plans by Edwin Hill are displayed in the basement. They indicate a pub layout with elongated island servery and no stage: it appears that the stage may have been added later. To the right of the main building, there were three tiny snug bars fronting St James Street: these are now used for retail.
On the site of the Roebuck Inn, it was rebuilt as a pub in 1877 by architect Edwin Hill; then became a music hall; it was used as such until 1913; then for many years it was used as a warehouse before reopening as a pub in the 1990s. In October 2014 the Malt Cross reopened after an extensive refurbishment made possible by a £1.38m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Lovely Victorian galleried interior with some restored features. Cast iron columns with capitals of grapevines and dolphins support the gallery; matching iron balustrades and staircase banisters; at the far end of the gallery, narrow gates and staircases lead down to the small mezzanine stage. Modern benches on both floors in booth formation which match those on the original plans. Modern servery on the left. Original arched glazed roof, though much restored. Grade 2 listed.
The original plans by Edwin Hill are displayed in the basement. They indicate a pub layout with elongated island servery and no stage: it appears that the stage may have been added later. To the right of the main building, there were three tiny snug bars fronting St James Street: these are now used for retail.
Conversion
A Grade II-listed Victorian music hall, built 1877, that retains major original features. A gallery on cast-iron columns and balustrade overlooks the ground floor from all sides, with two lower floors opened up after renovation, including caves carved out of the soft stone under the city. The roof is glass and wood, which resembles the upturned hull of a boat and in which no nails are used. A range of ales and meals.
This Pub serves 6 changing beers and 0 regular beers.
Malt Cross, Nottingham
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Live Music
Family Friendly
Disabled Access
Dog Friendly
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Function Room
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Real Ale
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LocAle
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