Glasgow Empire Theatre, Theatre in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom
The Glasgow Empire Theatre featured a grand interior with a central dome, minarets, and decorative elements inspired by French and Italian Renaissance architecture.
Architect Frank Matcham designed the Empire Theatre, which opened in 1897 as a replacement for the Gaiety Theatre at 31-35 Sauchiehall Street.
The venue earned recognition for hosting international performers including Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Fats Waller during his European debut in 1938.
The theater contained 2,100 seats after its 1931 renovation, which improved acoustics and provided more space between seats for audience comfort.
Local audiences gave the theatre a reputation as 'The English comic's grave' due to their direct reactions when performances did not meet their expectations.
Location: Glasgow City
Inception: 1897
Architects: Frank Matcham
Official opening: 1874
Capacity: 2100
Address: 31-35 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland
GPS coordinates: 55.86440,-4.25444
Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:46
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
96 m
Theatre Royal
229 m
Pavilion Theatre
108 m
Lion Chambers
208 m
St Andrew House
11 m
Statue of Donald Dewar
103 m
Old Athenaeum
203 m
4 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow Liberal Club
227 m
164a, 166, 168 Buchanan Street, Britannia Building
241 m
128-134 Sauchiehall Street, The Savoy Centre
220 m
235 - 245 Buchanan Street, The George Hotel
95 m
Paramount Theatre, Glasgow
196 m
226 Hope Street, Douglas Exchange
163 m
The Athenaeum
224 m
106 West Nile Street, Victoria Baths
145 m
1, 3, 5, 7 Sauchiehall Street, Cleland Testimonial Building
79 m
130, 132, 134 West Nile Street, Glasgow
77 m
38 Bath Street, Mechanics' Institute
65 m
92, 98 West George Street, The Royal Bank Of Scotland
239 m
123, 131 And 133 Sauchiehall Street
210 m
109, 111, 113, 115, 117 Renfield Street
91 m
11, 13, 15 Bath Street, W. Hopwood & Company Ltd
115 m
82 Sauchiehall Street
98 m
119 Sauchiehall Street, Watt Brothers
205 m
228 Hope Street, Douglas Exchange
170 m
116, 118, 120 Sauchiehall Street
196 m
110 West George Street
239 m
99, 101, 103, 105 West Nile Street
113 mReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes