John Halle's Hall

John Halle's Hall is a medieval banqueting house now serving as the entrance to the Odeon Cinema, with its interior largely unchanged over centuries. The space features six bays topped with an open timber roof, carved wooden brackets, and a stone fireplace decorated with quatrefoil stonework.

The building was constructed between 1470 and 1483 by wool merchant John Halle and holds Grade I listed status. It underwent significant restoration work in 1834 and was adapted in 1931 to function as the entrance to a cinema.

The name honors John Halle, a wealthy merchant whose family occupied this space for generations. Visitors entering the cinema today experience how the medieval hall's original character blends with its modern purpose as a public gathering place.

The space is accessible to cinema visitors and easy to locate as it forms the main entrance to the Odeon. The medieval ceiling is quite low, so taller visitors should be mindful when moving through the historic foyer area.

A Victorian mock-Tudor facade was added in 1880, concealing the original medieval exterior and creating an intriguing contrast between what visitors see outside and the authentic interior they discover upon entry. This 19th-century layer reveals how the structure adapted to changing purposes over time.