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Hugh Grant flies in to save historic music hall
By Amar Singh, Evening Standard 04.12.07
Good looking: The music hall was once dubbed the handsomest in London
Working for Wilton's: Hugh Grant is one of the celebrities hoping to restore the faded grandeur of Wilton's
Iconic: Wilton's used to be one of the capital's premiere entertainment venues
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Hugh Grant is flying back from America to join a campaign to save a one of London's oldest music halls.
The Notting Hill star is leaving his US commitments to pledge his support for Wilton's, which has stood in the heart of the East End for nearly 150 years.
He will join a glittering cast of celebrities and society figures at an exclusive party to be held there tomorrow night.
Guests turning out for Wiltons range from Stephen Berkoff to Richard E Grant, and Johnnie Boden to Jane Wellesley. John Betjeman's daughter, Candida Lycett Green, is one of the main organisers, continuing the work of her father who campaigned to save historic London buildings from demolition-in the 1970s.
When Wilton's opened in Aldgate in 1858 it was hailed as the "Handsomest Room in Town" where the stars of the day performed to packed houses.
Today it is a crumbling shell that could be unusable within three years. To stave off demolition, the Wilton's Music Hall Trust has drawn up a repair scheme that will cost around £4.3 million.
Some funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and now a steering committee is hoping guests at tomorrow's party will be inspired to help make up the shortfall. "We just wanted as many people as possible to know about Wilton's and see what a treasure it is," said organiser Christopher Kemp.
In its 19th century heyday, Wilton's Music Hall was one of London's premiere entertainment venues. It was built by John Wilton at the back of his pub, The Prince of Denmark.
According to local legend, London's first Can-Can dance was performed at Wilton's - and promptly banned.
More than 1,500 people used to cram into the hall to hear artistes from Covent Garden. Today the hall has a licence to seat only 300. It still hosts plays and music but faces closing for good.
In 1889 the majestic hall, on Graces Alley, served 2,000 meals a day to the dockers on a strike that led to the formation of the UK's first trade union.
It acted as a headquarters for East Enders fighting Mosley's fascists in the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, and in World War II sheltered locals during the Blitz.
In 1956 Wilton's was sold and used as a rag warehouse and despite attaining a Grade II listing, fell into neglect.
Reader views (3)
It's great to see someone of this calibre sticking their neck out for such an important part of our entertainment history. I hope he manages to get lots of money out of people, this place is magic.
- Ellen, London
Go Hugh I really hope it stays because it seems like a fantastic building!
- Emma Grant, London, England
Good - it's always a shame to close down historical buildings.
- Jon, London, UK
