HISTORY

OF THE EMPRESS BUILDING

1920’s

Built in the 1920s and officially opened in 1928, the iconic Empress Building holds almost 100 years of memories within its iconic walls. The cornerstone of the Mexborough social scene for many years, the Empress Ballroom attracted many different forms of entertainer to its grand halls, including huge names from boxing and wrestling, music and dancing, and was even the regular venue for Miss Yorkshire pageants in its heyday.

50’s & 60’s

Wimpy Café 1950/60s behind the bar is Florence Mountford, everyone loved her and called her Florrie

The Empress Building was described as a “Palace of Dancing” and was built with elaborate lighting and a then state-of-the-art sprung dance floor. The in-house orchestra, known as the Empress Sextet, played popular music of the times during weekly dances which attracted dozens of regulars.

This handsome block which was built by Mr. John Woffinden at the West Street corner, Mexborough, which comprised a large 250m² ballroom on the ground floor, and a large billiard hall on the first floor. There were ample conveniences and in the front, on the corner, a Wimpy cafe and refreshment buffet.

For decades after, the ballroom would host musical and dance evenings, private celebrations, and picture shows, beauty contest and ballroom dancing packed out with locals enjoying a busy social night. Frankie Howerd, Dave Berry, Freddie and the Dreamers, Johnny Silver and the Thunderbirds, and Shane Fenton were just a few huge names that entertained at the Empress.

Tony Tarver managed the Empress for many years and was synonymous with the grand old building. He was a brilliant exhibition dancer and still lives in nearby Swinton, over 90 years of age.

He booked all the entertainment, including Screaming Lord Sutch, Duke Damont and the Baron Knights, Freddie, and the Dreamers and many more. Tony told us that he joined a famously short list of people to turn the Beatles down, as their increased fee of a then-huge £25 was too expensive to justify. Tony admitted recently that this was a mistake! In the 1950s and 60s, the Mexborough Empress Building was seen as a must-attend venue on Fridays and Saturdays

80’s & 90’s

The building and ballroom continued to pull in record crowds throughout the 1980s and 90s, although the entertainment style had changed somewhat from ballroom dancing with orchestral music, to the much more raucous Northern Soul and Rave all-nighters, with the building and the functions moving along with popular culture of the times.

As the building hit the new millennium, it began to sadly deteriorate and fell into a state of disrepair, until it was purchased by local entrepreneur Jason Mace, who invested heavily in restoring the premises to its former glory, and the glorious building has since been home to several businesses and a children’s charity headquarters.

Johnny Silver and the Thunderbirds from left, Ernie, Clive, Geoge, Fred and Alec

Behind the bar from Left Tony Tarver, black tie, Florence Mountford and Mrs Vivian Tarver.

50’s & 60’s

This handsome block which was built by Mr. John Woffinden at the West Street corner, Mexborough, which comprised a large 250m² ballroom on the ground floor, and a large billiard hall on the first floor. There were ample conveniences and in the front, on the corner, a Wimpy cafe and refreshment buffet.

Wimpy Café 1950/60s behind the bar is Florence Mountford, everyone loved her and called her Florrie

For decades after, the ballroom would host musical and dance evenings, private celebrations, and picture shows, beauty contest and ballroom dancing packed out with locals enjoying a busy social night. Frankie Howerd, Dave Berry, Freddie and the Dreamers, Johnny Silver and the Thunderbirds, and Shane Fenton were just a few huge names that entertained at the Empress.

Johnny Silver and the Thunderbirds from left, Ernie, Clive, Geoge, Fred and Alec

Tony Tarver managed the Empress for many years and was synonymous with the grand old building. He was a brilliant exhibition dancer and still lives in nearby Swinton, over 90 years of age.

He booked all the entertainment, including Screaming Lord Sutch, Duke Damont and the Baron Knights, Freddie, and the Dreamers and many more. Tony told us that he joined a famously short list of people to turn the Beatles down, as their increased fee of a then-huge £25 was too expensive to justify. Tony admitted recently that this was a mistake! In the 1950s and 60s, the Mexborough Empress Building was seen as a must-attend venue on Fridays and Saturdays

Behind the bar from Left Tony Tarver, black tie, Florence Mountford and Mrs Vivian Tarver.

80’s & 90’s

2021

In 2021, the Empress Ballroom hosted some test events and celebrations as part of Mace’s intention to return the venue to its original purpose as a function room and a local destination venue for socialising and unique events.

2022

2022 and beyond sees a return of the wildly popular Northern Soul nights, alongside special White Collar Boxing evenings, as well as luxurious black tie charity dinners. It is now open for private bookings as a venue for special functions such as wedding breakfasts, birthdays and anniversaries, as well as corporate functions and other such events.

2023

A New Era of Entertainment Technology

In 2023, the Empress Building took another step forward with a major investment in a cutting-edge digital surround sound system and an immersive laser lighting show.

These enhancements were introduced to meet the growing demand for live bands, pantomimes, and theatrical performances.

Simultaneously, the venue saw a dramatic rise in popularity for weddings and private parties, with bookings now being secured years in advance due to high demand.

Installation of cutting-edge digital surround sound system and an immersive laser lighting show

An evening with Kevin Keegan at the Empress Ballroom

2024

The Stars Return to the Empress Stage

In 2024, the historic stage lit up once again, welcoming celebrity guests and household names from the worlds of television, sport, and comedy.

Audiences were treated to unforgettable performances by legends such as:

🎭 Brian Blessed
🔮 Clinton Baptiste
⚽ Kevin Keegan

These events marked a triumphant return to the spotlight for the Empress, reaffirming its position as one of South Yorkshire’s leading live entertainment venues.

“This fabulous building has at great expense been restored back to its original design. It is now pristine and so well fitted out. The team that run the Empress are very helpful and run a professional show. The performers that I have seen there have always been excellent. The last one I went to was 'An evening with Kevin Keegan'. A fabulous night, Kevin excelled with his football revelations."
Guest review from Giles Brearley

2025

A New Chapter in Trusted Hands

With the venue’s popularity continuing to grow, 2025 marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

General Manager Jemma Evans, who has overseen the venue’s rise in recent years, joined forces with Amanda Gear, the creative mind behind the Empress’s stunning room transformations. Together, they entered into a new five-year lease agreement with owner Jason Mace, ensuring the Empress Building continues to thrive.

Their shared vision is to develop the Empress into an even more versatile venue—a central hub for parties, weddings, and landmark events, while preserving the charm and heritage that make it so special.

General Manager Jemma Evans joining forces with Amanda Gear to run the Empress

From the archive books of the Empress Building, the dance school of Constance Grant which is now the Constance Grant Dance Centre started instructions and lessons for beginners every Monday from 8th December 1962. Here is a very glamourous photo of Constant Grant we have enhanced and colourised.

Blanche Gamble when she did some modelling at the Empress Building for Madam Florence in the 60s on a runway set in the Ballroom. Madam Florence was an incredibly talented fashion designer with a very well-established outlet in Mexborough. She organised and performed in fashion shows in the Empress Ballroom regularly. According to articles Florence designed the wedding dress worn by Diana Rigg in the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service".

Here are a few photos of her first shop based in Mexborough town centre, she then moved to the Montague Building also in Mexborough. However, the Montague became dilapidated, and she moved out around 2011.

Visitors to the Empress Building Mexborough Royal Air Force pantomime ball February 7, 1948 were treat to an evening with Frankie Howerd.

Saturday the 28th of September 1968 the Empress Building proudly presented the Japanese professional champions Manabu and Masaka Shinoda, who appeared in a “Cabaret Spectacular” in the Ballroom

Bert Clegg and his Dance Band which played regularly at the Empress Ballroom, Mexborough. The photos have been enhanced and colourised.

Angela Morley also played at the Empress Ballroom. Morley received eight Emmy nominations for composing music for television series such as Dynasty and Dallas.

In 1970, whilst still Wally Stott, he married Christine Parker and despite the gender transition to become Angela Morley in 1972, they remained together, a close and devoted couple until Angela's death almost thirty-seven years later

On 27th June 1964, the drinks giant Coca Cola promoted the famous soft drink by giving all the children free bottles of coca cola at the Empress Building Ballroom, Mexborough. Here is a photo we have colourised showing the event with event manager Tony Tarver serving behind the bar.