6 and 8 Cloth Market (Balmbra's Music Hall)

1902 by A. Stockwell; originally the 'Carlton Hotel' which had a billiard hall. Listing description is wrong, the building was designed and constructed as a public house and billiard hall not a music hall. Replaced the Wheatsheaf PH (HER 16672) owned by John Balmbra. In 1962, the centenary of the Blaydon Races, it became a music hall once again and revived the name Balmbra's. The famous Tyneside comedian Dick Irwin performed here for many years. In 1981 the music hall became a disco. In 1983 pool tables were installed in the auditorium. In 1986 the pub briefly became the Gaslight & Lazer before reverting to Balmbra's. Since its construction the building has lost most of its original fittings and partitions particularly on the ground floor. Most significantly, in 1995, consent was given to convert the ground floor of the adjacent property on Drury Lane to form part of the Balmbra’s Public House to enlarge the bar space. LISTED GRADE II