ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː, stˈænli dˈɔɹɪl wʌz dɪtˈɜːmɪnd tə bˈɪld ðə mˈoʊst lʌɡʒˈʊɹɹiəs ænd kˈʌmftəbəl hˈaʊs ʌv ˌɛntɚtˈeɪnmənt ɪn ˈɪŋɡlənd ænd kəmˈɪʃənd ɐ nˈuː bˈɪldɪŋ fɹʌmðə wˈɛl nˈoʊn θˈiəɾɚɹ ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛkts wˈɪljəm ænd tˈiː.ˈɑːɹ. mˈɪlbɜːn ʌv sˈʌndɚlənd.
In 1933, Stanley Dorrill was determined to build 'the most luxurious and comfortable house of entertainment in England' and commissioned a new building from the well known theatre architects William and T.R. Milburn of Sunderland.