Wilton's Music Hall, Wapping, London

I love Wiltons, despite it's flaws (get more outside seating in summer!!!!), mostly because it instantly feels like you've found something very special every time you walk in there. I've heard people slag it off because it never seems to get done up, even with thousands poured into it's restoration... bollocks! it's the distressed look that makes it wonderful, and I don't care if you judge me for using distressed look in a sentence.

Using a printed off map and directions, GPS on my phone, the kindness of strangers and (mainly) my natural sense of good direction I was able to find the tucked away gem that is Wilton's. (There were also a few signs so it wasn't actually that hard - although crossing that Cycle superhighway takes some nerves...)

Anyway, once there I was blown away by the crumbling facade and vintage feel to the place. Inside, with old tunes on the gramaphone I felt like I had been transported into Vichy France and half expected Rene to come bumbling out from the side room followed by a dishevelled Yvette.

It is magical, like nowhere else in London and as mentioned elsewhere here, in need of work and very much as endangered as a building gets.

We went to see The Coral play here and found the main music hall to be just as intoxicating as the bar - although the sound was noticeably far better from the balcony upstairs. What a unique venue to see something like this.

I went to a birthday party here, where the birthday girl had hired out the private room (on the ground floor, to the left of the entrance), and can say that it's the perfect venue for a special event like that.

I don't think I've ever been to a venue quite like this in London, it's got that great olde worlde feel to it. My memory seems to think there were loads of candles about the places, but I'm sure that can't be right (health and safety people!), but that's how it feels - very Victorian.

The staff were absolutely brilliant, the whole night, and the food we had was really good, non-pretentious, well-cooked, hearty fare.

A great, and very different, place if you're looking for somewhere to hold that special party.

good publicity and service very prompt 5 stars

This is a great little tucked away place. By tucked away, I mean you’ll get lost trying to find your way here. I did, and my phone has GPS.

But when you arrive, your greeted by friendly folk, a lovely bar selling tasty food and wonderful wonderful cabaret.

I’ve got a bit bored of cabaret venues recently (Bethnal Green Working Mens? I’m looking at you). Wilton’s really push the boat out. Opera, bands, acrobats. I don’t think you could predict what you were going to see here from one day to the next.

And that’s what I love about this place. Just go and treat yourself to this wonderful little tiny venue. Meet lovely people and dance until your feet are hurty. Then stroll across Tower Bridge on the way home - such an amazing view.

Great place. I’ll be back. A lot.

I too will give my BRAVO to the great Wilton’s Music Hall. It is tucked away in a little alley near Tower Hill, which is an area I rarely would have reason to visit. So finding it was a bit of a challenge (hence a missing star in the rating).

Once there, I felt like I was walking into a piece of music hall history. The staff was dressed in vintage clothing, the walls were dotted with deteriorating decor, and the amenities were minimal. I really felt like I had stepped back in time - or on a movie set!

I agree with many of the sentiments above - especially about the sound if you’re on the same side of the orchestra (switch sides!) and how amazing the space itself is.

They seem to have a lot going on, and much of it is free or inexpensive. I would definitely visit again and bring a camera!

If Venice morphed with a Nick Cave song, you might end up with Wilton’s Music Hall.

The building’s historic integrity cannot be faulted, altho’ the same could not be said of its structural integrity. An ornate doorway, and entrance hall paved with enormous flag stones, lead into a bar staffed by bowler-hatted waiters with a vaudeville air about them. However, you might want to wear a hard hat yourself, in case the dangerously bowed ceiling caves in.

The night I went, many people in the audience had dressed up to see the opera - the Marriage of Figaro. The dress code veered more towards burlesque than dinner jackets, altho’ both would have looked very good against the incredibly restrained - and sexy - 19th century schmaltz.

The production itself was impressive, with a touring company of both seasoned and newly professional singers. All were fantastic - and good actors. The set design was inspired, and worked well with the venue itself. A nice touch was the serving of champagne to everyone in the audience during a necessary scene change in the middle of the second half. So we got to toast the happy couples - and ourselves, for being so clever as to find ourselves there.

This is a great place to come to share the bonhomie of a life well-lived, to support a marvellous community site. Wilton’s will not survive much longer without support (it’s got mine) and the loss of this artistic jewel would be a very sad one for East London.

Make sure you leave enough time to find the hidden treasure that is Wilton’s Music Hall. As even a Londoner born and bred like me had no idea of its existence or location before now. And tucked away as it is, down an alley off an East End backstreet, you might want to take an A-Z with you!

But it really is worth the effort, and I was astonished to discover such a magnificent and historic venue.

Stripped back to its bare bones of original floorboards and peeling plaster, it has the aura of decaying grandeur and faded glamour. And so it recently provided the perfect setting for The Marriage of Figaro by Vignette Productions.

This delightful opera was performed beautifully by the cast and orchestra. And it was undoubtedly the best operatic event I’ve ever been to. I’ll definitely be paying a return visit to the charming Wilton’s.

the place is a wonder, like no where else, sign up to email mailing list to find out about events, it's pretty ad hoc but so worth it. see www.myspace.com/wiltonmusichall
david gray is there today have his mug shot taken
OR become a friend on facebook for the occasional special offer or follow on twitter

Wilton's is a tangible piece of magic. The world’s last surviving grand music hall tucked away in a pedestrian alley near Aldgate East, the venue has been in existence in one form or another for 285 years.

Its Mahogany Bar was built in 1725 and has always been (and still is today) a public house. The actual hall itself dates from the 1850s and is, simply put, marvelous. I love how the folks behind this grade II* listed building preserve the building without tarting it up (or dumbing it down) for contemporary tastes. That said they’ve got their work cut out for them!

The building is semi-derelict. Only 60% of the space is safe and in use. In its present condition Wilton’s is extremely vulnerable to vandalism and further decay and sadly, “at the current rate of decay the building will cease to be accessible in the next three years.” Wilton’s only has half a roof, walls are crumbling and floors have fallen in. So, that means you best get over there soon to take in all its grandeur … and … you best visit the Wilton’s website to see how you can help save this truest of London gems!
http://www.wiltons.org.uk/

Any excuse to visit Wilton's is a good one! Go (and take me with you)!

This really is London’s hidden gem. I went here to see The Marriage of Figaro this weekend. I just couldn’t get over how amazing the space was. It is absolutely brilliant. I don’t even want to describe it, you just have to see it for yourself.

(Though Emilia up above gives a lovely description!)

A fantastic space with loads of history and an exciting, perpetually interesting programme, mainly opera and musical performances (burlesque, concerts etc).

The venue is marvellous but hopefully the production you see is good enough to distract you from staring at your surroundings to focus instead on the stage…The programming sees surprisingly high-tech productions sit comfortably alongside the peeling aged decor and it’s a very London-ish thing to witness: an atmospheric, grand old historic building hosting a whole load of digital hocus-pocus with majesty, benevolence and elegance.

The bar is lovely, with a piano, low seats and lighting that makes the place look as if gas-lit. The gin is, appropriately, Hendricks and the staff look like they might take a turn on stage when not pouring wine.

Only one criticism that spoils the experience a little: there are ill-placed box office desks on entering the building and lack of signage means there are sometimes confused huddles of people trying to collect tickets, or trying get into the auditorium because they already have tickets or wanting to buy on the spot. Better direction of the crowds and clearer instructions for what to queue for, where to go etc would make entrances and exits far smoother.

I had the pleasure and good fortune of seeing the Marriage of Figaro at a Qype event this past weekend. I cannot believe I never knew about this place before. Wilton’s Music Hall is a gem and I cannot wait to return. I was transported to another time and could imagine this Music Hall through the years. It has a beautiful and evocative bar (The Mahogany) that I hope to return to even if I’m not there to attend a performance. It serves food too.

The hall itself has decent acoustics and a floor that sloped enough that one can see from anywhere. In addition to floor seating, there is an upstairs gallery that looked good too. The orchestra for the opera was top notch as were each of the singers. These guys were all professionals and highly talented, so there’s no need to suspect that just because you’re not in the West End, you’re not going to hear fine sounds. Subtitles were conveniently provided above the stage as well as projected to the sides of the gallery balcony, so one could see them no matter where one was sitting.

In addition to opera, Wilton’s Music Hall shows films, presents classical music concerts, burlesque and other performances. What a wonderful place!

And, should you be familiar with Amato’s Opera on the Bower in NYC (yes, I know it closed), you will be reminded of it, albeit Wilton’s is on a much grander and professional scale (no homeless playing part in the chorus here). And, The Mahogany feels like Sonny’s in Red Hook with fewer hipsters.

Wilton’s is an amazing place - not only because it’s the oldest surviving (and still operating) music hall in the world but also because it’s such a hidden treasure!

There’s an eclectic selection of entertainment on offer, from the world-renowned Kreutzer quartet and monthly (free!) cinema nights, through traditional east end singsongs and musical extravaganzas courtesy of modern day vaudevillians such at Tiny Wallop. Part of the attraction is the actual building, there’s something very magical about the atmosphere, it’s more than the faded murals and the fairy lights.

The Mahogany bar is open every night except Sunday for the rest of the summer and it’s lovely to sit outside catching the last of the evening sun (well, when we get any) after work. Check out the history of Wilton’s poster - an amazing example of modern typography by New North Press - in the bar too.