Em-B Solutions has scheduled, supplied and installed a large architectural ironmongery and access control package for the transformation of the Walthamstow Granada building into a new home for Soho Theatre. The project involved the sensitive restoration of a much-loved local landmark alongside the introduction of modern facilities needed to support a contemporary performance venue.
When the team at Em-B were brought on board to help with the transformation of the old Walthamstow Granada into a fully accessible, fully modern theatre space, they knew it wasn’t going to be straightforward. A listed building, a complex refurb programme and a site where public and private spaces needed to work hard but stay separate. Plus, the building had to meet modern access and fire safety standards without losing its historic character.
The building was originally the Victoria Music Hall in 1887, and the venue showed its first film as early as 1896. It was completely redeveloped as the Music Hall Granada Cinema in 1930, to hold 2,700 people, and then as a live performance venue from the mid-1950s to the ‘60s it staged some of the biggest names of the time, like the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and the Rolling Stones. It finally closed its doors in 2003 and stood derelict until this major refurbishment led by Soho Theatre and the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The building, with its original 1930 façade, now has a new lease of life as a live performance venue for everything from stand-up comedy and drama to local community events.
The new Soho Theatre Walthamstow includes a 1,000-seat venue across three performance spaces, new back-of-house areas, and full step-free access throughout. It’s a major addition to the cultural life of the borough and one that needs to work for everyone.
Em-B was responsible for the full ironmongery schedule, including supply and fitting, across the entire site. Accessibility was a key priority, so the team worked closely with the contractor and client to develop solutions that would meet the needs of a diverse audience without compromising safety or design. Em-B’s solution included a first for Em-B: an automated door and half-door designed to work within a tight space where a double door wasn’t practical. Elsewhere, the team supplied and fitted a double set of double swing doors, ensuring smooth movement of audiences into the auditorium at the start of the performance and out again at the end. Acoustic sealing was added to performance doors to help preserve sound quality for the audience and contain noise between spaces.
Access control was another critical part of the job. The layout needed to allow free movement for the public while keeping back-of-house and technical areas secure. That meant careful planning of locking systems, electronic access, and fire compartmentation.
The building itself made things interesting. Like many older buildings, it came with its quirks and constraints: walls that weren’t quite straight, doorways that had shifted over time and listed features that had to stay. It meant every fitting had to be considered in context, and the schedule had to remain flexible from start to finish. Em-B’s on-site team worked through it all, adjusting where needed and keeping pace with the broader programme. The end result is a building that’s ready for its next act: fully accessible, fire safe, and designed for the flow of hundreds of people a night.
Em-B Solutions is a specialist architectural ironmonger working with architects, contractors and developers on complex, high-performance projects across the UK. From early-stage scheduling through to supply, installation and aftercare, Em-B delivers tailored hardware and access control solutions that meet the demands of modern buildings that balance compliance, usability and design integrity.
