The Spanish City was opened in 1910 and designed by Robert Burns Dick who was also the architect for Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery. It earned its name in 1904 when Charles Elderton, who ran Hebburn's Theatre Royal. He brought his Toreadors concert party troupe to perform there. The Spanish City became the Empress Ballroom in 1920. In 1979 the Retundar Ballroom was converted into the starlight rooms for live entertainment |