Leicester Square Hall (from 1947) | |
Address | 45–46 Leicester Square London England |
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Current use | Fanum House |
Opened | 1901 |
Closed | 1955 |
Years active | 1901–1940, 1947–1955 |
Thurston's Hall was a major billiards and snooker venue between 1901 and 1955 in Leicester Square, London. The hall was in the premises of Thurston & Co. Ltd which relocated to Leicester Square in 1901. The building was bombed in 1940 and reopened under a new name, Leicester Square Hall, and new management in 1947. The venue closed in 1955 and the building was demolished to make way for an extension to Fanum House. The Hall was used for many important billiards and snooker matches, including 12 World Snooker Championship finals between 1930 and 1953. It was also the venue of the first World Snooker Championship match in November 1926.[1] The hall was sometimes referred to as "Thurston's Grand Hall". There was also a "Minor Hall" in the same building.