On the site of the once noted Lusby's Music Hall, Mile End Road, which was destroyed by fire early in 1884, Messrs Crowder and Payne have erected a new hall, which is one of the largest of its kind in London. The new building, which was opened yesterday (Thursday), covers more than an acre. The length of the auditorium measures nearly 100 ft, and is 60 ft in width, beside the addition of a promenade on each side - one of the main features of the hall - which are each 20 ft wide, thus making a square of 100 ft. The height to the domical ceiling is 60 ft. From the line of footlights to the balcony front is about 60 ft... The main front, of which the chief features consist of three wide entrances, with a balcony carried on modelled trusses; the upper part is faced with ornamental tiles. The right-hand entrance leads to the pit and balcony, that on the left to the promenade, stalls, and boxes, and the centre archway gives access to the Taragon Drive, which is now placed beneath the main entrance, and will be devoted to the purposes of a public house bar. The gallery entrance is in Eagle Place. A spacious crush room is provided at the end of entrance corridor. adorned by a conservatory at one end, which is reflected by large plate mirrors at the other. The grand promenade is a handsomely-decorated apartment cladding to the foyer, which is filled with marble bars and a grill. From the foyer the visitor reaches the promenade, which is particularly spacious and surrounds the theatre, the floor of which is a trifle higher than the seats, thus affording a good view of the stage. The balcony front is pleasingly shaped at the stage end, and is chastely decorated in cream colour and pale blue, relieved by gold, the same general scheme of colouring being adopted throughout. There are boxes on each side, inclosed by fiat arches, and having balconettes in front. At the proscenium ends, Oriental arches, draped with red velvet, pleasingly unite the stage front with the auditorium. The upper gallery is very deep and capacious, and will accommodate 800, commanding a capital view of the stage. Ample means of access and exit are provided.

In: Building News. 22 May, 1885. Quoted in WALKER, Brian Mercer. Frank Matcham: theatre architect. Belfast: Blackstaff Press, c1980, xii, 178 p. ISBN 08-564-0231-1. p. 171