A former theatre with a long history is set to reopen as a music venue following a restoration.
The Empire was built in 1913 to host variety shows in Rotherham town centre, and went on to have many uses, including as a cinema, nightclub and lounge bar.
It closed in 2024, and new owner Mark McGrail, who previously restored the nearby George Wright Hotel, took on a “gamble” by starting a redevelopment project.
He said: “Some people might think Rotherham has problems and question whether it is worth investing here, but you’ve got to see the gem inside.”