The Royal Hall

Echoing what other reviews have said this building is stunning inside and it might be worth paying to see a show you did not want to see just to see the building. The seats are comfortable and the amenities are as you would expect. The hall hosts the annual and wonderful Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.

Beautiful, well-​preserved historic concert hall. Acoustics are better than ok, too.
Went there for a concert by the visiting Manchester Hallé Orchestra in September 2014. The décor in this Victorian age concert hall is stylish indeed, from the peculiar circular corridor around the back to the stunning, plush auditorium. When you’re entering it truly is like a step back in time.
The venue offers classical as well as pop concerts and many other kinds of performances and shows (A town the size of Harrogate does not have its own professional orchestra — of course). The acoustics are not as colorful as at, say, the Manchester Bridgewater Hall or the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, but they are still very good, with a nice presence. Seats in the auditorium are comfortable, even cozy.
Amenities include a bar, located along said circular corridor.

It would be so easy to give this beautiful venue a 5 star ***** review. It’s breath-​taking inside, just stunning. The recent restoration that was finished in 2008 has made it one of the most outstanding looking theatres in the north of England. It has one of the oddest features in the form of a circular corridor around the outside of the foyer area — this must have been truly spectacular with all the sides open in good weather. The ceiling of the auditorium is quite amazing. The whole place is a classic old-​fashioned theatre.
A few things let it down. Brownie points for the large number of ladies toilets which meant that when I was there recently my other half didn’t spend the whole interval queuing to use them. On the other hand I actually did spend most of the interval queuing as, for reason, it was decided to make the number of toilets in the gents minimal. This meant a good 60 or 70 caught-​short blokes standing around the stair area in confused fashion. It’s almost like the place has taken revenge on men who have hardly had to queue to use the loo!
In addition the place has a heavy handed approach to anyone trying to take photos. While this might make sense for many theatrical productions when a rock band play there — and quite a few do — it’s just weird. People tend to take photos at music shows these days, but try it here and you’ll get into trouble There is a team of stealthy black-​suited ladies who’s sole occupation it seems is to police the venue and creep up on anyone who dares to take out a camera. I sat almost at the back with no one behind me and as soon as I took a picture I hand grabbed my shoulder and a lady stage whispered into my ear: ‘no photography’. We then watched in amusement as this team of ladies crept about, shoulders hunched, trying to find more culprits. They didn’t bother with people in the middle of rows but anyone sitting in an aisle seat was considered fair game. We saw about 20 people get collared. It became silly. I sneakily took a few shots but I suspect I’d have been ejected if I’d been caught a second time.
For such an old-​style place to be so strict is a bit off putting. I’m all for stopping vast numbers of video cameras and the like but an occasional snap when bright flashing lights are all around is mad.