The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

The Britannia Music Hall (The Panopticon) located at the end of Argyle Street in Glasgow's Trongate is the oldest surviving music hall in the world!

About The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

	113-117 Trongate, Glasgow City Centre G1 5HD
	01415530840
	The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Website
	Facebook information can be found here
	Follow britpanopticon on Instagram

Listed Under Attractions - Theatres / Attractions - History and Culture / Attractions - Live Music Venues

Built in 1857 by Thomas Gildard and H. M. McFarlane, it has hosted some of the biggest names on the Music hall circuit.

In 1906 Stan Laurel made his first stage appearance there on amateur night. In that same year A. E. Pickard bought the building and changed its name to the Panopticon. He also undertook some major works, installing a freak show, a roof top carnival and a waxworks. He also excavated the basement and installed an indoor zoo.

The Panopticon was one of the first buildings in Glasgow become powered by electricity and one of the first cinemas in Scotland. It closed in 1938 when it was sold to a tailors and converted to a workshop. It is currently being conserved by a trust who regularly perform traditional shows in the auditorium. It is now protected as a category A listed building.

We take every opportunity to ensure the details for The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall are accurate, if any of the above information is incorrect we would appreciate if you could take a minute to suggest an edit.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Just hit 'Like' on our What's On Glasgow Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group or Instagram accounts and you're all set!

Upcoming Events at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

Burns Night

Burns Night at the Panopticon

24th January 2026

The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall, Glasgow City Centre

Join the Britannia Panopticon on Saturday 24th January for an evening of comedy, music and whisky as they celebrate Scotland's favourite poet - Robert Burns!

Theatres

Platform Glasgow

1000 Westerhouse Road, Glasgow East End G34 9JW

Platform is the arts centre at the heart of The Bridge, located in Easterhouse, offering a year-round programme of cutting edge performance, music, visual arts and participation.

Theatres

Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre

103 Trongate, Glasgow City Centre G1 5HD

Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre is one of the most popular and unique attractions in Glasgow, entertaining and enthralling its audiences for over three decades since the original opening in 1989.

Theatres

Tron Theatre

63 Trongate, Glasgow City Centre G1 5HB

The Tron Theatre has been a familiar landmark in Glasgow's Merchant City area for centuries and a popular cultural venue for over twenty years!

Theatres

Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre

Kelvingrove Park Kelvin Way, Glasgow West End G12 8NR

The Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre offers a unique open air performance space in the idyllic grounds of Kelvingrove Park!

Theatres

Theatre 118

118 Osborne Street, Glasgow City Centre G1 5RP

Glasgow’s newest producing theatre, supporting grassroots theatre making across the city.

Theatres

City Halls

City Halls Candleriggs, Glasgow City Centre G1 1NQ

City Halls, Glasgow's oldest purpose built performance space, has been entertaining visitors since 1841 and is renowned throughout the world for having some of the finest acoustics!

Theatres

Cottiers

93-95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow West End G11 5PU

Cottiers is a historic building located in the heart of Glasgow's West end that boasts a recently renovated theatre, restaurant and bar.

Theatres

Citizens Theatre

119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow South Side G5 9DS

The Citizens Theatre is an iconic venue and theatre company in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, creating ground-breaking theatre productions and empowering participatory projects.

Theatres

Oran Mor

Oran Mor Byres Road, Glasgow West End G12 8QX

Formerly Kelvinside Parish Church, Òran Mór, Gaelic for 'great melody of life' or 'big song', is a thriving arts & entertainment venue in the heart of Glasgow's West End!

Theatres