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Built in 1832, there was originally a small hotel called the Royal Standard Hotel on the present site of the Victoria Palace. In 1840 the proprietor, John Moy, obtained a licence which allowed for singing and dancing on the premises and after enlarging the building he began hosting music hall bills. The building soon became known as Moy's Music Hall and in 1854 it was renamed the Royal Standard Concert Rooms. In 1863 Alfred Brown took over the premises, refurbished it and renamed it the Royal Standard Music Hall. Although the building was popular, it was demolished in 1886 when Victoria Street and Victoria Station were built. In the same year the Royal Standard Music Hall was entirely rebuilt by Richard Wake and was eventually sold to Alfred Butt in 1910. The arrival of electricity and other early 20th century theatrical technology meant that drastic changes were needed and the oldest licensed music hall in London was demolished. The new Victoria Palace Theatre was designed by Frank Matcham and cost the huge sum of £12,000 to build, opening it's doors to the public in November 1911. Today the theatre retains much of its original character, even more so since the auditorium, front of house, and the dressing rooms have recently been refurbished. The grey marble foyer with its gold mosaic and white Sicilian marble pillars is much as it was in 1911 and outside the facade, canopy and cupola have recently been restored.