Brighton Hippodrome

Brighton Hippodrome stands on Middle Street in Brighton and Hove, a short walk from the seafront. Built in 1897 as an ice rink, it soon became a circus and then one of the town’s leading variety theatres. The stuccoed façade with its short towers still faces the street, while inside the auditorium survives largely intact. Frank Matcham enlarged the building in 1901, and Bertie Crewe reshaped it again the following year for variety shows. The interior is richly decorated with Rococo embellishments and a large stage. The Hippodrome has hosted many famous names and events. Between 1907 and 1964 it presented Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini, Gracie Fields and the Beatles. Laurence Olivier made his stage début there, though he fell over on his first entrance. The building also served as a television studio in the 1960s and later became a Mecca Bingo hall. English Heritage recognises its Grade II* importance, noting its architectural and historical significance. Visitors today see a grand but empty auditorium, its ornate plasterwork waiting to be revealed again. The stage arch and proscenium survive beneath later alterations, while the coloured glass awnings above the entrance hint at former colour. Plans are under way to restore the Hippodrome as a 2,300-seat concert hall, returning live music to the heart of Brighton.