The Derby Hippodrome was a purpose built theatre and Variety house and had a 2,300 capacity. It was converted in 1930 into an 1,800 seat cinema, becoming a theatre once more for only 9 years until 1959. Three years later the theatre was purchased by Mecca Group who converted the theatre into a Bingo Social Club.
The building is a large Grade II listed variety theatre built in 1914. It is a rare survival from an early stage in the crossover period when buildings were being constructed for both live theatre and cinema. This building form proved to be the model for most cinema design from the 1930s onwards.
I was amazed to read the theatre trust are trying to save this (presumably because of the significance of this building as mentioned above) & say work could start in 2020.
Personally I think its too far gone and Im surprised its not been pulled down as a matter of public safety given its town centre location.
The explore
Did this as a solo on way back from a day out with HughieDW, you can find his report from earlier in the year here https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/the-hippodrome-derby-june-2019.118752/
In an unusual nervous moment I found myself calling Hughie while in there asking if he was sure the floor was safe to walk on which he assured me it was...Im still not convinced!
Anyway if nothing else its quite photogenic!
Unbelievably it used to look like this
Yeah looks solid enough!
Dosent look so good from underneath
Due to already going 20min over my parking ticket I failed to get any externals, so heres one I stole
Thanks For Looking
The building is a large Grade II listed variety theatre built in 1914. It is a rare survival from an early stage in the crossover period when buildings were being constructed for both live theatre and cinema. This building form proved to be the model for most cinema design from the 1930s onwards.
I was amazed to read the theatre trust are trying to save this (presumably because of the significance of this building as mentioned above) & say work could start in 2020.
Personally I think its too far gone and Im surprised its not been pulled down as a matter of public safety given its town centre location.
The explore
Did this as a solo on way back from a day out with HughieDW, you can find his report from earlier in the year here https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/the-hippodrome-derby-june-2019.118752/
In an unusual nervous moment I found myself calling Hughie while in there asking if he was sure the floor was safe to walk on which he assured me it was...Im still not convinced!
Anyway if nothing else its quite photogenic!
Unbelievably it used to look like this
Yeah looks solid enough!
Dosent look so good from underneath
Due to already going 20min over my parking ticket I failed to get any externals, so heres one I stole
Thanks For Looking
