Hulme Hippodrome

• Theatre ID
  1835
• Built / Converted
  1901
• Dates of use
  • 1962 - 1962: occasional
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused
• Address
  Preston Street, Hulme, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 5EU, England

Details

A splendid music hall, built in 1901 which has survived intact, built alongside the Hulme Playhouse (1902) by the same architect; the two were connected by an arcade which was flanked by the Broadhead Circuit offices. In 1950, together with the Playhouse, it was purchased by the James Brennan circuit and extensively renovated and redecorated throughout. Nothing is visible of the original exterior which is now concealed behind a twentieth century rendered ground floor with metal cladding above. It opened as the Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, seating 3,000 and concentrating on melodrama, whilst the adjacent Hulme Hippodrome-later-Playhouse (now Nia Centre) presented music hall. In 1905, the names of the two theatres were changed so that the larger became the Hulme Hippodrome catering for patrons with a taste for music hall. Internally the magnificent auditorium, which has two galleries and a proscenium arch in original state, is a riot of gilded Rococo plasterwork. The basic design is very like the Playhouse next door, but apart from this and other, now demolished, theatres designed by J J Alley for the Broadhead Circuit, the concept is quite unlike any contemporary theatre or music hall. The upper of the two balconies has eight straight rows spanning directly between the side walls; the lower one has nine straight rows in the centre, with side arms of four straight rows parallel with the side walls, diminishing to two. The ends are divided off to form a stage box on either side of the proscenium. Above each box is a further box, reached by a little staircase at the side of the balcony. The box and balcony fronts are decorated with delicate Rococo plasterwork. The balconies are supported by iron columns with foliated capitals (some of them Gothic!). At the sides the columns are carried up from the balcony fronts to support the main ceiling which is decorated with festoons at the sides and panelled at the centre. The proscenium is surprisingly formal, being flanked by giant fluted Ionic columns with an enriched straight entablature over, and a large central cartouche supported by putti. The building was last used for theatre in the 1960s, then bingo from the mid 1970s until its closure in 1986 with the Floral Hall transformed to snooker club and lounge bar. The theatre stood empty, somewhat obscured by housing development in the area. Since 1999 an evangelist group have used the foyer, but the auditorium and Floral Hall remain unused and empty. A fine and important theatre, it also features on Manchester City Council's Buildings at Risk Register.

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• Other names
  Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, Hulme Hippodrome, Also known as Second Manchester Repertory Theatre
• Events
  • 1962 - 1962 Use: occasional
  • 1901 Design/Construction:
    • J J Alley - Architect
  • 1950 - 0 Alteration: refurbished and redecorated; gallery reopened (architect unknown).
  • 1962 - 0 Alteration: converted for casino/bingo (architect unknown).
  • 1987 Alteration: foyer sub-divided horizontally
    • Keith Davidson & Partners - Architect
  • 1901 Owner/Management: W H Broadhead, owner
  • 1950 Owner/Management: James Brennan Circuit, owners
  • 1960 Owner/Management: Bill Benny, owner
  • 1962 Owner/Management: Mecca, owners
  • Owner/Management: Later: Independent owner
  • 1999 - 0 Owner/Management: Gilbert Deya Ministries
• Capacities
  • Original: 3000
  • Later: 1950: 2000
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth 1910: 40ft Width 1910: 72ft
  • Proscenium width: 1910: 33ft
  • Height to grid: 1910: 48ft