Grand Theatre And Hippodrome

Externally little altered except at ground floor level since opening in 1908, the Hippodrome has a well preserved four storey façade making a bold statement on a prominent y-junction site; Edwardian baroque in red brick and buff terracotta. Symmetrical, in five bays, the outer two slightly advanced as short towers with segmental gabled tops. The altered central entrance has a broad semi-circular arch with exaggerated voussoirs forming a sunburst effect. This contained a charming stained glass window, now plain glass. Three mullioned windows above divided by rustic-banded pilasters. Slated roof with a little cowled feature on the ridge. Low fly tower.

In 1939 the theatre closed for radical modernisation which had little effect on the external appearance. The auditorium was remodelled in Art Deco style. In early 1955, after thirty-three years as a cinema, the Hippodrome returned to live entertainment as a variety theatre but was sold in 1956 to the Rank Organisation, who redecorated the interior and reopened it as an Odeon cinema. It was twinned by Classic in 1969 and closed as Laserquest in 1989. In 1996 there was a proposal to reopen as a cinema but the building was again sold in 1998. The ground floor was converted to a club and bar with strident painted decorations and a lumpy cladding to the entrance canopy. In 2007 permission was granted for conversion to a pub, a use in which it still survives. The Hippodrome remains a major landmark in Leigh.