Save Brighton Hippodrome

Save Brighton Hippodrome Campaigning since 2014 to restore this Frank Matcham designed Grade II* Circus Theatre into a multi-purpose live performance space.

Now projected to open in 2027. The Brighton Hippodrome has stood in its present location for well over a century and was designed by Frank Matcham, the most celebrated theatre architect of all time; his other work includes the London Palladium, the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and Circus, Hackney Empire and the London Hippodrome. In its lifetime it has played host to no end of stars. After a short spe

ll as an ice rink and a circus, it was redesigned in 1901 as a major variety theatre, in its heyday housing audiences of up to 3,500. In recent years it became a bingo hall owned and well maintained by Mecca, but has stood empty since 2007. The Theatres Trust placed the Hippodrome top of the list of 'most at risk' for several years in a row. Brighton and Hove has a good range of entertainment venues, but it lacks a large capacity performance space with an amazing heritage that can really serve the whole community. The refurbished Hippodrome with adaptable performance spaces will fill this much-needed role as home for local drama, music, comedy, dance & circus schools and workshops, charity functions and sporting events like boxing or snooker. It would also be the perfect hub for the Brighton Festival and Fringe, and a unique venue for large corporate events and trade shows etc bringing substantial revenue to businesses in the city. After over 9 years of rallies, protests and campaigning and watching the site going through various dubious owners, who largely neglected the theatre, it has finally now in a safe pair of hands - in the form of local builders and developers Matsim Properties - who have installed a new roof and are carefully renovating the building back to its former glory days. It's been a long haul, but the end is finally in sight...

After around 12 years a successful outcome is tantalisingly close!
01/04/2026

After around 12 years a successful outcome is tantalisingly close!

Our friends at BOAT need your help! As once again Brighton & Hove City Council fail to see the benefits live performance...
06/01/2026

Our friends at BOAT need your help! As once again Brighton & Hove City Council fail to see the benefits live performance brings to our city! Please raise an objection...

We need your help!

BOAT's future is in jeopardy. A planning application to build artificial football pitches only 50m from our theatre has been submitted. The noise from the use of these pitches would completely overwhelm any un-amplified performance on our stage. Despite our best efforts to negotiate on use of the pitches, our concerns have been ignored. If you care about BOAT's future, we urge you to object to the application: https://publicaccess.brighton-hove.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=T6E796DMMLU00

Visit our website for our full statement: https://www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk/

Current restoration works have uncovered some great finds, hidden for over a 120 years...
11/08/2025

Current restoration works have uncovered some great finds, hidden for over a 120 years...

He's not wrong...
26/04/2025

He's not wrong...

Gary Oldman has vouched for the importance of theatres outside the capital, warning that the loss of venues regionally risks losing the next generation of audiences 👇

25/04/2025

It was a pleasure to provide two of our buildings for Grace in its latest episode. Episode 1 saw one of our spaces transformed into a bomb factory, while Episode 3 captured striking footage of the Hippodrome during its building site phase - offering a rare glimpse before its restoration.

Work on the Hippodrome is steadily progressing as we carry out the significant renovations needed to bring it back as one of the premier performance venue's in the south east.

https://www.itv.com/watch/grace/2a7610/2a7610a0015Nice to get a glimpse inside the Hippodrome on ITV's series, Grace. SP...
15/04/2025

https://www.itv.com/watch/grace/2a7610/2a7610a0015
Nice to get a glimpse inside the Hippodrome on ITV's series, Grace. SPOILER ALERT If you choose to skip through the episode to the Hippodrome scene, it gives away a key element of the story! It features in Series 5, towards the end of Episode 3.

Crime drama. When a woman is discovered murdered in her flat, the evidence first points to a burglary gone wrong in a case that conceals a chilling secret.

31/08/2024

The warm-up act for campaigner 's Hippodrome poem at the Open Day was Chuck Berry.... albeit 60 years ago, which was the last performance here! It was really great to hear all your fond memories and applause to bring the theatre alive once more, after years of closure! Doors open May 2026! 🤞

Video credit: Lucy Palmer

30/08/2024

Live entertainment by Peter Joannou Brighton's Singing Barber in the new Royal Box to keep the crowds happy!

30/08/2024

We are open!

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